It’s officially dipped below 80 degrees in South Florida, signaling the return of Art Basel Miami Beach to that vibrant coastal city for its 22nd iteration. Yet under the leadership of director Bridget Finn, a former gallerist and art market savant, this year marks a new chapter for the fair, as Finn sets out to strengthen Art Basel’s role as a connector for art across the Americas.
With 286 galleries from 38 countries and territories featuring a vast array of artists, not to mention official merch shops, restaurants, and brand activations, navigating the fair’s bustling halls can feel overwhelming. To help get you started—or, in the event that you can’t make it down to Miami Beach to see all the goings-on for yourself—here is a selection of the must-see presentations. From debut participants to thought-provoking installations by established names, we present the buzziest booths at Art Basel Miami Beach 2024.
Carmo Johnson Projects
A newcomer to Art Basel Miami Beach, Brazilian gallery Carmo Johnson Projects presents an exceptional selection of paintings by MAHKU, a collective of artists from the Huni Kuin, an Indigenous group based in the Brazilian Amazon. The collective made waves earlier this year with an outstanding 2,460-foot mural showcased at the 60th Venice Biennale.
At the fair’s booth, intricate, kaleidoscopic paintings beautifully capture ayahuasca chants and the myths that surround these sacred practices. Operating under the guiding principle “sell painting to buy land,” the proceeds from MAHKU’s artworks are reinvested into local communities to advance their goal of achieving autonomy within their territories. To date, the collective has acquired nearly 26 acres of land through this initiative.
