Miami Diary: Art Basel Events & Beyond

From South Beach to Design Miami and more in-between.

Hot pink. Turquoise blue. A pop of marigold. When it comes to color in Miami, anything goes—and the more vibrant, the better. After spending four days in the heart of South Beach for Miami Art Basel events, I’ve grown used to the 80-something degree weather that made me forget about winter back in New York.

Miami is only about a three-hour flight from home, and yet I haven’t been until this trip! We visited South Pointe Park Pier to La Sandwicherie, the casual corner outdoor café that happened to have the BEST fruit smoothies. If you go, order one with ginger for a hint of spice.

Something we noticed throughout Miami was the amount of effort locals make towards sustainability. The city is filled with green initiatives. From paper straws at restaurants to Woosh water stations (that provide ice-cold water with no waste). Many locals also bike instead of drive, which reduces car fuel emissions.

The days somehow felt much longer…in a good way. It was like we were transported in a time warp where sunrise and sunset stretched far between.

Miami Art Basel Events & Beyond

Wendy Sy outside wearing a orange zebra printed dress with white sandals among palm trees in Miami.
Beautiful days in South Beach.

A Stroll Through South Beach

Here, you’ll find colorful hotels and restaurants on just about every block with palm trees all around.

Walking down the streets felt like stepping into a Havana, Cuba postcard. Just imagine antique cars and outdoor string lighting above Española Way. Every morning, we woke up early and went to the beach a block away from where we stayed.

Dining in Miami

If I can recommend one place to get ice cream in South Beach, it would be Icy ’N Spicy Miami. They have amazing flavors including Coconut Almond Cake, Lavender, and Banana Dulce de Leche. And the best part is that you can get cotton candy around the cone!

On Sunday, we walked down to South Pointe Park Pier, the southernmost tip of Miami. There, we had lunch at Lilikoi Organic Living, a cozy little spot that looks more like a grandma’s kitchen somewhere in the countryside. In the dining area, there are shelves filled with vases and pieces of art for sale. And all of the ingredients from the plates there are locally and organically sourced. I got a veggie egg frittata with an iced turmeric almond latte.

Wendy Sy wearing a white caftan, gray hat, and sunglasses sitting on a lounge chair at South Beach, Miami.
Enjoying the calming oasis of South Beach.
Wendy Sy holding a black leather jacket with hand-painted designs by DAFNE Italy during Miami Art Basel events.
DAFNE Italy hand-painted leather jacket at Miami Art Basel.

Art Basel Events: Patricia Field ArtFashion Show

This season marks costume designer and fashion legend Patricia Field’s fourth annual ArtFashion show in Wynwood. Can’t believe it’s already been three years since I covered her Art Basel debut in an article in December 2016. She’s the one who brought so many TV shows and movies to life with her bold styling on the set of “Younger”, “Sex and the City”, “The Devil Wears Prada”, and so much more.

This show coincides with the pop-up shop, open until December 20th at 2621 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami.

Patricia Field and models on a runway with a black background at Miami Art Basel.

Patricia Field ArtFashion Show at Miami Art Basel.

The collection at Art Basel features the work of independent artists including hand-painted clothes. Many include vintage pieces, a nod to sustainable fashion.

Artists featured include Scooter LaForge, Jody Morlock, ThesePinkLips, Lara Padilla, Jonathan Bressler, Studmuffin NYC, Dope Tavio, David Dalrymple, Steven Wine, SSIK Designs, Lewis Beilharz, Madly Made, Tina Paul, Pericles Kondylatos, Martine x House of Field, and DAFNE Italy by Valentina Perissi.

One of the first items I saw at the pop-up were chains by Lara Eurdolian, founder and editor of Pretty Connected. In gold, silver, and an iridescent hue, these chains can be personalized with charms and used as a bag chain, lanyard strap, or water bottle holder.

A model at the Patricia Field ArtFashion show and Pretty Connected chains.
Highlights from the Patricia Field ArtFashion show.

Design Miami/ 2019

Collage of four colorful art pieces from Design Miami/ 2019.
Clockwise: Design Miami/, Jonathan Trayte, R & Company, Ago Projects

As for more Art Basel events, this year marks the 15th edition of Design Miami/. The curatorial theme was Elements: Water, which sparked conversation of the environmental crises surrounding it. We visited the fair on Sunday, which was directly across the entrance from Art Basel.

On display were 34 gallery exhibitions and 15 Curio presentations from collectors, gallerists, designers, and curators worldwide. It was thought-provoking to see how the idea of water can translate to works of art.

Art Basel events collage showing a sculpture and jewelry from Design Miami 2019.
Clockwise: Atelier Swarovski, Southern Guild Gallery, Elmgreen & Dragset’s “Bent Pool”, Atelier Swarovski

One of our last stops was to the Faena District, where A New World Collective is being held until January 3, 2020. The pop-up located in the outdoor terrace in penthouse of the Faena Bazaar brings together works by international artists and designers who are passionate about supporting sustainability and artisan craft. More details in this post.

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Wendy Sy

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