Miami Art Basel Attendees Determined to Have a Good Time, Despite Ominous Signs in the Art Market

Irina Aleksander — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:41:28 -0400

The parties at Miami Art Basel, which this year runs from Dec. 4 through Dec. 7, are always decadent. And judging from this week's underwhelming party scene here in New York, some of our socials departed earlier in the week for the pool and rooftop parties in hotels a little further south. While the mega-fetes begin tonight, a few early comers have already been spotted out and about.

As the Miami Beach Convention Center opened yesterday, Faye Dunaway as well as Julian Schnabel and his son Vito strolled around gazing at the discounted works of art, reported Bloomberg. Calvin Klein, for his part, offered this about the general mood: “It will be interesting to see how the attendance and sales are affected. So few people are interested in antiquities -- it’s more affordable.”

New York Magazine's Vulture reports that on opening day, everyone was wondering when the Russians would show up with their money: "Art dealers are hoping billionaires Roman Abramovich and 'the Leonids,' co-owners of Phillips de Pury auction house, will hit town and start spending."

Meanwhile, according to BlackBook, caviar and champagne can still be found at the parties. Last night, Kelly Klein and Andre Balazs hosted a book signing at the Raleigh hotel for Ms. Klein’s new book, Horse, attended by Fabian Basabe, Allison Sarofim, Rachel Zoe, and Ivana Trump.

At the Deitch Projects party that Jeffrey Deitch told us about a few months ago the band Gossip performed and judging from the photos on Patrick McMullan's website, it almost looks like Mr. Balazs and Ms. Zoe are dancing together.

Audi threw a party with a performance by Grace Jones at Delano Hotel, drawing out a diverse crowd including Benicio del Toro, Kirsten Dunst, David LaChapelle and one of the Olsen, according to BlackBook. (Apparently it was not clear which Olsen it was.)

Over at the dinner hosted by Diego Marroquin, Allison Sarofim and Stuart Parr, Mr. Schnabel and Vito said hello to Terrance Koh. Also present: Mr. Abramovich's girlfriend, Russian socialite and gallery owner Dasha Zhukova, Larry Gagosian, Derek Blasberg, Lola Schnabel, and Glenn O'Brian.

According to the Miami Herald, Naomi Campbell and Lenny Kravitz turned up at David LaChapelle's exhibit titled Jesus is My Homeboy.

Observer » Miami Art Basel Attendees Determined to Have a Good Time, Despite Ominous Signs in the Art Market

Miami Art Basel Attendees Determined to Have a Good Time, Despite Ominous Signs in the Art Market