Art MiamiArt Miami celebrates its 24^th installment this year. Known as the original and one of the most successful fairs during Miami Art Week, Art Miami features 125 galleries from around the world. In 2012 Art Miami and sister fair CONTEXT broke records by attracting more than 60,000 visitors and generating sales of more than $50 million. CONTEXT was added to the Art Miami LLC portfolio in 2012 and for 2013, 69 galleries from 15 countries will present cutting-edge work by emerging and mid-career artists in a 45,000-square-foot pavilion. This year Art Miami also added Aqua Art Miami to the roster. Celebrating its ninth consecutive installment this December it will be the first as one of the Art Miami family of fairs. Aqua is one of the best fairs for emerging art during Miami’s Art Week and over the years, Aqua has been recognized for presenting vibrant and noteworthy international art programs with a particular interest in supporting young dealers and galleries with strong emerging and mid-career artists.

Nick Korniloff, Director and Partner of Art Miami LLC. talks to us about Art Miami, the acquisition of Aqua and what makes a successful art fair.

What is the focus of Art Miami and also the sister fair CONTEXT for 2013?

They are separate and distinct fairs but they are tied together by servicing the more sophisticated collector audience that is buying the primary and secondary market. CONTEXT features emerging, the mid-career and cutting edge and Art Miami features a lot of contemporary works from Picasso to Liechtenstein to Warhol and also has gallery programs that have a both, a primary and a secondary market component.

What changes have been made compared to 2012?

Both fairs have been upgraded in regards to the quality of the show. We have many new prestigious galleries with very strong fair pedigree. The wonderful thing is, those fairs have increased their international participation of galleries, which we feel is extremely important in the outreach and in servicing the international market that Miami has become.

What is your selection process for galleries? Can you elaborate on the main criteria?

We are receiving over 700 applications for Art Miami annually. For a fair that has 125 positions. We work with an advisory committee. Clearly we understand that the dealers should make a full proposal with their fair history and the history of their artists. What museum shows they have, what private collections their works are in. We try to have artists who have real time exhibitions, major museums or being highlighted in collections and institutions.