Sagamore Hotel Launches Ambitious Art Program With Banksy, Basquiat, and Local Artist Abstrk

When former Sagamore Hotel owner Martin Taplin passed away this past March, the hotel lease was signed over to new ownership, a term that can mean significant change for a landmark of South Beach since the 1940s. An art deco mainstay, the Sagamore has been an important institution in the art world, and Taplin continued that tradition throughout his ownership.

Now the Sagamore looks to not only continue its legacy in the art world, but also arrive at something bigger, more important, and more influential. That begins with the #SagamoreIsArt live event.

Kicking off today and continuing indefinitely, Sagamore Is Art presents an eclectic mix of galleries, music, visual art, and an exclusive look at installations from local and world-acclaimed artists, as well as a live art performance by local artist Abstrk. Also included will be a curated art tour that features works by Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mr. Brainwash, Keith Haring, and others. In addition to viewing the exhibits, visitors will be treated to live musical entertainment and can have dinner at the hotel's newest restaurant, Canvas. For those who might be unfamiliar with the Sagamore or have an interest in the blossoming local art scene, Sagamore Is Art promises to be an all-encompassing experience.

The Sagamore has partnered with art curator Sebastien Laboureau to produce this and other future programs in partnership with various museums, galleries, and artists. Laboureau says his goal is to create an ambitious art program and exhibits that continue to further the cultural legacy of the Sagamore.

“The idea is really to have very proactive, dynamic, innovative art programming that could be able to create a wonderful destination in South Beach," he explains.

The self-proclaimed street-art aficionado notes the notoriety of street art in Miami and says it only makes sense to include a street artist such as Abstrkt to contribute his work to the program.

With various galleries and exhibits that pop up, especially as Art Basel approaches in the winter, the Sagamore looks to create something inclusive and special. “The objective is not to show what everybody else is showing,” Laboureau says. “The objective is to show some of the iconic art pieces that we all know but also to show a wide diversity in artistic expression. This is the first exhibit that we are putting together and really building programming all year long that’s going to encompass all these amazing, energetic, artistic diversities that characterize Miami right now.”

#SagamoreIsArt
6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, at the Sagamore Hotel. To attend, email [email protected].