As if you needed more proof that many Art Basel attendees know little about art. Miami-Dade native, Miami Beach mayorial candidate, and comedian Steve Berke conducted a "social experiment" during Miami Art Week to see if he could go from zero to "artist" in less than 24 hours and sell one of his works.
Berke has already had his hand in pro-tennis, politics, and reality TV, so why not make another, albeit fake, career move? With stencils, small square canvases, and spray paint, Berke produced 100 canvases in about an hour, then snuck into Art Basel Miami Beach at the Convention Center.
See also: Steve Berke: Comedian for Miami Beach mayor
Wearing a trench coat lined with his paintings, no pants, and a strategically placed wig, Berke walked around peddling his creations. Under the guise of F.L. Asher (har), Berke says he sold every piece be brought, more than 30 paintings. He also attended Art Miami, Scope, Context, NADA, Red Dot, and Pulse, selling his Velcroed blocks there, too.
He even stuck his paintings on the walls next to famous artists without gallerists noticing. Check out the video to see Berke make fancy people cringe and take people's money willy nilly.
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