Art Basel Miami Beach opened to VIPs on Tuesday, and even with timed entries, the Miami Beach Convention Center was bustling with a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. Dealers reported sales in the opening hours and into the closing hours of the fair, and said they had begun to see familiar faces who were craving to see artwork in-person after having spent the better part of two years buying art from PDFs and JPGs because of the pandemic’s travel restrictions.
The majority of visitors wore masks throughout the day, and an audio reminder played sporadically over the convention center’s loudspeakers reminding guests, in both English and Spanish, to cover their faces. To enter the fair, guests had to provide either a recent negative Covid test, proof of vaccination, or documentation of recent recovery from Covid-19 that has been issued by a licensed healthcare provider or facility, which came with a “Covid-19 Certificate Checked” wristband.
Below a look at the best booths at Art Basel Miami Beach 2021.