Original post written in 2015.
Every December, Art Basel Miami Beach turns the city into the center of the art world. Galleries, artists, and collectors from around the globe arrive for a week of fairs, pop-ups, murals, and parties that spill into nearly every neighborhood.
That week is the peak of something that runs all year. Miami’s art scene has given new life to a city once known mostly for spring break and bottle service, and nowhere is that clearer than Wynwood, which went from a warehouse district without a single bar to an internationally known destination, along with the rising rents and high-end retail that came with it. Living here, I’ve watched that change up close. These photos, taken across several years of Art Basel, capture what the week feels like.