I am very fortunate to have been able to participate in Art Basel again this year. I am always overjoyed to see the highly coveted art I adore in real life.

I began #ArtBasel2017 at my one of my best mate’s exhibit at Casa Lia. Check out Eti’s work below. You can view more of her work here. Her piece was apart of the New World School of the Arts showcase titled, “Distractions.”The reception was delightful. Cuban pastries were served out of wooden birdhouses. We enjoyed organic, fresh squeezed beverages whipped up by the Nature Boyz made from ginger, pineapple, sugarcane, and coconut. Then, I visited the Rubell Family Collection Gallery. The pieces in the Rubell Family Collection exhibit transfixed me. I literally felt uncomfortable viewing some of them. I know that sounds bizarre, but I tend to gravitate towards these types of works. This exhibit was very well curated in my opinion. I wish I was afforded the opportunity to visit the second floor, but due to time constraints, I only viewed level 1.After the Rubelle, there was a brunch break in Wynwood. Then it was off to Art Miami’s new tent location in Downtown. I love pop art and hyperrealism. The eras that I gravitated towards mostly were the 60s and 70s. Here are some pieces that stood out to me: Meandering through the super curated, mini galleries, I saw this piece by Ben Morey, my middle school classmate. He made art then, and he makes art now (using a multitude of mediums). I went to arts school from middle school through my freshman year of college. It’s very special to see former classmates continue to hone and make a living off of their crafts. The arts are under siege in schools; it’s always pleasing to see the fruits of art programs’ labor despite budget cuts slowly chipping away at these programs’ infrastructures.

For me, art is the most honest form of culture and history. It’s left to your interpretation, but it’s always true.

For more information about Art Basel, please visit here.

With Love,

Dom