Color, NFTs & AI Dominate Art Basel Miami

Art Basel Miami brings together some of the world’s best artists, galleries, art collectors, designers and cultural icons for a week of art shows, installations, events and lavish parties. To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year: Art Basel Miami Beach attracted a record number of exhibitors—282 from 38 countries.

As a scenographer, having worked with brands of the likes of Bacarat, Hermes and Louis Vuitton; I am constantly seeking, rather craving art. Art is my ultimate source of inspiration, and while most design can be somewhat repetitive or cyclical, for me this year’s Art Basel Miami marks a pivotal turning point where the boundaries of art, color and experience are starting to truly merge, inviting a new era of ambiguity, co creation and sensory immersion.

Color has always played a prominent role at the fair, what’s interesting is noting the evolution of how we experience color at Art Basel Miami. From Pantone x ArtTechHouse color of the year immersive reveal, to Artist Mario Klingemann's AI-controlled, generative art installation, the past few days have been a whirlwind, giving us a glimpse of the future of art as a transformative experience. Although Miami is already known for its colorful hues, this year brought a new wave of colorful experiential concepts of immersive storytelling using formats such as NFTs continue to permeate the market.

In works of art, artists use color to depict and describe the subject. Artists, especially painters, utilize their knowledge of color to portray mood, light, depth, and point of view in a work of art. This year, collectors and visitors alike had the opportunity to get up close and personal rare museum quality paintings and sculptures from legends such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Willem de Kooning, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, Wayne Thiebaud, Robert Indiana and Andy Warhol, as well as the newest works by Jaume Plensa, Jeff Koons, Banksy, Kaws, RETNA, Bradley Theodore, David Yarrow, Alec Monopoly and Damien Hirst, amongst many others.

The event also brought on generative and NFT artists such as Helena Sarin, Kevin Abosch, Matt Deslauriers, and Kelly Richardson, among others, the show put one of the art world's hottest phenomenons front and center for the first time at the fair. Even car makers have joined in, including the arrival of the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan in special colors to brighten the festival. The luxury carmaker is one of many companies, inspired by the Miami fashion and art scene, paving a direct line of communication with its sophisticated and art-sensitive customer base.

Dominique Kelly

co-Founder mycoocoon