© Sabine Brauer Photos

On Wednesday, November 30, P Diddy stopped by the uber affluent Swiss Gallery Gmurzynska at the Miami Convention Center during Art Basel. Spotted speaking with art world scions Isabelle Bscher (Gmurzynska's granddaughter) and Claude Picasso (Pablo Picasso's son), Diddy was overheard saying he was looking to expand his art collection and discussing design ideas with Claude for his New York home. 

On Thursday, mysterious artist Alec Monopoly unveiled a 50ft Wall "Tag" on the exterior of Mondrian Hotel Miami for Tag Heuer. Named by Tag Heuer as their new Art Provocateur, Monopoly was joined by Tag Heuer CEO Jean Claude Biver and select invited insiders including hip hop artist Fat Joe to be the first to lay eyes on the up until now secret project.

The installation can be viewed through Art Basel by global art connoisseurs and locals until November 30, 2017 while a week long TAG HEUER pop up shop and gallery will be open to public for the duration of Art Basel.

The event was followed by a celebratory private dinner, which featured Alec Monopoly creating a one of a kind painting live and an after party at the same location.

In Overtown, the uber chic opening reception of the Visions of Our 44th President Barack Obama exhibition at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Cultural Arts Complex, was experienced by Black Miami’s movers, shakers and beautiful people. This exhibition, a tribute to our nation’s first black president is a must see. Shout out to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, MI; Peter Kaplan of Our World, LLC; Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields; Timothy Barber; Kamila Pritchett; and the rest of the Black Archives team. Stay tuned for more detailed coverage of this thought-provoking installation.

Art installation of President Obama's birth certificate. Visions of Our 44th President Barack Obama exhibition at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Cultural Arts Complex.

 @vanessawbyers

On December 3 - 7, 2014. The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida will feature art from local visual artists in the lobby of The Historic Lyric Theater as a part of Historic Overtown Soul Basel and Art of Black Miami, an initiative of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Works from the following visual artists will be featured:

o   Bennie Osborne

o   George Gadson

o   JaFleu

o   Johanne Rahaman

o   Mariah Fox

o   Michael McLaren

o   Shernett Muhammad

o   Sim Malden

If You Go:

Overtown Soul Basel and Art in Black Miami
December 3 – 7, 2014
9 am to 9 pm
The Historic Lyric Theater
819 NW 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33136

VIPs, socialites and media enjoyed complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a sneak peek of Xclusive Dreams, an upscale men's fashion boutique.

Xclusive Dreams, a men's boutique located in the Wynwood Art District of Miami, launched during the kick-off to Art Basel. Owned by Ross Louis, the boutique carries high-end designer labels, such as: 3WY, KTZ, LPD - New York, Christian Noa, Super Sunglasses, G Shock watches, Diem, Hugo Boss, 40 OZ NY, PRPS Jeans, and Marshall Headphones. Xclusive Dreams also carries major shoe brands such as: Nike, Puma, New Balance, Asics, Adidas, Sperrys, and Timberland.  

Normal hours of operation are:  

·       10:00AM-7:30PM Monday - Thursday

·       10:00AM-9:30PM Friday - Saturday

·       12:00PM-6:00PM Sunday

Location:

190 NW 36th Street
Miami, FL 33127
305-322-8441

The first Art Basel show was held in Basel, Switzerland in 1970, conceived by its founders Ernst Beyeler, Trudi Bruckner and Balz Hilt, to bring together gallerists, collectors and art professionals to see the finest 20th century art from around the world. Since that time, Art Basel has also been staged in Hong Kong and Miami Beach. Art Basel, however, is not known for showcasing artists or art from the African Diaspora. That has changed in recent years through the efforts of several individuals and organizations including Multitudes Contemporary Art Gallery owner and curator Babacar Mbow who are committed to bringing forth some of that change in Miami. 

This year’s exhibition at Multitudes will focus on Haiti, the country that represented African freedom and independence in the Western Hemisphere and hence a source of great inspiration for artists. The change towards greater diversity will go into high gear with the exhibition titled “Caribbean Fantastic” that runs from December 3, 2013 through January 2, 2014 at the Multitudes Contemporary Art Gallery, 5570 Northeast Fourth Avenue, Miami, Florida 33137. Caribbean Fantastic features critically acclaimed artist Jean Claude Legagneur whose works have been showcased in the United States and internationally.