Recently, Singulart had the honor of presenting the work of 3 emerging artists from Europe and Asia at Aqua Art Miami. The curation was airy and positive, featuring Pieter Ceizer’s colorful typographic work, the street art inspired paintings of Lucas Beaufort, and the eclectic piggies of Seunghwui Koo. We spoke with our art fair coordinator Marion Sailhen to get the inside scoop on Singulart’s first ever art fair in America and the international contemporary art community that gathers in Miami every year.
Hey Marion! What was the public like at Aqua Art Miami and where were most people from?
For most people, going to Aqua Art is a real pilgrimage, either for personal or professional reasons, and they come every year. A lot of collectors come from New York City and Boston to escape the cold and treat themselves to a week of art and sun! I met a lot of art consultants and advisers from all over the US, but also from abroad, like Dubai for example. They come to buy artworks for their clients, either at the fair or later on, using the experience to network and scout new talents. There were also private collectors from Miami and the surrounding county. Most of them are young and come to Aqua because they know they will be able to buy something there and to take part of this amazing Miami Art Week. Miami is the place to be in December if you are interested in art, whether you buy or not.
What was the feedback you received about Singulart’s artists?
People loved Pieter Ceizer’s LOVE Néon! They took a lot of pictures in front of it- our booth looked like a real photo booth! They loved our curation which was airy, positive and fun. The handmade pigs by Seunghwui Koo had a lot of success as well. People loved their meaning, but mostly appreciated the impressive technique by which they were assembled. Each one is hand made in porcelain and painted differently in a funny and detailed way; some pigs have lipstick, others have patterns of dots or rainbows. La Valse Bleue from Lucas Beaufort had a lot of success for its striking deep blue color palette and the inviting universe he creates with his colorful characters.
Miami is the place to be in December if you are interested in art, whether you buy or not.
Were there any notable sales?
Yes! We sold the People #Blue by Seunghwui Koo to a Korean collector living in Soho in New York City. She is mostly collecting Korean artists and lives between New York City and Amsterdam. We sold Orange Moon by Pieter Ceizer to a private collector from Miami Beach at the last minute after the collector discovered the artist through Instagram. We delivered the work to his place and he showed us his art collection which included the work of Cuban artists, old Greek etchings, and abstract canvases from a Miami artist. The Fuck Yeah print also sold many times at the Fair, usually as a Christmas present!
How was the atmosphere of this fair compared to the previous ones Singulart attended this fall?
The atmosphere at Aqua is very different from the Affordable Art Fairs, because this type of fair would not take place during the contemporary art week of a city. All of Miami is completely buzzing during the contemporary art week. Alongside Aqua Art Miami, there are more than 10 other fairs (including Art Miami, Context, Basel, Scope, Pinta, Ink, Untitled, Pulse), dozens of exhibitions in galleries, hotels, museums, and art centers. Artists studios are open to the public and the Wynwood district is extremely lively with around 100 street artists doing live painting in the streets. This is more than just a fair taking place in a city- the city becomes art itself! All artists, curators, and reporters are gathered in the same place at the same time to get an overview of the global art market for the year. This is not so much about buying art, but mostly about discovering new artists and establishing the fame of the already renowned ones. AQUA is a very fancy place, in South Beach and it opens late compared to Basel or Context for example. There is a bar and waterfalls in the middle of the courtyard and all the rich and famous of the city come for a drink and take selfies!
Marion next to Pieter Ceizer’s LOVE Néon 
Narcissism Red by Seunghwui Koo
This is more than just a fair taking place in a city- the city becomes art itself! All artists, curators, and reporters are gathered in the same place at the same time to get an overview of the global art market for the year.
Were there any other international galleries presenting work?
There were 3 galleries from France including us, 4 from Korea, some from Germany, Australia, Greece, Russia….The contemporary art week is very international and so was Aqua Art!
