Krug Champagne hosted the Visionaire 55: Surprise party at the Raleigh Hotel. At the entrance of the event guests were greeted by half naked models holding artist designed pop up books. The issue was a boxed set of hardcover pop ups by Mario Testino, Gareth Pugh, Andreas Gursky, Steven Meisel, Sophie Calle, and Yayoi Kusama among others. More after the jump...
Accessories designer Natalia Brilli tightly wraps objects in black lambskin. From shellfish, to skateboards the Belgian-born designer has chosen a wide range of materials and given each an identical treatment. Here at Art Basel, she created a large scale installation for at Alchemist which involved applying her typical treatment to a rock band of skeletons replete with amp, guitar, drumset, and microphone. The incredible and time consuming detail that was required to envelope each and every bone individually is simply mesmerizing. After it's time in Miami the band will be making tour stops at Barney's New York, Park in Vienna, and Reborn in Montreal.
This week I caught a performance by the iconic Grace Jones at the Delano Hotel. Myself and a handful of VIPs crammed in to the Florida Room to witness the legend in all her glory. I was joined by Benicio Del Toro, Julian Schnabel, Kirsten Dunst, Mary Kate Olsen, Tom Brady, and Ivana Trump among others. Miss Jones performed such classics as "Pull Up To The Bumper", "Warm Leatherette" and "La Vie En Rose" which brought tears to her eyes. Grace looked and sounded like perfection. In several wardrobe changes she sported pieces by Gareth Pugh, Issey Miyake, and Bottega Veneta. See her latest video, Corporate Cannibal", and pics from the Miami show after the jump. Click images to enlarge.
In this sinking economy, a major contemporary art purchase maybe unrealistic but limited edition multiples and fashionable garment tie ins are abundant and on the cheap. The Art Production Fund’s popular charity beach towels have returned with a roster of encyclopedic artists including Ed Ruscha (above), Raymond Pettibon, Jeff Koons, Julian Schnabel, and among others Alex Katz. They’re available for only $50 at the Standard and Raleigh Hotels here in Miami, or you can pick them up online from Works On Whatever. See them all after the jump. Click images to enlarge.
For Art Basel, Olaf Breuning has created a gigantic sand sculpture on the beach just outside of The Sagamore Hotel. The luxury boutique proudly displays owner Marty Taplin's sizable contemporary collection in various lounges, nooks and crannies. This week Breuning is crafting an
abstracted 150-ton sphinx-like sand sculpture of a reclining woman. He said of the work:
The work will disappear with the wind and tide over time, never to be bought by an individual collector. However, that is a part of the masterpiece. It's monumental, yet temporary garishness. You can see the work in all it's glory live as it's being constructed on the hotel's webcam HERE.
Takashi Murakami straddles the worlds of fine art and crass commercialism with his anime inspired works. The LV artiste appeared at Art Basel Tuesday night in one of his own plush creations. Yep. He looks like an idiot.
See images from his installation after the jump (click images to enlarge)
Art Photo Expo Miami runs alongside Art Basel and this year Naomi Campbell is the subject of an exhibition of 50 photographs which span her career. She showed up to unveil the show in a temporarily converted public parking lot.
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