First Impressions

Talk about a head start. Art Wynwood got the jump on Basel all right, hosting its more intimate art fair 10 months before the industry behemoth. Not that you could tell by the crowd, however, which was almost as diverse and eclectic as the one in December. After Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado cut the ribbon that kicked off the event’s VIP preview, thousands of collectors and art enthusiasts made their way through the tent to buy, peruse or simply ponder the possibilities of creativity. Oohs, aahs and huhs? were aplenty, especially at the spectacular display of mural art curated by developer Tony Goldman, which featured some of the country’s top graffiti artists. Sales figures were strong for the first-time fair, especially at the Cernuda Arte booth, where eight works brought in more than half a million dollars over the weekend. Making the rounds and taking it all in were Walid and Susie Wahab, Belkys Nerey, Alan Randolph, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne bon Haes. “We’ve only scratched the surface of the fair’s potential,” said Director Nick Korniloff at Art Wynwood’s closing, all but assuring the show’s return next year. At last count, the fair had welcomed 23,500 visitors in its five-day run. Photography by World Red Eye