Art Miami &
CONTEXT

Art Miami is the fair that was here first, and the place to buy established names in a calmer room than the convention center. It calls itself Miami's original and longest-running contemporary art fair: it first ran in 1990, more than a decade before Art Basel came to Miami Beach, and this December brings its 36th edition. It shows work from the modern, post-war and pop eras alongside contemporary art, from 155 galleries on this year's list, in its own pavilions at One Herald Plaza on Biscayne Bay, where it has stood since 2017. Both fairs are run by Informa Markets Art.

CONTEXT, its sister fair, launched in 2012 and is now in its 14th edition. It is the place for emerging and mid-career artists, with solo presentations and curatorial projects from 63 galleries, many showing work made for the fair. One ticket covers both pavilions, so walk them in turn: Art Miami for names you know, CONTEXT for ones you may not yet. Twenty listings across the two fairs are Miami or Miami Beach galleries, among them Avant Gallery, Opera Gallery and PAX ART.

Our view: the serious art press covers Art Miami far less than NADA or UNTITLED, and we would not come here for discovery. But it is the biggest fair on the mainland, about half a mile from NADA, and the right stop if you are buying work you already know you like.

Give the two fairs half a day. The VIP previews on Tuesday, December 1 benefit the Pérez Art Museum Miami, and this year Art Miami gives its Lifetime Visionary Award to Shepard Fairey, who will show work in the VIP Lounge and play a DJ set at CONTEXT on opening night, when CONTEXT stays open until 9:30 pm. Tickets are sold online only, the multi-day ticket adds a day at Aqua Art Miami, and children 12 and under go free with a ticketed adult.