The parent company of the Art Basel fairs has been through its ups and downs recently. This year in Miami Beach, however, there is little outward sign of management discord.
Some collectors said that the action felt more relaxed and that galleries were playing it safe. Still, VIP visitors flooded the preview day and the fair unveiled a big new initiative, its sweeping new “Meridians” section dedicated to elaborate, large-scale art installations in the second floor grand ballroom of the convention center. By most accounts, sales were off to a strong, though hardly frenzied, start right out of the gate.
In years past, Tina Kim Gallery typically shared a booth with Kukje, her family’s gallery. This year marked the first time her eponymous gallery made a solo outing at Art Basel Miami Beach. Within the first few hours, she said she was pleased with sale results. [...] “This is my first time exhibiting solo at the fair, so it is a very important moment for me and the gallery,” the dealer told Artnet News. “We have developed such an important roster of international artists from varying generations. It’s wonderful to be able to introduce them to new audiences here.”