Photo Flash: Art Wynwood Wraps 2nd Edition; Announces Record Attendance

The second edition of Art Wynwood, the Wynwood Art District's highly anticipated international contemporary art fair hosted by Art Miami LLC, closed its doors Monday, Feb. 18, following sales by more than 90 percent of participating galleries and more than 27,500 visitors - an increase of more than 4,000 from last year's inaugural fair. Once again the five-day fair was held during President's Day Weekend coinciding with the Yacht & Brokerage Show. Many of the 70-plus exhibitors also notEd Strong leads and anticipated follow up sales with serious collectors in the days following the fair. Scroll down for photos from the weekend!

Art Wynwood was held during President's Day Weekend, Feb. 14 through 18, 2013, in the 100,000-square-foot Art Miami Pavilion in Midtown Miami's burgeoning Wynwood Arts District. The five-day international contemporary art fair drew international support and attention for its impressive program of emerging and mid-career, cutting-edge, modern works including paintings, photography, sculpture, art video and new media, conceptual art and street art by more than 1,000 celebrated and emerging artists represented by more than 70 galleries from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Venezuela and the United States.

"The second edition of Art Wynwood once again proved that there is a vibrant international collecting audience year round in Miami. With more than 90 percent of the galleries reporting sales throughout Miami's busiest holiday weekend, Art Wynwood manifests a big future as it satisfied contemporary art collectors at all levels and continues to take on its own identity as it complements the surrounding Midtown and Wynwood Art District. We look forward to Art Wynwood's further expansion in the 2014 edition," said Nick Korniloff, director and partner of Art Miami LLC.

"The second Art Wynwood fair was filled with visitors from the minute the opening started to the final hours," said Nancy Hoffman from the Nancy Hoffman Gallery. "The heightened level of humanity and the heightened interest in art point to great promise for the future for this fair - it is a winner!"

Art Wynwood kicked off with a VIP Preview on Valentine's Day with an exceptionally high attendance by more than 6,200 collectors and art enthusiasts. The night had a celebratory air due to the exciting works on display and the dedication of the fair to the late Tony Goldman, the urban pioneer who created Wynwood Walls and transformed the area to the epicenter of art, fashion and dining. Art Wynwood's opening was highlighted by two special projects commissioned by Jessica Goldman, CEO of Goldman Properties. The highlights included a stunning wraparound installation suspended above the VIP Lounge by famed artist Jesse Geller. Additionally Wynwood Walls commissioned a curated exhibit by Meghan Coleman featuring specially commissionEd Lenticulars with original paintings by selected artists installed in the pass-through areas of the fair. Artists participating included: Retna, Aiko, Ron English, Logan Hicks, Futura, Swoon, Kenny Scharf and How & Nosm

With models strutting the aisles wearing world-renowned designer Luis Valenzuela's "Queen of Hearts" collection, a luxury EcoArtFashion line themed especially for Valentine's Day; and with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails sponsored by Le Grand Saint Sparkling Vodka, SHELLBACK Rum and Heineken beer served throughout the fair; the ambiance was certainly an energetic one that encouraged collectors to quickly acquire important works on the opening night.

"There was incredible energy at the VIP opening, a great turnout with serious collectors. The timing with the Yacht & Brokerage Show and Valentine's Day couldn't have been better," said Carole Hochman, director of New York-basEd Barry Friedman Ltd.

Art Wynwood exhibitors began reporting strong sales minutes after opening. Following each day's increasing attendance and notable sales; Art Wynwood exhibitors, artists and host committee members celebrated with nightly after-parties at Wynwood pioneer Tony Goldman's Wynwood Walls, Bakehouse Art Complex and db Bistro Moderne Miami.

The natural overlay of fine art and luxury real estate was on display as Christie's International Real Estate (CIRE), the world's leading luxury real estate network showcased as the "Official Luxury Real Estate Partner" of Art Wynwood. CIRE welcomed a select group of international collectors, art patrons and members of their annual global conference for a private reception in the VIP Lounge on Friday evening, Feb. 15.

Among the members of the international press and illustrious visitors that attended the fair were representatives from Tate Modern in London, Leanne Standish and Timothy Walker of the Miami Art Museum, director of The Frost Museum Carol Damian; and host committee members, honored guests and collectors including sculptor John Henry, street artist Jesse Geller, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne Bon Haes, Marvin and Elayne Mordes, street artist Jona Cerwinske, chairman and CEO of Verizon Lowell McAdam, the Pocas, Susie and Walid Wahab, Marcella and Daniel Novela, the Buttermans, artist Shimon Okshteyn, president of Espíritu Santo Bank Jorge Espíritu Santo, José Roberto Marinho of Globo Organizations, coach of the Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra and photographer Cheryl Maeder.

Hollis Taggart director Vivian Bullaudy said "We chose to exhibit for a second time in Art Wynwood during President's Day Weekend - where would you rather be? The qualified collectors were here. Collectors from New York acquired some of our works at Art Wynwood and didn't even realize that they lived just down the street from our gallery. Had we not exhibited at the fair we would not have met them. This is clearly a destination event that other dealers should seriously consider."

Sergio Cernuda of Cernuda Arte in Miami, which specializes in works by Cuban artists, said "We are very pleased with the fair. Our collectors loved it and believe that it is quickly becoming a major destination for acquiring important contemporary works. We were also pleased with the number of new collectors we made relationships with."