The ever-inspired Baltimore-born and Brooklyn-based artist Derrick Adams sits down with Whitewall to chat about the best shows, discoveries, and more at Miami Art Week.
Best Shows
Jenna Bond, Nate Lewis, Derrick Adams, Michael Chuapoco, Louis Long; Derrick Adams in Partnership With Google Shopping and the Miami Beach Edition Host an Evening in Celebration of Miami Art Week; photo by Jason Sean Weiss/BFA, © BFA 2024.
I did go to see José Parlá’s show at the Perez which I thought was amazing.
I went to Basel. I always enjoy going to the fair and do find it a good place to see people you haven’t seen in a while. I feel like it’s a reunion. Everyone is there. I always stop by to see Rhona Hoffman Gallery, which is a gallery I work with. I did a check-in with Gagosian, my new gallery. I had work with Gagosian and at Rhona Hoffman Gallery.
I love Rhona, everyone loves Rhona. And I saw Larry, like Rhona, a veteran. I love working with galleries who are unique in their personality, there’s no one else like them. No one else is going to ever be like them ever again, just the way they operate. I enjoy that.
I also go to see the up-and-coming artists who are showing at the fair. I saw some of the other gallery artists there too.
Best Moments
Derrick Adams, Stephanie Horton, Frank Roberts; Derrick Adams in Partnership With Google Shopping and the Miami Beach Edition Host an Evening in Celebration of Miami Art Week; photo by Jason Sean Weiss/BFA, © BFA 2024.
I had dinner on Monday with Google Shop at the Edition. Tuesday I attended Gagosian’s Miami party at Mr. Chow’s which was also great. Wednesday I had my party at the poolside of the Edition with Google Shop. I did the conversation and the party with WOAH as well.
Best Discovery
The talk with Cari Champion. That was so cool.
Best Vibe
Portrait of José Parlá by Lazaro Llanes.
The dinner of course celebrating José was great. He’s one of those unique people. He was there with the museum when I went by to see the show. He was talking to people, taking pictures, just being so available and so sweet.
Best Surprises
Derrick Adams, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Rhona Bennett, En Vogue; Derrick Adams in Partnership With Google Shopping and the Miami Beach Edition Host an Evening in Celebration of Miami Art Week; photo by Jason Sean Weiss/BFA, © BFA 2024.
Having En Vogue perform was amazing. This has made my year. Having them agree to perform, which was a long shot, was awesome. Tierra Whack, of course, is also amazing. Having those individuals and groups perform was definitely a highlight of my trip.
There’s something really interesting about the mystery or the intrigue of Miami Basel for people who are not necessarily within this art constellation. It’s selling art, but it has other utopian aspects that are happening simultaneously outside of the market. The art fair is really more about presentations of creativity, conversations about creativity. Even if they’re not artists, some are athletes, business people, they come there for some sense of inspiration or uplift.
Tierra Whack; Derrick Adams in Partnership With Google Shopping and the Miami Beach Edition Host an Evening in Celebration of Miami Art Week; photo by Jason Sean Weiss/BFA, © BFA 2024.
