Miami Project during Art Basel Miami Art Week 2013.

“Miami Project is produced by artMRKT Productions, a firm based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and operated by Max Fishko and Jeffrey Wainhause. Working in concert with a talented and passionate network of dealers, curators and arts professionals, artMRKT Productions is proud to present forward thinking, progressive and successful events across the country.”

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PRESS RELEASE:
Miami Project art fair closed Sunday, December 8 with record-breaking sales and attendance. More than 25,000 people visited the fair (a 25% increase over last years’ attendance), of which 4,000 came for the VIP preview. The fair donated over $25,000 to MOCA Miami from ticket sales at the opening night preview, and raised over $5,000 for art nonprofits across the country through a popup holiday shop selling artist-made merchandise beginning at $10.

Mark Moore of Mark Moore Gallery said: “Everything we’ve sold with one exception has been to new collectors. Considering that we’ve done Miami fairs for the past 10 years, that’s a significant accomplishment.” The gallery placed a work by Penelope Umbrico with a prominent Florida museum collection, and sold work by Julie Heffernan, Julie Oppermann, Allison Schulnik, Andrew Schoultz, Ryan Wallace, and Ben Weiner to individuals.

Many dealers commented on the quality of the visitors to the fair. Quint Contemporary placed work with trustees of LA MoCA, the Broad Art Museum, and MoCA San Diego. By midday Sunday they had confirmed sales of multiple works by Mel Bochner, Peter Alexander, Gisela Colón, and the entire edition of a work by Adam Bell. Notable collectors including Beth Rudin DeWoodyDon and Mira Rubell, and Marty Margulies visited the fair, as did art world figures like Hans Ulrich Obrist and Carter Foster. Andrea Zieher of ZieherSmith said: “There was a strong museum presence, as well as lots of great consultants buying and doing research and development.”

“I’ve done fairs for 9 years and I have the biggest affinity for the spirit of this one, and the other work been shown” said Walter Maciel of the eponymous gallery. “I’ve exceeded my sales goals here and this fair gave me a positive outlook for 2014.” Most exhibitors said that collectors were interested in a comprehensive range of work from their booths, rather than inquiring about a single artist. Julie Saul of the eponymous gallery said that: “I sold something by each artist in my booth, to new and existing clients. We like the atmosphere of this fair.” She also sold photographs by Arne Svenson to a curator and a trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Steven Kasher Gallery sold many photographs, among which were vintage prints by Diane Arbus. “It was a great crowd and a smart audience,” said a representative from that gallery.

Joshua Liner of Joshua Liner Gallery said, “I felt that the quality of the contacts we made at this fair was far superior to anything we’ve participated in, in Miami before.”

A painting by Jemima Kirke, a painter who became the breakout star of the hit TV show Girls, was sold to a Miami-based collector by Fouladi Projects. Tibor de Nagy Gallery placed a painting by Joseph Albers, a sculpture by Kathy Butterly, and a large painting by Nell Blaine with private collections.

“Exhibitors were thrilled with who came to look and who came to buy,” said Max Fishko, cofounder of Miami Project. “They were overwhelmed by how many curators and trustees from major institutions came through. The second edition of Miami Project was a major success and we will definitely be back with a similar roster in 2014.”

“We were pleased but not surprised by the heavy volume of sales and major interest in the fair from across a wide spectrum of art professionals and collectors,” said Jeffrey Wainhause, cofounder of Miami Project.

Miami Project is presented with support from the Wall Street Journal, Luxe magazine, the Midtown Doral, and Porcelanosa.