Art Wynwood VIP Opening Draws Record-Breaking Attendance

Art Wynwood, Miami's international contemporary art fair during President's Day Weekend brought a crowd of 6,200 into the Wynwood Arts District - 1,100 more guests than last year. The VIP Preview honored the late Tony Goldman, a major force in the development of the Wynwood Arts District and the inaugural edition of Art Wynwood. An intimate gathering including Art Wynwood director Nick Korniloff and members of the Goldman family participated in a dove-releasing ceremony in Goldman's honor just before teems of prominent art collectors, designers, curators and art enthusiasts from around the world lined up outside the Art Miami Pavilion to get the first look and acquire new contemporary works.

The opening of the fair featuring 70 international galleries presenting emerging and cutting-edge works had exhibitors buzzing about the outstanding turnout, strong interest in their programs and considerable sales. Art Wynwood has proven to be a marketplace to collect important contemporary art.

"There was incredible energy at the VIP opening, a great turnout with serious collectors. The timing with the Yacht & Brokerage Show and Valentine's Day couldn't have been better," said Carole Hochman, director of New York-basEd Barry Friedman Ltd.

With models strutting the aisles wearing world-renowned designer Luis Valenzuela's "Queen of Hearts" collection, a luxury EcoArtFashion line themed especially for Valentine's Day; and with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails sponsored by Le Grand Saint Sparkling Vodka, SHELLBACK Rum and Heineken beer bustling in of the VIP Lounge and throughout the fair; the ambiance was certainly an energetic one that encouraged collectors to quickly acquire important works on the opening night. Reports of sales include:

• Hollis Taggart Gallery from New York sold a work by Alexander Calder and one by Pae White totaling six figures.
• Durban Segnini from Miami sold a work by Agustin Cardenas and one by William Barbosa totaling $80,000.
• New York-based Claire Oliver Gallery sold two works by Norbert Brunner totaling $60,000.
• Miami-based Cernuda Arte sold two works by Dayron González as well as works by Lilian García-Roig, Miguel Florido and Giosvany Echevarría totaling $51,000.
• Axiom Contemporary from Santa Monica sold two works by Michael Gorman for $30,000.
• Cleveland-based Contessa Gallery sold a David Drebin work for $25,000
• Waterhouse & Dodd from London and New York sold two works by Etsuko Ichikawa along with one by Jade Oakley totaling $20,000.

London based Cynthia Corbett Gallery sold a work by Lluís Barba for $20,000.
• New York-based Black & White Gallery sold a work by Shimon Okshteyn for $20,000.
• Paris-based Galerie Mark Hachem sold a work by MIKA, one by Perez Flores and two sculptures by Polles for an undisclosed amount.
• Miami-based Kavachnina Contemporary sold a sculpture by Emil Alzamora and two photographs by Scherer and Ouporov.
• C. Grimaldis Gallery from Baltimore sold a work by Chul Hyun Ahn.
• Fabien Castanier Gallery from Los Angeles sold two works by Speedy Graphito for an undisclosed amount.
• Basel-based LICHT FELD Gallery sold two paintings by Daniel Karrer.
• Miami-based PSH Project sold a work by Fernando Arias.
• Miami-based Consultores de Arte S.A. sold a work by Kadir López Nieves for an undisclosed amount.
• Eli Klein, a gallery based in New York, sold four photographs by Liu Bolin for an undisclosed amount.
• Miami-based Pan American Art Projects sold a work by Carlos Estevez for an undisclosed amount.
• Nancy Hoffman Gallery from New York sold a work by Michele Pred for an undisclosed amount.
• Barry Friedman Ltd. sold three works by Michael Eastman for an undisclosed amount.
• Bogota-based Beatriz Esguerra Art sold four works by Max Steven Grossman and three by Pedro Ruiz for an undisclosed amount.
• Black Square Gallery from New York sold two works by Kyu Hak Lee for an undisclosed amount.
• Lausberg Contemporary from Dusseldorf, Toronto and Miami sold three Rafael Barrios sculptures for an undisclosed amount.
• Art Lexing from Miami sold a work by Ye Hongxing for an undisclosed amount.
• Projects Gallery sold a work by Frank Hyder for an undisclosed amount.
• Waltman Ortega Fine Art | Miami - Paris sold a work by NOART for an undisclosed amount.
• Alfredo Ginocchio Gallery from Mexico City sold a work by Hugo Lugo for an undisclosed amount.
• The McLoughlin Gallery from San Francisco sold a work by Christopher H. Martin for an undisclosed amount.
• New York-based De Buck Gallery sold two works by Ruby Anemic and one by Kelly Reemsten.
• Buenos Aires-based Rubbers Internacional sold a piece by Andrea Fernández.

Art Wynwood's opening was highlighted by two special projects commissioned by Jessica Goldman, CEO of Goldman Properties. The highlights include a stunning wraparound installation suspended above the VIP Lounge by famed artist Jesse Geller. Additionally Wynwood Walls commissioned a curated exhibit by Meghan Coleman featuring specially commissionEd Lenticulars with original paintings by selected artists installed in the pass-through areas of the fair. Artists participating include: Retna, Aiko, Ron English, Logan Hicks, Futura, Swoon, Kenny Scharf and How & Nosm.

The natural overlay of fine art and luxury real estate is on display as Christie's International Real Estate (CIRE), the world's leading luxury real estate network showcased as the "Official Luxury Real Estate Partner" of Art Wynwood. CIRE welcomed a select group of international collectors, art patrons and members of their annual global conference for a private reception in the VIP Lounge.

Among the guests of honor, host committee members and esteemed collectors were sculptor John Henry, street artist Jesse Geller, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne Bon Haes, street artist Jona Cerwinske, chairman and CEO of Verizon Lowell McAdam, the Pocas, Susie and Walid Wahab, Marcella and Daniel Novela, the Buttermans, artist Shimon Okshteyn, President of Espíritu Santo Bank Jorge Espíritu Santo, photographer Cheryl Maeder, Leann Standish and Timothy Walker of Miami Art Museum, director of The Frost Museum Carol Damian and representatives of Tate Modern in London among others.