5 Up-and-Coming Artists to Watch for at Miami Art Week 2012
Well, it’s that time again. Miami Art Week starts next week (eee!), so we’re giving you a looksy at a few of the up-and-coming artists whose work we’re most looking forward to seeing at the fairs this year. Whether it's artists constructing candy roller coasters or weaving tapestries that span upwards of 20 feet, we’ve got you covered.
Find out 27 Twitter accounts to follow during Miami Art Week here.
1. Pae White: Although she entered the art scene in the mid-'90s, it finally feels like Pae White might be getting the credit that she deserves. White makes what is small and inanimate, grand and anthroporphized, by blowing up images of things like foil and smoke so that she can weave their likeness onto tapestries that span an entire gallery space. Between her woven installation at the 2010 Whitney Biennial and her birdseed encrusted chandeliers at the 2009 Venice Biennale, you can be sure we’ll have an eye out for whatever she has in store at Untitled, the new fair that’s popping up on the beach this year.
2. Daniel Arsham: You will be hearing Daniel Arsham’s name a lot in Miami this year. Between working with Snarkitechture, the firm that designed Design Miami’s pavillion and having his films screened on the side of the New World Center, there’s really no way you can miss him. Fun fact: Arsham’s also done work with the late choreographer Merce Cunningham.
3. Peter Anton
We’re pretty sure a quote from the artist will suffice for this one. This year Anton is building a life-size carnival ride at Art Miami that he’s calling “Sugar and Gomorrah.” Visitor can expect to “ride into a winding tunnel that snakes through tumbling pillars and images of fire meant to evoke Sodom and Gomorrah-like destruction... and encounter a wonderland of larger-than-life sugary treats while listening to Lesley Gore's 1965 hit "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows."
4. Theaster Gates
Gates is another artist whose name you’ll be hearing a lot of while you traipse from Miami Art Week fair to party to screening to brunch and back to art fair. His installation at Locust Projects, Soul Manufacturing Pavilion, will serve as a sort of factory consisting of several pavilions occupied by skilled craftsmen who will be making all kinds of “things” throughout the week. You might also see Gates name, like Arsham’s, in conjunction with the annual art film series that the New World Center will be showing on the side of their building.
5. Jose Parla
Parla is the kind of Brooklyn cool kid who manages to partner with an incredible graffiti artist, have a party thrown in his honor by The Standard, and still manage to shed light on social and cultural issues through his work. Parla recently got together with graffiti artist JR and, for the Havana Bienale, the two created a series of murals throughout the city showcasing 25 residents who lived through the Cuban Revolution. During Miami Art Week, The Standard Miami will be hosting a party to celebrate the book about their Havana piece, complete with a screening of the documentary.
