Art Basel Special – Miami 2014 Murals

December 15, 2014 Artists

Art Basel has wound up another successful year in Miami and artists, dealers, buyers and sun seekers have departed. In their wake the streets of Wynwood have sustained yet one more onslaught of murals from an international mix of graffiti writers, street artists, and large format illustrators as the Street Art scene’s thick syrup of spontaneity hardens into a slick shell of commercial opportunity. The average working person with two jobs (or no job) may not have noticed that there is a fabulous boom in this economy for some, and the bubbly is flowing all around fairs like this, out into the streets, into the galleries, receptions, cocktails, and celebrity DJ appearances. While it lasts Brock Brake takes BSA readers through the brand sponsored cloud of opportunity and keeps the focus on what made Street Art interesting to begin with; the artists and their work. We think you’ll dig his photos and for the first time here, an essay in his words:

brooklyn-street-art-swoon-Brock-Brake-art-basel-miami-2014-web-1

Swoon (photo © Brock Brake)

By Brock Brake

Miami’s Art Basel might be the world’s largest summer camp for artists. Every year, artists, galleries and enthusiasts from around the world come together in one place to paint, party and socialize. With a never ending list of desired activities and events during the week, it’s impossible to see and do it all. And many of the artists whose work towers on the walls of Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood have been there a week or so longer than anyone.

Evoca1 (photo © Brock Brake)

You know you’ve made it to the right neighborhood coming from the airport when all you see from the highway are large murals and roadside graffiti…and you’re most likely stuck in traffic.

Every single street in Wynwood was filled with artists from various parts of the world who all share one goal: to create. Artist like Meggs, Word To Mother, Hush, Spencer Keeton Cunningham, Lauren Napolitano, Aaron Glasson, Pose, Cleon Peterson, Ron English, Rone, Swoon and many others were all present and active.

Evoca1 (photo © Brock Brake)

It was hard not to get distracted by all of their process while walking from event to event. I spent a total of three full days in Wynwood documenting, visiting some walls more than once. It’s impossible to see it all.

When the fairs close around 7pm, the streets of Wynwood and South Beach explode. There are live painting events like Basel Castle and Secret Walls, pop up galleries, live concerts by hotel pools and, of course, The Deuce; South Beach’s best dive bar beehive of visiting artists.

I’m grateful for my annual “camp” reunion trips to Miami. Reconnecting with old friends you haven’t seen in years while making plenty of new ones. It’s fun to see that as the years go by, everyone is just as much a kid as you remember them. You see the same friend throughout the week wearing the same shirt for four days covered in paint, with no shower or sleep. All of these artists work very hard to do what they do and that’s why I do what I do.

Until next year – BB

Shout (photo © Brock Brake)

Cleon Peterson in collaboration with Shepard Fairey. (photo © Brock Brake)

Rone in action. (photo © Brock Brake)

Rone (photo © Brock Brake)

Bicicleta Sem Freio (photo © Brock Brake)

Aaron Glasson (photo © Brock Brake)

Lauren YS in action. (photo © Brock Brake)

Lauren YS (photo © Brock Brake)

Tatiana Suarez (photo © Brock Brake)

D*Face in action. (photo © Brock Brake)

D*Face (photo © Brock Brake)

Nychos (photo © Brock Brake)

Hush in action. (photo © Brock Brake)

Hush (photo © Brock Brake)

Space Invader (photo © Brock Brake)

Ckue and Soduh (photo © Brock Brake)

Aaron Kai in action. (photo © Brock Brake)

Aaron Kai (photo © Brock Brake)

Meggs in action. (photo © Brock Brake)

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