By Eliza Jordan
Open through December 9 is the seventh edition of Untitled Art, Miami Beach. Back at its sandy beachfront location at Ocean Drive and 12th Street, the international fair this year is presenting 133 exhibitors from 30 countries—and 46 of those are presenting for the first time, including Edel Assanti, HILO galería, Davidson Gallery, and Zalucky Gallery. Artistic Director Omar Lopez-Chahoud and Executive Director Manuela Mozo worked with guest curator AGUAS, an artist-run curatorial platform, to keep the booths and solo presentations dynamic. Below, we’re share a list of six not-to-miss galleries from around the globe.
Albertz Benda’s booth at Untitled Art, Miami Beach 2018.Courtesy of Eliza Jordan.
Albertz Benda (New York) catches you at the beginning with large, mystical works by Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton. Pieces like up in this, made of bronze and granite plinth, and the fever is here, made of acrylic and spray paint on French linen, reel you in with an eerie female protagonist. Elaborated by one-line details, swirls of pastel colors, small stipple dots, and an overall questionable narrative of alien-like language, the works pop from a wall backdrop of black-and-white eyes.
Connersmith’s booth at Untitled Art, Miami Beach 2018.Courtesy of Eliza Jordan.
Connersmith (Washington, D.C.) is showing a solo booth of works by artist Wilmer Wilson IV—a 29-year-old artist based in Richmond, Virginia that investigates how black individuals are marginalized, presented, and cared in today’s social atmosphere. Upon walking into the booth, visitors can see images, mostly concealed by shred of silver, with just bits and parts revealed. Getting a closer look, the images are blown-up photos from flyers the artist found, covered in staples. The conceal and reveal of these images paint a picture that while we think we understand black culture—the misrepresentation of it, the glamorization of it, the triumphs and travesties of it—we largely do not.
Steve Turner’s booth at Untitled Art, Miami Beach 2018.Courtesy of Eliza Jordan.
Steve Turner(Los Angeles) first caught our eyes with a work by artist Hannah Epstein. Seemingly crocheted (or perhaps made from a variety of methods with fabric), the piece told the story of “Freakout Girl,” who is approached through four scenes, anxiously not answering before running away. On the nearby wall are a selection of small, framed drawings of characters by Laylah Ali—all diverse, with some seen with a hairy face, exposed breasts, or wearing a shirt with “Lies” on its front. Around the corner are realistic paintings of female portraits by Paige Jiyoung Moon, and in the back left corner are three must-see paintings by Lucy Fradkin.
