You don’t need to watch Exit Through the Gift Shop to prep for the 60-something lots of artwork that will be descending upon the Miami Design District on President’s Day Weekend.
After five successful editions, Fine Art Auctions Miami (FAAM) is presenting its sixth major street art auction for the first time in the historic Moore Building (191 NE 40th Street). An exhibition featuring internationally-known giants of the genre – Kenny Scharf, Banksy, Faile, and Shepard Fairey, among others – will be open to the public from February 14 to 19 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., though new and seasoned collectors alike should keep their bidding paddles handy for auction night on Saturday, February 18 at 5 p.m.
(Artwork up for auction. Left: Pollock like Banksy by Skott MARSI; Right: The Caveman by BANKSY)
Warm up with few pre-game tips:
- Rediscover Shepard Fairey‘s Miami murals: his elaborate Mandela Ornament, punctuated by the signature OBEY monogram on the D-Squared Building (North Miami Avenue and 40th Street), is an ideal place to start
- Stop by Swamspace for a chat with master artist and fabricator Oliver Sanchez; having lived the legendary East Village art scene, ask him about Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, and the confluences of Pop and street art (and read this!)
- Pontificate on the joyous irony of a street art auction on President’s Day Weekend
- If Banksy’s original Rage, the Flower Thrower, which captures the explosive energy of a rioter armed with a colorful bouquet of flowers, subverts expectations, Mr. Brainwash’s take on this iconic image, Banksy Thrower, has an entirely different effect
- Explore the works of Chicago-based, rising-star artist Hebru Brantley, who most recently painted Minion goggles on his mural of Ai Wei Wei during Art Basel in Miami Beach
- Bonus tip: If you’re not already familiar with Minion goggles, watch the movie Despicable Me
Local artists such as Abstrk, Atomik, Candy&Blood and Luis “Style” Berros will also be representing at FAAM, showcasing Miami’s unique tropical vernacular. In addition, audiences can anticipate an increased focus on sculptures, 3-D concepts, and buildable pieces such as Faile’s The Tower, an interactive 15-foot work — the largest ever sold by the artist — that challenges the conventions of street art.
(Artwork up for auction. Left: Ariel by Herr NILSSON; Right: Untitled by ATOMIK)
Organizers at FAAM explained, “It’s an oversized toy to interact with, not just admire, which inspired the 40-foot Faile Tower that was done for New York's Lincoln Center in 2013.”
Established in 2011 in Miami with offices in New York and Paris, FAAM is the leading auction house in Florida and holds six major sales per year, including this annual Street Art Auction. From start to finish, FAAM’s goal is to provide the best service regarding the sale, acquisition and valuation of fine and decorative art. Specializing in important Latin American, Russian, Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art, a team of specialists and auctioneer Frederic Thut offer clients the convenience of a local establishment, but with the work ethic and experience of a world-class operation.
