Art Basel’s Conversations series presents stimulating panel discussions on topics concerning the global contemporary art scene. Prominent members of the international artworld – artists, gallerists, curators, collectors, architects, critics, and many other cultural figures – each offer unique perspectives on producing, collecting, and exhibiting art. Art Basel Miami Beach 2021 Conversations was programmed by Art Basel and Edward Winkleman, author and private dealer.
Jeffrey Gibson, artist, Hudson, New York
Anne Ellegood, Good Works Executive Director, Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA LA), Los Angeles
Johanna Burton, Director, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles
Isolde Brielmaier, Deputy Director, New Museum, NYC
Alison Gass, Director, The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF)
Moderator: Andras Szanto
How to chart the future of an art museum while honoring or redressing its past, is a complex challenge for any museum leaders, but perhaps particularly delicate for newly appointed ones. New leadership brings opportunities to inject exciting ideas into an institution, albeit under the scrutiny of communities, trustees, staff and artists. In this panel, recent appointees to major institutions share how they approach these challenges, as well as how they view the evolving role of the museum director in these turbulent times.
Esther Kim Varet, Co-founder, Various Small Fires
Alexander Forbes, Head of Collector Services & Private Sales, Artsy
Heather Flow, Art Advisor and founder of Flow Advisory, New York
Moderator: Marion Maneker, Editorial Director of LiveArt
The lack of pricing transparency can be seen as a barrier for new collectors entering the field of art. Gallerists can argue on the other hand that discretion benefits both clients and artists. During the pandemic, online sales jumped considerably, and new perspectives on the question of pricing transparency have emerged. Does increased pricing transparency truly benefit both artists and collectors? Our panelist will explore the pros and cons of pricing transparency in today's increasingly hybrid art market.
Ethan Beard, Co-founder and CEO, Yoz, San Francisco
Sarah Wendell Sherrill, Co-Founder / Co-CEO, Lobus, San Francisco
Moderator: Tim Schneider, Art Business Editor, Artnet News
Manuel Mathieu, artist, Montreal
Edwidge Danticat, writer, Miami
Moderator: Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries, London
Harm van den Dorpel, artist and co-founder, left Gallery, Berlin
Saskia Draxler, gallerist, Nagel Draxler, Berlin/Cologne
Mark Soares, Chief Marketing Officer and Founder, Blokhaus Inc.
Moderator: Amy Whitaker, Author, Economics of Visual Art and NFT researcher at NYU
Chana Budgazad Sheldon, Executive Director, Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami
Maia Ruth Lee, artist, Salida
Sky Hopinka, artist and filmmaker, Milwaukee
Moderator: Larry Ossei-Mensah, curator and Co-Founder of ARTNOIR
Alvaro Barrington, artist, London and New York
Tim Blum, Co-founder, Blum & Poe, Tokyo, Los Angeles and New York
Pedro Mendes, Co-founder, Mendes Wood DM, Sao Paulo, Brussels and New York
Kyla McMillan, Founder, Saint George Projects, New York
Moderator: Lou Stoppard, writer, and curator, London
Felipe Mujica, artist, Brooklyn, New York
Fannie Sosa, artist, France/Brasil
Jessica Kaire, NYC, artist and founder of NuMu, Guatemala City
Moderator: Jesus Fuenmayor, Program Director and Curator of University Galleries, University of Florida, Gainesville
Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst, Co-founder and CEO, Superblue
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, artist, Montreal
Felice Grodin, artist, Miami
Moderator: Brian Droitcour, Editor-in-chief, Outland