The Coolest Moments From Art Basel Miami
From wrestling shows and afterparties to a giant Jimmy Choo shoe.
Following art weeks in London, Paris, Hong Kong and other major cities with a cultural pulse, the global art circuit reaches its glittering finale in Miami, arguably the splashiest stop of them all. From December 5 to 7, the city hosted its annual marathon of luxury-soaked events, boundary-pushing installations and an ocean of VVIPs. The champagne was flowing, the celebs were glowing and the interns were schmoozing.
This year, preparations collided with Thanksgiving, adding a fresh layer of chaos to an industry already fuelled by caffeine and a lack of sleep. Still, if there’s one thing gallerists excel at, it’s juggling stress with style and locking in sales long before they even touch down in Miami.
Top galleries from across five continents descended on the city, presenting works from modern masters to the new-gen of breakout talent. Whether you were looking to buy or not, the event was a space of inspiration and boundary-breaking creativity. Austrian gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac shared, “It’s clear that there’s continued momentum following the success of Art Basel in Paris and this season’s auctions in New York. There is a positive energy in Miami.” After huge record-breaking sales from Sotheby’s and Christie’s last month, the art world refused to lean into the apparent industry lull and instead showed up with an optimistic outlook.
And as always, the art was only half the story. Miami transformed into a full-scale cultural playground, overflowing with buzzy restaurant pop-ups, fashion crossovers and lavish nightlife where you might accidentally brush shoulders with celebrities, industry titans or the occasional off-duty royal. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were spotted at the unveiling of Rocky’s Ray-Ban installation, while elsewhere Karlie Kloss was seen at Cartier’s Art Basel dinner.
So, beyond the sea of Margiela Tabis and Issey Miyake pants, here are the fashion moments that defined this year’s Miami Art Week, from Fendi-crafted vases to wrestling spectacles and pulsing DJ sets.
Sukeban Wrestling
Japanese female wrestling league Sukeban held a World Championship fight during Art Basel. The event followed Sukeban’s six straight sold-out fights in New York, Los Angeles, London and Berlin. Blending performance art, fashion and fandom, the league is redefining the live sports experience and transforming the arena into a stage for spectacle and glamor. The event also saw special collaborations with performances and cameos, including music by DJ ecec, accessories designed by Katie Hillier, looks by Sukeban co-founder and creative director Olympia Le-Tan and nail art by Mei Kawajiri. This was an evening that proved Miami always has something unexpected up its sleeve.
Slawn City by Slawn x Artifaxing
London-based artist Slawn joined forces with Artifaxing for a new venture coinciding with Miami Art Week. The pair set out to lower the barrier of entry to the art world and show that it can be open to everyone. The duo launched Slawn City, a “tourist trap turned art shop,” alongside the Slawntach Art Car that toured the streets of South Beach for everyone to see. Inside the shop was streetwear, strange toys, novelty junk, art and all sorts of oddities.
Slawn City mirrored the artist’s blend of sincerity and sarcasm with a Miami twist. The accompanying collections of apparel and toys are now available to buy online, too, in case you missed out.
FENDI 100 Years
FENDI celebrated its birthday in Miami. To mark its 100th anniversary, the House debuted a collectable design installation bringing feminine strength together with Italian craft in a poetic presentation of one-of-a-kind objects created by five Italian ateliers. The project was conceived by Argentinian designer Conie Vallese and titled “Fonderia Fendi.”
Highlights of the showcase included a trio of pastel vases in ‘anice’ blue, ‘sorbetto’ yellow and cream, handblown in Murano, Venice by Barovier & Toso and featuring sculpted floral appliqués. If you got your hands on these, we’re very jealous.
Saint Week
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Sound-led media platform Saint & Citizen staged a three-day cultural takeover with performances, conversations and installations, giving us Saint Week. After last year’s successful debut, this iteration was even bigger and even more star-studded. The theme for 2025 was “The Living Originals,” celebrating the creators shaping culture right now. Highlights from the event lineup included rap duo Clipse (Pusha T and Malice) in a conceptual performance that merged sound, memory and installation.
Ty Dolla $ign was in conversation for the Saint Sessions Live, while Solange Knowles and Saint Heron came together with Chef Charlie Mitchell for a culinary experience at Saints Table. The events closed out with an afterparty featuring performances from Miguel and KWN. This one gave us major FOMO, and we’re hoping for a round three next year.
Cartier “Into the Wild”
Cartier unveiled its exhibition ‘Into The Wild’ in the Design District, creating an immersive encounter with the House’s emblematic panther. First referenced in Cartier’s history in 1914 on a watch set, the panther was reignited by Jeanne Toussaint and now lives on within the Panthère de Cartier universe. ‘Into the Wild’ took visitors into the brand’s wild world through five distinct spaces, where original collections live alongside contemporary pieces backed by cinematic storytelling and a bespoke art installation.
In the immersive guided tour, guests could discover Toussaint’s legacy and the history behind more than a century of panther creations. Perfectly luxurious and intriguing, this was a sure highlight.
Jimmy Choo Installation with Harry Nuriev
Jimmy Choo by Jeff Thibodeau
Jimmy Choo continued its creative partnership with Harry Nuriev, founder and creative director of Crosby Studios, with an impressive installation unveiled at the Design District boutique. The immersive creation transformed the store into a striking statement with a giant high-heeled shoe breaking through the space. The larger-than-life 3D sculpture was a recreation of the brand’s signature IXIA drop-heel pump, revealed in silver chrome.
Alongside the magnified shoe was a curated selection of (regular-sized) pieces from Creative Director Sandra Choi’s personal archive. This was a Carrie Bradshaw heaven if we ever did see one.
Silencio at The Miami Beach Edition
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The Parisian cult nightlife institution Silencio made its way across the pond for the second year at the Edition. Designed by David Lynch and known for hosting fashion week parties and all the mega-celebs, the three-night takeover in the Basement of the Miami Beach Edition had no shortage of star power.
With dreamlike interiors, the venue became a space where art, culture, fashion and music collided. Each night was co-hosted by figures from the art world and drew an international crowd for the lineup that blended DJ sets from talents including The Dare and Yves Tumor, alongside some unpredictable and avant-garde moments. Silencio kept admission invitation-only to preserve that insider status, but talk to the right people, and you may just be allowed in.
