Go To Art Basel Miami For An Unforgettable Day Trip Before (Or After) Your Cruise
Experience Art Week In South Florida
By Amanda Mesa | Published on July 1, 2022
If you're an art lover, you have probably heard of Art Basel Miami. It's part of Art Basel proper, an international platform created to connect art collectors with artists and galleries during multi-day fairs in cultural capitals. Think Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach and, of course, Basel, Switzerland, where Art Basel began in 1970. Among Art Basel's many initiatives is a commitment to making the art market more accountable, while creating one-of-a-kind experiences that strengthen local art scenes around the world and nurture the careers of budding artists.
Even if you're not a collector or well-versed in the art world yourself, there's still a lot to love about Art Basel. In the Magic City, this iconic art fair has turned into a week-long celebration of creativity in all its forms, including music, food, fashion, architecture and design. Locals refer to it as Miami Art Week — the somewhat unofficial continuation of Art Basel Miami — and it's hands-down one of the best times of year to be in the city. So, if you're looking for things to do before a cruise from South Florida or simply want to experience Miami at its most colorful, consider this your Art Basel guide.
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Immerse Yourself In The Art Basel Scene
Art Basel Miami is best known for its main art show, which spotlights collections by leading global galleries, including works by emerging talent and established masters. The show also features other avant-garde exhibits, including a collection of large-scale, non-traditional artworks, thematic group and solo projects, and so much more. These works are on display at the Miami Beach Convention Center and open for three days to guests who have purchased tickets. The show is punctuated by on-site panel discussions on the global art scene led and moderated by artists, curators, architects, art critics and other luminaries.
If you can't make it to the main art show during your pre- or post-cruise stay, don't worry — there are plenty of other ways to participate in the Art Week magic. Galleries, museums and cultural centers throughout the city go all out during Art Basel. Head to Wynwood, the city's vibrant Art District, and fill a day or night with nonstop gallery-hopping. Must-visit spots include the Dina Mitrani Gallery, the Locust Projects exhibition space, the Fredric Snitzer Gallery and the Rubell Museum. Set aside some time for a visit to the Wynwood Walls, too. An outdoor "street museum" by the late art visionary and real estate developer Tony Goldman, this urban oasis has showcased spectacular graffiti murals by luminary artists from around the world, including urban icons like Friends With You, Aiko, Retna and Os Gemeos.
The Wynwood Arts District is home to all kinds of unique exhibition spaces ranging from sprawling warehouses to intimate galleries to the walls of buildings themselves, which serve as huge canvases for incredible street artists.
Savor Delicious Dining Experiences Across Miami
South Florida's leading culinary and mixology masters also put their best feet forward during Art Basel. Cooking and crafting cocktails are forms of creative expression, too! In previous years, many of the city's best restaurants have offered exclusive menus featuring never-before-tasted drinks and dishes in celebration of Art Basel. Some have also partnered with chefs, bartenders, brands and artists from around town — and around the world — to transform their dining and drinking experiences into immersive art events.
In 2021, for example, Cuba's oldest brewery, Cervecería La Tropical, opened a permanent location in the Wynwood Arts District. To celebrate Miami Art Week, it teamed up with celebrated Cuban artist Rigo Leon to launch a limited-edition Art Week can for its flagship beer, La Original. It also hosted a Havana Nights-themed Art Basel party with live music, special giveaways and on-site art installations by Cuban artist Sandra Ramos.
In Key Biscayne, the Rusty Pelican paired its dinner service with a special Miami Art Week gallery viewing by Victoria Kovalenchivkovan, which featured work inspired by the theme of human connection. Guests who opted to visit the restaurant during the free showcase received a complimentary welcome cocktail and caviar to enjoy as they browsed the pieces on display. And in 2019, downtown Miami hotspot Novikov partnered with premium sake brand SOTO for a special Art Basel edition of its signature dim sum brunch. Though art is certainly at the center of this multi-day, city-wide experience, Art Basel is as much a culinary platform for restaurants, chefs and bartenders as it is a platform for artists and galleries.
Enjoy Your Pick Of Endless Art Week Parties
These are just the big-name parties you can look forward to during Art Week — rooftop bars, lounges, hotels and event spaces throughout the city also turn up with celebrity-studded shindigs featuring underground acts and locally loved headliners. Eager to hit the dance floor? All the more reason to plan an Art Basel Miami day trip before or after your next cruise from South Florida.
Art Basel and the Art Week that surrounds it are a spectacular and unforgettable time to be in Miami, whether you're involved in the art scene or not. As long as you enjoy delicious flavors, fashion, music or just a great party, you'll find plenty of experiences to make every moment of your pre- or post-cruise visit memorable during Art Basel week. One of the best parts about it is that every Miami neighborhood participates in some way — from galleries in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove to nightclubs and hotels in South Beach (and practically every business in Wynwood). If you're looking for things to do in Miami before your cruise from South Florida, you'll find no shortage of ways to fill every single second onshore with wow-worthy art, flavors and experiences.
