Picture Perfect South Beach

	From the ShanghART Gallery, Shanghai
	MCH Swiss Exhibition (Basel/Zurich) AG

South Beach, Fla., the town renowned for its decadent hotels, club scene and beautiful people, is transformed during the second weekend of December.

From Dec. 7-10, this section of Miami turns into a massive art party, and art enthusiasts, collectors, dealers, critics and curators travel from around the world to attend.

Art Basel Miami Beach is the sister event of Art Basel in Switzerland, one of the most prestigious art fairs in the world for the last three decades.

Founded by Sam Keller, the director of Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach, the showcase is located in the Art Deco district of Miami, mere walking distance from all the other main attractions of South Beach.

The festival, now in its fifth year, features a wide array of art, from visual to performance; in addition to viewing the art for sale, there are panel discussions, multimedia shows and movies.

The art ranges widely in price, from a few hundred dollars to works in the millions. The estimated total value of art sold at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2005 was $2 billion, according to AXA Fine Art Insurance.

Over 200 galleries from around the world are featured at the prestigious event. ...