Miami Basel 2025: Record Sales and Digital Art’s Growing Appeal
Art Basel Miami Beach’s 2025 edition launched with impressive sales figures and a surge in interest for digital art. Following a monumental $2.2 billion auction series in New York, the art market continues to gain momentum, sparking renewed optimism. “There’s more hope in the art world again,” one collector noted. The fair’s VIP opening saw throngs of art enthusiasts flock to the Miami Beach Convention Center, eager to explore and purchase the diverse masterpieces on display.
Prominent figures like Florida collectors Craig Robins, Mera and Don Rubell, Norman Braman, and Beth Rudin DeWoody were among the early attendees. Artist JR and his group admired Maurizio Cattelan’s eye-catching upside-down white eagle sculpture at Gagosian, while others were captivated by Jeff Koons’s striking crimson sculpture at David Zwirner, offered at $10 million. The newly introduced digital art section, Zero 10, attracted crowds with Beeple’s intriguing robotic dogs featuring the likenesses of tech giants Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, alongside artistic legends Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
Now in its 23rd year, Art Basel Miami Beach showcased 283 galleries from 43 countries, including 48 debut participants, stepping in for notable absentees. Despite recent challenges in the gallery sector, the fair hopes to signal a market resurgence after years of contraction, supported by recent successful auctions and European fairs.
Larry Gagosian expressed satisfaction with the fair’s promising start, observing that the momentum from New York’s auctions is persisting at Art Basel. Galleries like Hauser and Wirth reported multiple million-dollar sales, including a $3.9 million piece by George Condo. White Cube sold a Richard Hunt sculpture for $1 million, and a Willem de Kooning work on paper for $3 million. Gladstone found a buyer for a Robert Rauschenberg work for $1.5 million.
David Maupin of Lehmann Maupin praised the fair’s success, noting the sale of over 15 works, indicating a healthier market as 2026 approaches. Highlights included two McArthur Binion paintings for $500,000 and a glass-beaded piece by Liza Lou sold to Californian collectors for $200,000-$250,000. The gallery also placed several works by Do Ho Suh.
Berry Campbell, known for spotlighting 20th-century female artists, achieved sales across six works, including Mercedes Matter’s Still Life for $175,000 and Yvonne Thomas’s Caribbean Shore for $375,000. Andrew Schoelkopf’s gallery, specializing in American Modernism, reported stable sales with works by Thomas Hart Benton, Marsden Hartley, Andrew Wyeth, and Ed Clark.
The Meridians sector, focusing on large-scale art, opened to dealers without booths, proving beneficial. Robert Dimin debuted Justine Hill’s 12-panel piece, The Travelers (2022), expressing enthusiasm over the opportunity.
The Zero 10 digital art section saw vibrant activity, with approximately 65% of artworks selling by mid-afternoon, according to Benny Gross, the initiative’s organizer. Beeple’s 10 dog sculptures quickly sold at $100,000 each, highlighting the section’s robust sales. Mike Kozlowski’s algorithm-based works also sold rapidly, and Emily Xie’s digital print, accompanied by an NFT, sold out within seconds.
Art Basel’s new digital focus aims to engage potential buyers from the tech industry, marking a significant step towards attracting fresh audiences. CEO Noah Horowitz emphasized the importance of bridging connections with new collecting communities.
Despite a prevailing sense of optimism, caution remains in the air. Lisa Anastos, a New York and Palm Beach collector, noted the growing hope within the art world. Yet, Jack Pierson’s text artwork, priced at $200,000, remained unsold by day’s end.
As the art market shows signs of recovery, Art Basel Miami Beach stands as a testament to the enduring appeal and evolving dynamics of the global art scene.
