Miami Art Week Moments That Were Actually Worth the Hype
Photo by BFA/Sansho Scott
With each passing year, Miami Art Week increasingly appears to be a vehicle for art to get trucked in as a backdrop for people’s photos, rather than a deep exploration of the work of today’s greatest visual creators. People may ask, “What did you see?” but it feels like what they really want to know is, “What did you post?”
If Miami Art Week 2024 was the year the city proved it could still surprise us, 2025 was the year it leaned fully into its own reflection — equal parts museum, nightclub, content farm, and corporate campus. As per usual, the fairs were busy, the traffic was horrendous, and the biggest attractions were the places where people could snag content: under a branded arch, inside a glowing portal, behind a DJ booth, or next to a butter sculpture shaped like their new favorite influencer.
Still, between the selfie scrums, sponsor walls, and wild parties, some moments justified the hype. The best were the ones that cut through the noise, reminded you why all of this started, and maybe, just maybe, gave you a reason to put the phone down for a second and enjoy the moment before hitting post. Here are some that stood out this year.
Hotels That Understood the Assignment
If Miami Art Week is now a hotel Olympics, Andaz Miami Beach came in sprinting with its We Are Ona x Sabine Marcelis pop-up, a four-day dining room-as-installation experience where a seven-meter travertine table, fused-stone bar, and rainbow light play almost stole the spotlight from José Andrés’ cobia “pastrami” and braised short rib. Over in Mid-Beach, Faena doubled down on its reputation as the city’s unofficial art resort with Es Devlin’s seaside “library” towering like a beachfront brain, a monument to reading in a week where most people were scrolling. Further South, The Shelborne by Proper quietly won the “most screensavers generated” category with Pilar Zeta’s The Observer Effect, a line of iridescent portals on the sand that shifted color with every step and sunset.
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Worthy Brand Activations? Yes, Actually
If you took a shot every time you saw a brand logo this week, you would not have made it to Sunday. Some of those brand activations were fun, though. Apple Music turned Superblue into an IRL visualizer during the opening night of its Replay Gallery, complete with Johnnie Walker Blue Label sippers and A-listers like Offset and Khalid in attendance. Nylon essentially moved into the beach under a massive tent by the Cadillac Hotel, culminating in a collab event with e.l.f. Cosmetics that lured the likes of Travis Scott, Ice Spice, Lori Harvey, Alix Earle, and Diplo as guests bounced between Adriatique’s set and Ellie Goulding’s surprise performance, in which she debuted her baby bump. Beauty activations, light installations inspired by the newest Rivian EV color, and even branded bathrooms ensured that if you somehow missed the art, you’d at least remember who sponsored your mirror selfie.
Diplo’s RSVP List
Some artists show work at multiple fairs; Diplo just showed up everywhere. One night, he was at the grand opening of Abel Richard Boutique in the Design District, spinning in a room where Cristal flowed, an oyster shucker held court, and Fort Lauderdale favorite Takato turned a nook into a sushi utopia. Next, Major Lazer — Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Ape Drums — took over the Coyo Taco Wynwood backlot with Bacardí, using a mixtape release party and Hurricane Melissa relief benefit as an excuse to turn the taco shop’s parking lot into a full-blown dance floor until the early morning. He spun at CC Rooftop Social Club for Flaunt Magazine’s 200th print issue celebration, too. In between cameos at larger marquees, he basically became the week’s unofficial human step-and-repeat: If there was a DJ booth, odds were decent he’d eventually materialize behind it.
The Week’s Unofficial Soundtrack
Miami Art Week does not believe in silence. Basement at The Miami Beach Edition was jammed on the regular, with Silencio’s takeover turning the property’s lower-level bowling alley/nightclub hybrid into a rave with sets by Yves Tumor and The Dare. Gunna handled the “health is wealth” talking point by doing both: playing LIV in full superstar mode, then teaming his Wunna Run Club with Cymbiotika for a 5K that looped around Fontainebleau and concluded with wellness activations, smoothies, and art installations instead of bottle parades.
Food and Drinks Stole the Show
You could have attended Miami Art Week this year, only done food events, and still claimed you “saw everything.” The long-running Sagamore Brunch once again delivered its annual mashup of art, panels, performances, and mimosas, giving industry folks a place to chatter over immersive installations and South Florida Symphony sets.
Apocalypse Barbecue popped up at Ray’s Hometown Bar, bringing together the coziest poolside vibes with the best barbecue in town — it felt pleasantly worlds away from the nearby insanity. The first-ever Miami edition of Family Style Food Fest brought together heavy-hitters like Tam Tam, Versailles, and Miami Slice; a greatest-hits lineup of what locals actually eat when the VIP passes are put away. Uber and OpenTable’s Art of the Reservation party at Pauline at The Shelborne leaned full “food as installation,” complete with butter sculptures and a performance by Giveon. Downtown, The Living Room by Cipriani debuted with a late-night soiree where Kesha, HAIM, and a rotating cast of cultural A-listers sipped Bellini riffs and tequila grapefruit cocktails under Italian Art Deco lighting.
