ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH MELTDOWN: 14 GALLERIES DROP OUT, ARTIST ARRESTED — Quick Facts
14 blue-chip galleries including Miguel Abreu, Alison Jacques, and Edward Tyler Nahem dropped out between July announcement and December fair. Luxembourgish performance artist Thomas Iser arrested and jailed for spraying washable chalk message 'Sorry to disturb, art in progress' on convention center window.
Key Data Points
- 14 blue-chip galleries including Miguel Abreu, Alison Jacques, and Edward Tyler Nahem dropped out between July announcement and December fair
- Luxembourgish performance artist Thomas Iser arrested and jailed for spraying washable chalk message 'Sorry to disturb, art in progress' on convention center window
- Art market crisis forces gallery closures and cancellations, with MCH Group's profit margin at only 0.7% despite $542 million revenue
Frequently Asked
- Why did 14 galleries drop out of Art Basel Miami Beach 2024?
- The galleries, including Miguel Abreu, Alison Jacques, and Edward Tyler Nahem, withdrew due to the summer art market correction and high fair participation fees. Gallery owners cited the burden of multiple fall fairs and the need to cut costs as reasons for their cancellations.
- Who is Thomas Iser and why was he arrested at Art Basel Miami Beach?
- Thomas Iser is a Luxembourgish performance artist who was arrested on criminal mischief charges after spray-painting 'Sorry to disturb, art in progress' on a Miami Beach Convention Center window using washable chalk. He spent a night in jail and now faces trial and potential deportation.
- How many galleries participated in Art Basel Miami Beach 2024?
- 271 galleries participated in the December fair, down from the 285 galleries originally announced in July, after 14 major galleries pulled out between the announcement and the event.
- What is MCH Group's profit margin for 2024?
- Art Basel's parent company MCH Group reported a profit margin of only 0.7% in 2024 despite generating $542 million in revenue, reflecting the financial strain on the art fair industry.
- What happened to Thomas Iser's daughter during his arrest?
- Iser's three-year-old daughter was present and had been drawing with a chalk pen when police arrested him, handcuffing him in front of his child before taking him to Miami jail.