Rihanna! A$AP Rocky! Cardi B! See Music’s Biggest Stars Take Over Art Basel
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Some of music’s biggest stars were out — and out late — in Miami for the 2022 edition of Miami Art Week. Kicking off with Design Miami and then the SCOPE Art Show and Art Basel, the week-long festivities brought out the likes of A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Cardi B, Offset, Kodak Black and more, as guests made their way through the fair at day — and held court at exclusive parties well into the night.
Scroll through our gallery to see some of the best events and biggest celebrities at Art Basel 2022.
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A$AP Rocky at STORY Nightclub
Image Credit: World Red Eye One of the biggest star sightings at Art Basel was A$AP Rocky and Rihanna. A$AP Rocky hosted a party at Miami’s STORY nightclub Thursday, with Rihanna supporting her man (and turning heads) in a sparkly silver pantsuit.
Sitting in their VIP booth, the two had the crowd singing along to A$AP hits like “Fashion Killa,” “Peso,” and “Plain Jane,” with the rapper getting on the mic for a few minutes too.
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Rihanna at Art Basel
Image Credit: World Red Eye Rihanna was spotted out and about all week for Art Basel. In addition to supporting A$AP at STORY, the singer and her rapper beau went to Miami’s Michelin-star hotspot Stubborn Seed where they were spotted sipping on A$AP’s Mercer + Prince whisky during their private dinner.
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Offset Performs At E11EVEN Miami
Image Credit: Getty Images for E11EVEN Offset hit up the ultraclub E11EVEN Miami on Thursday night, making his first official appearance since the death of Takeoff.
The rapper was joined by wife Cardi B as he performed a short set of Migos hits and solo tracks in front of guests that also included Chance the Rapper. Offset even asked the DJ to play Cardi B’s song “Tomorrow 2,” while she playfully rapped along in her booth.
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Cardi B at STORY Miami
Image Credit: World Red Eye Cardi hit the stage on her own as well, playing before a packed crowd at STORY nightclub on Saturday. The rapper kicked off her set just after 3 a.m. performing her hits like “WAP,” “Bodak Yellow” and “Money” with Offset and Becky G, among Cardi’s biggest admirers in the audience.
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Michelob ULTRA and the NBA Debut 2022-23 Team Can Collection
Image Credit: Michelob ULTRA One of the few reasons to leave South Beach during Miami Art week? Michelob ULTRA and the NBA’s massive celebration in the city’s vibrant Wynwood neighborhood (just factor in time for traffic, and then double it).
21 Savage headlined, delivering lyrical prowess and TikTok anthems alike: nothing lit the crowd alive more than hearing “21, can you do something for me?” before the Grammy-nominee obliged.
Earlier in the evening, WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike, Miami Heat legend Gary Payton, and others competed in a Courtside Countdown Challenge as the Heat’s DJ Irie spun.
This is the two brands’ second year teaming up together, creating 19 special-edition cans designed by six different artists each incorporating their own unique style.
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James Blake and the New York City Ballet
Image Credit: CYNLAGOS James Blake was the special guest performer at The Macallan’s Art Basel event, which celebrated the launch of The Macallan M Collection, including the 2022 editions of the previously-released M and M Black and the brand-new M Copper, a rich new expression crafted in small copper stills and presented in a Lalique crystal decanter.
Blake was joined by members of the New York City Ballet for his hauntingly beautiful set, which was set against the backdrop of Miami’s Bass Museum.
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The Macallan
Image Credit: JACKIE LEE Guests were invited to The Bass Museum to watch Blake’s performance in front of a cast copper light installation, that pays homage to the River Spey in Sctoland, where The Macallan was born.
The Macallan Global Creative Director Jaume Ferras tells Rolling Stone that art and whiskey have always gone hand in hand. “Art is a creation of something and we feel very close to art,” he says, comparing the process of whiskey-making to the “complex” and “detailed” way that artists go about their work.
As for Blake, Ferras says the British singer was the perfect performer for The Macallan’s Art Basel event. “We want to work with people who are makers,” Ferras says. “He’s a maker — he makes music, he’s a composer, he’s creating things that haven’t existed before — and we wanted to work with him to create something that hadn’t been seen before.”
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Saint Laurent celebrates ‘Sex’ by Madonna at Art Basel
Image Credit: Sofia Malamute From coast to coast — think the pre-Oscars bash earlier this year to their Art Basel celebration — Anthony Vaccarello and Saint Laurent have mastered the shindig.
This time around, the brand and the man at its helm took over Miami Art Week for an event celebrating a Madonna and Vaccarello-curated exhibit pegged to the re-edition of the star’s 1992 Sex book.
Large-format images that can be found in the book lined the walls of a temporary beachfront box as Madonna’s favorite DJ Honey Dijon spun nearby. The evening doubled as a birthday fete for YSL muse Zoë Kravitz, who received a birthday cake while lounging next to friends Vaccarello and Hailey Bieber.
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Nylon House at Strawberry Moon at The Goodtime Hotel
Image Credit: World Red Eye Hailey Bieber was also spotted (sans Justin) at the Nylon House party, which took place on the rooftop pool deck at Strawberry Moon inside The Goodtime Hotel.
With the Martinez Brothers performing, and a sleek BMW parked in the middle of the dance floor (BMW was one of the sponsors), the party brought out the likes of Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Serena Williams, in addition to Bieber, Justine Skye and boxer Floyd Mayweather.
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Chance the Rapper at Soho Beach House Miami Art Week
Image Credit: Soho House Anderson .Paak played an all-vinyl DJ set at a Soho Beach House party, blasting old school hip-hop and R&B hits. The Silk Sonic started was joined in the DJ booth during his daytime set by Chance the Rapper, who belted his heart out when .Paak started playing Whitney Houston over the speakers.
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Porsche Presents: art and music
Image Credit: Andrew Joseph Woomer Earlier in the week, Rick Ross performed at a Porsche party at Soho House, which launched artist Chris Labrooy’s Surreal Swan Porsche 911.
The rapper performed in front of guests like Doja Cat and Kelis, and was gifted with a limited-edition Miami Dolphins jacket from local skate shop ANDREW at the end of the night (Kelis hit the stage to perform at the White Cube gallery party at Soho Beach House’s outdoor tent the night before).
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D’USSÉ XO x Dr. Woo Launch Party
Image Credit: Getty Images for D'USSE If you’re not insanely lucky to have some of Dr. Woo’s work living on your skin (as seen on Zoe Kravitz, Drake, Kid Cudi), maybe this is the next best thing.
The legendary tattoo artist pulled up to what had to be the coolest bowling alley on this coast to celebrate his new collaboration with the cognac brand D’ussé. The brand’s new tulip glasses featuring original artwork from Dr. Woo were on display as guests were treated to a surprise performance from Harlem’s ASAP Ferg.
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Bootsy Bellows x V Art Basel Pop-Up @ SCOPE Miami Beach
Image Credit: World Red Eye Kaytranada headlined the Bootsy Bellows x V Art Basel Pop-Up held on the sand at SCOPE Miami Beach. Guests included Bella Thorne, Jack Flaherty, Austin Mills, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who was swarmed by fans trying to get a pic with the serial entrepreneur (perhaps asking him what art piece he was picking up?)
Johnny Walker and El Silencio Mezcal kept everyone happily hydrated all night long.
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The h.wood Group’s Art Basel Pop-UP @ Mila Lounge
Image Credit: The h.wood Group Tinx and Leon Bridges were among the stars hitting up the private lounge inside Miami’s Mila Restaurant for The h.wood Group’s Art Basel Party.
Guests sipped on Grey Goose Vodka, PATRON El Alto and El Silencio Mezcal inside the space, which was completely booked out for events throughout the week.
The Riviera Dining Group property has brought out everyone from Drake to J Balvin in the past, thanks to its restaurant, a new omakase lounge and the new private members club, called MM.
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Stone Island’s 40th Anniversary Installation in Miami
Image Credit: Stone Island If you were up late enough on Tuesday night, Stone Island’s 40th Anniversary Party was the place to be. Though it didn’t start till 11pm, the event at the RC Cola Plant in Wynwood brought out guests like Leonardo Dicaprio, Jared Leto, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel as revelers partied to Jamie XX on the stage.
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Kodak Black at NAHMIAS x Patron of the New
Image Credit: Kyle Goldberg/BFA.com Menswear designer Doni Nahmias welcomed guests to Miami boutique, Patron of the New, where noted Nahmias fan Kodak Black performed a set of his biggest hits while guests sipped on Casa del Sol tequila in the Design District store.
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Audi at Design Miami
Audi helped kick off the week’s festivities with a booth at Design Miami, showcasing the digital art of Andrés Reisinger alongside the Audi grandsphere concept car.
Known for their innovations in mobility and engineering, the installation offered a look into how Audi pushing the boundaries of design as well, creating vehicles that aren’t just meant to take you from A to Z, but cars that are meant to be experienced.
For Design Miami, Audi’s concept car was set against a surrealist backdrop of architectural images and muted colors, that mirrored the calm and sculpted lines of the car.
The interior of the concept vehicle had no steering wheel, pedals, or instruments, with a loveseat-like back bench. The goal: to allow passengers to set their own mood and create their own space, whether for utility or pleasure.
Reisinger told Rolling Stone that he sought to replicate that feeling with his artwork, at once immersive and experiential. Art is like a car, he explains, “because you can experience and enjoy it any way you want.”
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Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid x The Surgeon Reveal
Image Credit: KELLY SERFOSS One of the biggest stories to come out of Art Basel 2022 was Bentley’s unveiling of its one-of-a-kind Flying Spur sedan, designed by Dominic Ciambrone (a.k.a. The Surgeon), one of the world’s most influential custom shoemakers.
Revealed at a star-studded party that brought out some of Miami’s top art collectors, tastemakers and influencers, the car was inspired by The Surgeon’s iconic black and gold shoeboxes, with a mix of Anthracite Black and Satin Anthracite Black on the outside, and a bespoke interior featuring Bentley’s signature diamond quilting, embroidered Surgeon logo throughout and The Surgeon’s skull and scalpel monogram projected from the open doors.
The kicker: the one-of-one car ended up selling for $450,000 during the launch event, proving that even at the biggest art fair in the world, Bentley still reigns supreme.
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Bentley x The Surgeon Sneakers
Image Credit: KELLY SERFOSS The car reveal followed the unveiling of Bentley’s collaboration with The Surgeon on a limited run of ten bespoke sneakers, that juxtaposed Bentley’s luxe diamond quilting and cross-stitching on a pair of adidas Forum Low sneakers. The Surgeon’s touchpoints are all over the shoes, from his monogram to the specially-selected colorways for each pair.
Like the car, the sneakers are already off the market: only ten unique pairs were created and they’ve all been reserved by clients from Bentley’s Mulliner division, the custom design arm of Bentley known for its coachbuilt, custom cars.