Art Basel 2023: The Americas’ Premier Art Fair Returns for 21st Edition

Between the 8th and 10th of December 2023, with Preview Days on December 6th and 7th, Art Basel returned to Miami for its 21st edition: an ambitious presentation of veteran exhibitors and up-and-coming joiners from the Americas and beyond. The show is marked by a diversity of artistic positions, a new floorplan, 25 new participating global galleries, and a vibrant program of activations unfolding at the fair and across the city itself, each one contributing to the renowned and iconic nature of the show.

79,000 people attended the show throughout its VIP and public days, with a total of 277 leading international galleries across its five sectors. Inspired by Miami’s position as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, the show’s Conversations program featured a number of prominent speakers, including collector, curator and philanthropist Estrellita Brodsky and Cuban-born artist María Magdalena. 

The global reach of Art Basel is showcased as leading art patrons and private collectors from over 92 countries and territories visited the fair, alongside representatives from more than 200 cultural institutions and foundations. Galleries reported robust sales across all market segments during the show, illustrating the great impact that Art Basel has within the industry. 

The 2023 show saw the launch of the first edition of Access by Art Basel: a new online sales platform powered by Arcual and designed to support philanthropic giving. Collectors were required to make a charitable pledge for each sale made on the platform, starting at 10 percent of the original artwork with the potential to increase further. The artist and exhibiting gallery received the full value for each artwork sold, with the charitable donation being made to the collector’s choice of The International Committee of the Red Cross or The Miami Foundation. Fifteen galleries exhibited at the fair through this scheme, with $100,000 raised to date through Access by Art Basel. 

Vincenzo de Bellis, Director of Fairs and Exhibition Platforms at Art Basel, commented: 'Art Basel Miami Beach has once again proven to be the pre-eminent art fair in the Americas. The quality and ambition of works presented at the show this year were nothing short of extraordinary, met with an exceptional attendance of local and international collectors.’ 

Art Basel extended beyond the halls of the fair, collaborating with a range of world-renowned institutions, private collections and cultural partners for a sensational program of events and activations across Miami Beach throughout the week of the show. The show partnered with Tribeca Festival for the first time, with ‘Tribeca Festival at Art Basel Miami Beach’ celebrating the intersections of art, music and film, showcasing the event as a hub for the celebration of all art forms. The Festival saw four days of live performances and exclusive conversations with notable artists, including a headline Talk featuring Robert De Niro in conversation with JR, a French photographer and street artist. 

A plethora of major shows coincided with Art Basel 2023, including a feature exhibition of renowned Miami artist Hernan Bass, new sculptural work by rising Canadian artist Tau Lewis, and the first comprehensive career retrospective of Gary Simmons. 

The 2023 edition of Art Basel was an undeniable success, bringing together artists, galleries, and attendees from all across the globe. It is a beautiful celebration of art and culture: a highly significant event for not just those exhibiting at the fair, but for the art industry as a whole, as its global reach sparks inspiration beyond Miami Beach.