Let the Madness Begin

One week a year, Miami becomes nearly unrecognizable. Art Basel Miami Beach draws thousands of tourists, art collectors, and creatives to the city December 4 through 7. Though some locals bemoan the traffic jams and crowds, natives and newbies agree that the art, innovation, and magic happening during Miami Art Week make the experience worth it. Though the season continues to push local galleries and museums to up their game, the main event goes down at the Miami Beach Convention Center (1700 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach). For its 13th edition, ABMB will feature 267 of the planet’s top international galleries, selected from 31 countries, which will exhibit 20th- and 21st-century works by more than 2,000 artists. The nine sectors in the convention center allow visitors to take in modern and contemporary art, including museum-caliber paintings, sculptures, and classical photography, as well as works of an outsize scale, precisely curated projects, and site-specific artworks. Group exhibitions, unconventional installations, film, and mixed media make their way through the yearly showings. Art Basel Miami Beach is on view to the public Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. One-day tickets cost $45, and permanent tickets (valid all public showing days) cost $100. The permanent ticket grants repeat access to the 2014 show on all four days during public opening hours. Visit artbasel.com.
Wed., Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 4, 3-8 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 5, 12-8 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 6, 12-8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 7, 12-6 p.m., 2014