I used to stay at the hotel in Miami Beach in which NADA was held. It was easy to walk through multiple times, but the lighting was bad. NADA has always been a favorite show of mine as the art was cool, but the venue never felt right. That hotel was damaged in a hurricane and remains abandoned, and NADA is now housed at Ice Palace Studios. While a bit harder to get to, the venue is fitting for one of the must-see shows during Art Basel. Last year they had 134 exhibitors and approximately 15,000 visitors. They first launched the fair in 2003. I think this was the best year yet.

I have followed this Venezuelan artist (now based in Santa Fe, NM) for a while, and own two very small pieces of his. I always have had to act fast. I had never seen Jose Sierra’s ceramics in such grand scale, and they were glorious. Within the first few hours of the fair, Sierra’s work at NADA sold out. I’m not at all surprised.

• 

• 

There were all sorts of creative gallery desks in use at NADA. When I got to this booth, a grown woman was seated, working at this velvet upholstered children’s table. A perfect table with stools for children who only use electronics, perhaps. Food, liquids, art projects, and sticky hands should probably all be avoided.

While there were several larger pieces on display, I often prefer the small pieces tucked away in a box, or back room, like this one.

Taco Bell. I kind of wanted this painting.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

These paintings are tiny. The measure no greater than 2” in their largest dimension, and mostly smaller. I told the gallery person that they were the smartest shippers of all the art galleries at any show in conjunction with Art Basel. She laughed.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Oil painting on AstroTurf. Really cool in person.

• 

•