Art Overload: How to Conquer Miami Art Week

Miami Art Week is seven days of pure, magical madness. There's art on nearly every corner throughout the city, and local galleries and museums display show-stopping work. Of course, white tents take over the sands of Miami Beach, and the convention center is transformed into the mecca that is Art Basel.

Welcome to the first week of December.

Navigating art week can be exhausting for first-timers and veterans alike. Don't fret; Chloe Berkowitz wants to simplify your week.

Berkowitz is the founder and namesake of the Miami-based arts organization Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation (BCF). A core feature of BCF's initiative is bringing art to the people. While Berkowitz herself has been collecting art for many years — and has even loaned some of her pieces to local museums — her true love is public art and activating outdoor spaces with breathtaking art meant to inspire and enrich the community.

"I founded BCF to bring remarkable contemporary and modern art to the public sphere," Berkowitz tells New Times. "Through the exhibition of transformative, multidisciplinary artwork in communal spaces, we can create inspirational, informative, and inclusive cultural experiences for all."

The nonprofit is constructing a 15-acre art park that will be completely free and open to the public. The only downside to the Longleaf Art Park is that it'll be in Watersound, located in the Florida Panhandle — about a nine-hour drive from Miami.

"It's really been a labor of love for myself and all our amazing partners, and I cannot wait for everything to come to life," Berkowitz says excitedly. "It's going to be worth the pilgrimage."

The central piece for Longleaf is a sculpture by the late Richard Serra, Passage of Time. Berkowitz adds that the entire park was constructed around this piece and the woodlands themselves. "Once the art park opens in 2026, we will begin our programming with local schools to create immersive and educational experiences and continue to cultivate it from there," she says.
Until then, art lovers will have plenty of art to take in during the coming weeks.

"One show that I am looking forward to seeing is the Bass Museum's 'Assume Vivid Astro Focus: XI,'" says the president of Future Bass. "Originally exhibited in 2004 at the home of iconic Miami collectors Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz, this work is an enveloping installation of patterned wallpapers and decal graphics," she explains. "Assume Vivid Astro Focus (AVAF) is a São Paulo-based multidisciplinary art collective that fuses drawing, sculpture, video, and performance into large-scale installations where gender, politics, and cultural codes are free to be explored. Even 20 years after the work's introduction to Miami, its themes still feel relevant."

Berkowitz also points out that collector and Design District developer Craig Robins will also showcase part of his collection for the public to enjoy.
"This year's show is titled 'The Sleep of Reason' and is based on Goya's El Sueño de la Razón Monstruos," she shares. "This fundamental work anchors installations by Kai Althoff and Jana Euler, two artists whose drawings, paintings, and sculptures engage with tough imagery — evoking much emotion. In addition, works by heavy hitters like John Baldessari, Joseph Beuys, and Richard Tuttle will be on view."

"The Sleep of Reason" will be on view December 4-6 at DACRA's headquarters in the Design District.

Another public art fair that is a Berkowitz favorite is the Feria Clandestina at the Gold Dust Motel December 5-7. "My friend, Nuria Richards of Locust Projects, founded this fair three years ago with the intent of focusing exclusively on community building and participation," Berkowitz says. "Forgoing the regular white tents for a Mad Men-era motel on Biscayne Boulevard, the artists occupy rooms to exhibit their works. It's a lot of fun and a fresh departure from some of the pomp and circumstance of the whole week. Not to mention, it's completely free."
One of Berkowitz's top stops during Miami Art Week is the NADA at Ice Palace Studios. The art fair, which costs $55 for a day ticket, is wholly organized by the nonprofit New Art Dealers Alliance. "There's an imbued sense of authenticity that I feel when I visit NADA. The exhibitors and the artists shown are there for the love of art above all else," Berkowitz says. "Another exciting aspect of NADA is the price point. The works featured are more approachable, making it great for collectors at all stages."

If you're attending Miami Art Week hoping to take home some new works, Berkowitz shares that the number one place to start is with a budget. "I know it isn't the most romantic notion," she says. "We all want to find the next big artist, but purchases purely based on the potential value of an artist in the future can backfire. However, some of the best collections are built on instinct and intuition. If you trust your gut and fall in love with what you buy, no purchase will ever feel like a mistake."

No matter how you take in Miami Art Week, eventgoers will surely be left reinvigorated.

"I am excited for the fresh energy and open collaboration that this week brings to Miami," Berkowitz shares. "It feels like the whole world converges here, and there's an inescapable sense of magic and exploration that permeates the air."

"Assume Vivid Astro Focus: XI." On view at the Bass, 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-571-6902; thebass.org. Tickets cost $8 to $15; admission is free for children 6 and under and Miami Beach residents.

"The Sleep of Reason." Wednesday, December 4, through Friday, December 6, at DACRA, 3841 NE Second Ave., Miami; craigrobins.com.

Feria Clandestina. Noon to 10 p.m. Thursday, December 5; and noon to 7 p.m. Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7; at Gold Dust Motel, 7700 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; clandestina.art. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com.

NADA Miami. Tuesday, December 3, through Saturday, December 7, at Ice Palace Studios, 1400 N. Miami Ave., Miami; newartdealers.org. Tickets cost $55 to $150.