Inaugural Edition of Concept Validates Art Market in Burgeoning Downtown Miami Arts and Culture District

December 3, 2014 (Miami, FL) — On Tuesday, December 2nd, Concept opened its inaugural edition aboard the SeaFair yacht, docked in downtown Miami’s rapidly expanding Arts & Entertainment District at Bayfront Park. The VIP reception was attended by an illustrious audience of local and international collectors, artists, media professionals, Latin American celebrities and other members of the international art world. In light of the upcoming changes to South Beach’s art fairs, Concept fair directors Lee Ann and David Lester’s vision for the future of downtown Miami places them as first movers in this flourishing arts and luxury destination. The high caliber of fair attendees further substantiate downtown Miami as an arts and culture center and an able competitor for South Beach during Art Basel in Miami Beach.

Exhibitors were enthusiastic about the caliber of the attendees at the VIP vernissage for the blue chip Modern and Contemporary masters fair. Guests enjoyed an open bar sponsored by Remy Martin and Miami Rum Club, as well as Perrier, as they perused primarily secondary market work in the extravagant and tranquil setting of the SeaFair mega yacht, which boasts sweeping views of Biscayne Bay and over 20,000 sq. ft. of exhibition, dining and entertainment space. Steve Doyle of The Cambridge Yacht Group, sponsor of the Czech glass artist Jan Frydrych’s solo presentation with Cambridge Fine Arts, noted seeing numerous prominent attendees from the yachting set. Doyle, a premier yacht broker, also unveiled his new addition to the fleet, a $1.2 million launch available for chartered private luxury water transportation.

Glenn A. Fuller of Gladwell & Patterson, exhibiting Picasso’s Guitare accrochée au mur in addition to several other original paintings and drawings by Modern and Impressionist Masters, was enthusiastic about what he viewed as a particularly discerning and engaged audience at the fair, stating: “We met several new collectors and found the crowd overall to be very serious and knowledgeable about the paintings. There’s a real buzz at this fair that we’ve found lacking at others and an overall enthusiasm amongst this Miami crowd.”

Sales began early in the evening and continued for the duration of the vernissage. Notable attendees included the Mayor of Doral, FL and Brazilian actress Ingrid Guimarães, who dazzled fans and paid special attention to the Pitágoras solo presentation at the Callegari Fine Arts booth.

Adding to its innovative secondary market fair model, Concept stands out for its robust programming, which includes “Art After Dark” cruises Friday and Saturday evenings at 10pm, as well as a daily screening of New Mexico Arts’ Ai Weiwei and Bert Benally film “Pull of the Moon”, presented as part of the Experimental Dome Program—a 50-foot interactive dome that creates a 360-degree immersive experience, replete with Oculus Rift glasses for viewing.

Concept will continue its run aboard the SeaFair yacht from December 3-7, 2014 and is set to return to Miami in 2015 at a new location in Museum Park. For 2014 tickets and programming information, visit: www.concept-fair.com

LOCATION
Aboard the SeaFair mega yacht docked in the heart of downtown Miami at Bayfront Park. The address is 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL 33131.

There will be daily shuttle service between Art Basel Miami Beach and Concept.

ABOUT CONCEPT
Concept Miami will focus on "fresh-to-market" and secondary market artwork, as well as works by blue-chip artists and modern contemporary masters. Limited to approximately 30 carefully selected dealers, the fair has been designed as a sophisticated, elegant waterfront oasis for collectors during the frenetic Art Basel Week. The fair is located within the downtown Arts & Entertainment District, adjacent to the Perez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum, two of Miami’s most prestigious visual arts institutions, and in proximity to all major downtown hotels and Brickell World Plaza, one of the largest banking centers in North America. Concept will be open until 10pm each night, giving visitors additional time to view the artwork after other December fairs close, and operating on a schedule more conducive to Miami’s relaxed atmosphere, later dining hours and vibrant nightlife.