At the pavilion where Ocean Drive and 18th Street meet, SCOPE Miami Beach returned this year for its 19th edition. SCOPE never disappoints those who want to see cutting edge art, but this year, it pushed the envelope even more. Everywhere you turned, SCOPE had great music, inspiring visuals, and even CBD spa treatments—picture a carnival, but for kickass adults. With more than 130 exhibitors this year, SCOPE Miami Beach cemented its position as one of the most hype-worthy spots in South Beach.
But back to that CBD thing. This year, SCOPE implemented new programming in the Atrium: an immersive, multidisciplinary experience called OASIS. OASIS is basically all about individual well-being, and, of course, having fun. As the sun rose, visitors enjoyed guided meditation sessions led by Innergy Meditation. For an even more enhanced state of tranquility, OASIS offered CBD spa treatments.
By day, the Atrium was the hub of large-scale installations and panel discussions with important names in New Contemporary, like Paul Hemming and Susan Hansen. By night, OASIS was a massive party. Guests got the chance to groove along to the musical stylings of artists like Mick, Daru Jones, and DJ A-Trak.
Photo courtesy of SCOPE
This year’s art fair had a distinctly international bent, showcasing galleries from the likes of Paris, London, Moscow, Prague, and more. It also dedicated special programming to Chinese contemporary art. FOCUS | Art China highlighted work from well-known Chinese creatives and just-starting Chinese artists. One of the biggest goals of the fair is to put quality stuff out into the larger art world. FOCUS | Art China did that in a big way, while also bridging between the creative hemispheres of East and West.
The art on display at SCOPE was truly a 360-degree experience. Artist HOTTEA brought back his vibrant, complex yarn installation, which hung just over guests’ heads as they entered the glass box entrance of the SCOPE Pavilion. Once inside, the Furtherrr Collective was painting sweeping murals in real time, embodying the fair’s creative vibes.
Visitors from London might have recognized the iconic work of D*Face, whose posters hang all over the city. Others may have been familiar with the colorful, geometric murals and sculptures of Okuda San Miguel, who has work on the sides of prominent buildings worldwide. Artist Mister E also exhibited at the fair. His creative twists on the $100 bill have been featured in music videos for Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne alike.
There were many more fabulous artists at SCOPE Miami Beach, even if they haven’t been seen in a Hot 100 music video just yet. Butch Anthony, Alex Yanes, and German duo Quintessenz—to name a few—all brought some of their best work to SCOPE. We left our worries behind and immersed ourselves in the art world in one of America’s most attractive locales.
