THE GALLERINA BRINGS BLVKBOOK TO MIAMI AS EL MAC AND RETNA REUNITE
Miami just delivered the Art Basel we needed. Not just another week of overpriced cocktails and selfies with sculptures this was art at its most electric, most authentic, most alive. And leading the charge? Bella Sophie, BLVKBOOK’s Gallerina from down under, bringing her MOCA pedigree and killer eye for talent to two major fairs simultaneously.
THE REUNION THAT STOPPED EVERYONE
The biggest moment of Art Basel Miami 2025? El Mac x RETNA reuniting after more than a decade for a massive collaborative mural at Goldman Global Arts Gallery inside the Wynwood Walls Museum.
For those who don’t know the history: these two defined an era. In the 2000s and early 2010s, their Los Angeles and Miami collaborations created a visual language that influenced an entire generation of street artists. Mac’s luminous, technically masterful portraits combined with RETNA’s architectural calligraphy created something that transcended street art and entered the realm of fine art.
Seeing them back together in Miami older, more refined, but still carrying that raw creative energy was witnessing art history in real time. The mural reconnects their collaboration to the public spaces where they first made their mark. This isn’t just nostalgia; it’s proof that some artistic partnerships are timeless.
If you only see one thing at Art Basel, make it these murals. It’s everything their fans hoped for and more. Fuckin dope…
THE BLVKBOOK DOUBLE PLAY
While the legends were making headlines, BLVKBOOK was making moves. The Gallerina orchestrated something ambitious: simultaneous shows at both Red Dot Miami, Booth 603 and Context Art Fair, Booth C3, right next door to each other.
Ari Katz (@savagefordesign) is showing at Red Dot with work that’s turning heads and opening wallets. Brayden Bugazzi is holding court at Context with pieces that showcase exactly why he’s one to watch. The proximity strategy is brilliant collectors can flow between both booths and see the depth of BLVKBOOK’s roster.
Ask for Bella at either location. She’s the one connecting the dots between artists and collectors with the kind of precision that only comes from years of gallery experience and an eye for what’s next.
WYNWOOD GETS BEAUTIFUL
@aluckyrabbit brought Betty Boop to Wynwood with a mural that’s already become an Instagram landmark. The neighborhood’s walls have seen legends come through, and this addition proves Wynwood’s creative heartbeat is still pounding strong.
Meanwhile, Eddy Bogaert the undisputed king of Miami’s art scene was doing what he does best: orchestrating the cultural pulse at Rosa Sky and ESME Hotel Miami Beach. These aren’t just parties; they’re where the real deals happen, where collectors and artists connect after the fair floors close. We love Eddy mover, shaker, and the king of Miami. Much respect.
WHEN ART GETS WEIRD (IN THE BEST WAY)
Art Basel Miami Beach continues through December 7, 2025, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, with Red Dot Miami at Mana Wynwood and Context Art Fair running concurrent dates. Shout out to @wynwoodwallsofficial for the amazing photos on their IG
Alec Monopoly brought his signature chaos with “Flying to a Happy Place” full scale Gulfstream and fighter jet sculptures that feel like a monopoly airplane graveyard come to life. It’s bold, brash, and pure Miami energy.
Beeple deployed his robot dogs with tech billionaire faces that photographed visitors and literally defecated NFT prints. At $100,000 each, they sold out immediately. It’s Beeple being Beeple provocative, technically impressive, and just weird enough to get everyone talking.
Peter Tunney presented his final Art Week exhibition at Wynwood Walls with “Small Is Beautiful,” marking the end of a decade defining chapter. His word driven works like “The Time Is Always Now” have been the spiritual heartbeat of Wynwood for years.
And Karen Bystedt stunned with her epic Mickey statue also at context fair with a piece that bridges pop culture nostalgia with contemporary vision. In a week filled with massive installations and celebrity artists, Karen’s work held its own and then some.
THE SCENE IS ALIVE
This is what Art Basel Miami does best: it brings together street art legends reuniting after years apart, rising stars getting their moment, established artists pushing boundaries, and collectors ready to invest in what’s next.
El Mac and RETNA reminded us why they’re legends. BLVKBOOK proved they’re a force to watch. The spectacle delivered. The art mattered.
TONIGHT: THE LOST WARHOLS
Don’t miss thelostwarhols at the Moore kicking off tonight. Karen Bystedt, the Queen of Pop, is showing her street art-filled photography of Andy Warhol rare, intimate shots that capture the icon in ways you’ve never seen. This is the kind of exhibition that becomes part of Art Basel folklore.
Our final artist at basel to check out is Josh Mayhem, he captivates Art Basel with his “Blown Away” sculpture series featuring iconic pop culture figures transformed by cascading strands of vibrant acrylic resin that create the illusion of forms frozen mid explosion. A two time Designer Toy Awards winner, Mayhem bridges nostalgic pop culture and high end contemporary art with gravity defying pieces that command attention among the fair’s elite offerings.
Get to Red Dot Miami, Booth 603 and Context Art Fair, Booth C3 before it’s too late. Ask for Bella. See what Ari Katz and Brayden Bugazzi are bringing to the table. Don’t forget to check out JOSH MAYHEM showing his statues located at Art Miami DTR Modern booth AM230
And for the love of art, don’t miss that El Mac and RETNA mural.
This is why we come to Miami. This is why Art Basel still matters.
