Vikki Tobak: My Top Picks from ABMB 2015

Following the masses as they headed South for Art Basel Miami Beach, Washington DC based art collector, philanthropist, and mom Vikki Tobak attended the fair with a lot on her agenda, part of which was to choose top picks for ETTD. Reflecting much of her own taste and collecting aesthetic, she chose works that not only would hang on her walls, but also that speaks to a larger audience and to art history. Previously, Tobak covered Art Dubai for us and we are happy to see her selection of thoughtful, culturally diverse group of artists. ~KDH, Editor

Top Picks ~

The 14th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach was buzzing and massive as per the usual hype.  However, this year the fair saw a major change; Noah Horowitz, former head of the Armory Show, assuming the directorship of Art Basel’s American operations. This was also the last year at ABMB’s current location before the Miami Beach Convention Center is scheduled to undergo major renovations. The fair boasts 267 international participants and despite the week’s crazy rain and random surreal stabbing (yes you read correct), some knockout pieces stood out among the blue chip offerings, including photography and works by women artists.

Deana Lawson at Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago

Deana Lawson, Cowboys, 2014 Inkjet print mounted on Sintra. 40×50 inches. Edition of 3 with 2 AP’s, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago, Art Basel Miami Beach, 2015

Deana Lawson, Kingdon Come, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2015. Inkjet print mounted on Sintra. 60 x 48  inches. Edition of 3 with 2 AP’s, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago, Art Basel Miami Beach, 2015, Photograph by Vikki Tobak

Lawson’s price points have moved up several notches on the heels of her recent exhibition at The Art Institute of Chicago. These beautifully intimate, large-scale color photographs examine how the body informs personal, political, and historical identities.

Kaws at Galerie Perrotin, New York/Paris/Hong Kong

KAWS, Untitled, 2015, Acrylic on Canvas, Diameter: 8 ft, Unique, Galerie Perrotin, NY/Paris/Hong Kong, Art Basel Miami Beach, Photograph by Vikki Tobak, 2015

Brian Donnelly, a.k.a. KAWS, a graffiti star turned favorite of collectors including Pharrell Williams and Swizz Beats, is definitely on everyone’s radar and has been for years. Still, his candy-colored circular painting appropriating cartoon and pop culture was a standout.

Toyin Ojih Odutola at Jack Shainman Gallery, NY

Toyin Ojih Odutola “The Flavor and The Intent”, 2015, marker on paper. Jack Shainman Gallery, NY, Art Basel Miami Beach, Photograph by Vikki Tobak, 2015

Using ballpoint pens and other drawing utensils, Nigerian-born Odutola makes intricate portraits from photographs.

Elizabeth Peyton at neugerriemschneider, Berlin

Elizabeth Peyton, Oil paint on rag paper, Installation view at during Art Basel Miami Beach, Showing with NeugerRiemschneider, Berlin, Photograph by Vikki Tobak, 2015

Roy DeCARAVA  at Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco 

Roy DeCarava, Jones and Benjamin, 1956, Silver gelatin print, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, Art Basel Miami Beach, 2015, Photograph courtesy of the Roy DeCarava Estate.

Roy DeCarava (1919 – 2009), a lifelong New Yorker, was one of the great pioneers in the 20th century movement toward Modern American Art. Along with the poet Langston Hughes, he coauthored the influential book The Sweet Fly Paper of Life (1955) and continues to influence generations of image-makers, including Carrie Mae Weems, Kerry James Marshall, and Hank Willis Thomas and many others.

A series of important, rarely shown photographs —the largest body of DeCarava’s prints to have been on view in nearly 10 years— were shown during the fair courtesy of the Roy DeCarava Estate with San Francisco based Jenkins Johnson Gallery. Each photograph was printed within two years of the negative, showing scenes of everyday life in Harlem and around New York from the 1940s to 1990s.

Louise Nevelson at PACE Gallery,NY

Louise Nevelson, “Moon Star Zag XII”, 1981, Pace Gallery, NY, Art Basel Miami Beach, Photograph by Vikki Tobak, 2015

Pace’s booth was devoted to a display of solid black sculptures by the much-demanded Louise Nevelson from the 1950s to the 1980s. Reportedly, twelve of her works sold in the first hour of the VIP preview.

Jacob Hashimoto at Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago

Jacob Hashimoto, “Corridors and Hallways Under the Electron Cloud”, 2015. Wood, acrylic, bamboo, paper and Dacron. 66 x 60 x 8 inches. Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago, Photograph by Vikki Tobak, 2015

Another artist showing in the Rhona Hoffman booth, was LA-based Jacob Hashimoto. He creates intricately crafted installations using large-scale sculptural forms, based on the meditative tradition of kite making.

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Thanks for your picks Vikki! For more of her work visit publik projects. See you at the Armory Show, 2016.

More soon.

xo