From Pricey Bananas to Impressive Visitor Numbers: 6 Surprising Facts about Art Basel Miami Beach

1) Sound like you’re in the know: In case you want to make an impression: real art insiders don’t say “Art Basel Miami Beach” when they’re here, but rather, refer to it as the “main fair.” There are many other smaller art fairs taking place at the same time, you see.

2) Truly impressive: Around 80,000 visitors made the pilgrimage to Art Basel Miami Beach in 2023, making it bigger than the Super Bowl – in some ways. The last Super Bowl to be held in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, in 2020, was “only” attended by around 62,000 spectators.

3) Totally bananas: Small effort, big impact: in 2019, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan stuck three bananas to a wall with gray duct tape. Named “Comedian,” their prices started at 120,000 dollars each. Incredibly, a banana (fresh) and the concept were sold for 6.2 million dollars in November 2024.

4) Mural musing: If you’re flying with us to Miami International Airport, you can marvel at the art there. Among the highlights is the brightly colored (and slightly psychedelic) mural by artist Jen Stark between Terminals D and E.

5) Shattered? Jeff Koons is a world-famous artist, perhaps best known for his balloon dogs. In 2016, one of his porcelain miniatures broke, but he wasn’t particularly bothered. There are worse things, he said. Well, if you’re one of the world’s richest artists (he’s said to be worth 400 million dollars), you can get over 9,000 dollars worth of damage.

6) Come on in: Miami is home to more than a few top-tier art collectors. Some even open the doors of their private homes especially for Art Basel Miami Beach, so the less well-heeled can enjoy the treasures above their couches, dressers, and dining tables. (You will still need enough cash to buy a VIP pass to get in, though.)