Art Basel Miami Beach 2023, USA

Art Basel Miami Beach, North America’s most comprehensive international contemporary art fair, returned for its 21st edition between 8-10 December 2023. Thousands of art dealers, artists, collectors and art aficionados enjoyed modern and contemporary art from 277 galleries from around the globe.

The fair is a driving force in supporting the role galleries play in nurturing the careers of artists, and one that NetJets, the world’s leading private aviation company, is proud to have been a global associate partner of for over 20 years.

This year, NetJets’ bespoke lounge reflects the privacy and seclusion of NetJets travel destinations with a luxury safari theme. A collaborative effort with world-renowned artist Conor Mccreedy, NetJets’ Lounge was adorned with large scale artworks depicting Mccreedy’s wildlife series, all in the artist’s signature blue monochrome.

Approach

Jason Smith was commissioned by long-standing client NetJets to reuse and develop the 2022 show design to incorporate a dedicated space to showcase the work of Conor Mccreedy in the NetJets VIP Lounge located within the Art Collector’s Lounge at the show.

The lounge was required to capture the imagination of NetJets owners and provide an exclusive restful environment at the show, for body and mind, that reflected the prestigious NetJets brand proposition. The lounge design reflects Jason’s approach to his work in setting out to create a ‘sense of permanence’ to the temporary space. Considered space planning enabled a comfortable luxurious interior, with a dash of Miami, that maximised the amount of covers that could be accommodated.

South African-born, Swiss-based, British artist Conor Mccreedy’s art was featured in the bespoke NetJets VIP Lounge with his Alter-Ego Wildlife series. Globally recognised for his monochromatic work, Mccreedy explores the world through a singular focus; the colour blue. Inspired by a reverence of the landscape in which he grew up, the Alter-Ego Wildlife series focuses on the complex relationship between oneself and the natural world as well as the artist’s passion for conservation.

An aesthetically pleasing lounge space and welcoming ambience that allowed NetJets to provide a fine-dining hospitality experience in keeping with the levels of service NetJets owners are accustomed to, whilst creating a sense of ‘being in the air’!

Specifications and detailing

• External facade inspired by flight and jet wings as they take off and land, with a graphical blue – white gradient graphical application. Gradually changing angled louvres provide a combination of privacy for guests whilst affording subtle views in and out of the space.
• Welcoming controlled-access entrance and reception area with oversized archway feature leads into the entrance corridor.
• Neutral clean palette to reflect the brand and private aviation.
• Use of luxury materials such as American walnut, mineral cast solid shaped counters and fluted detailed wall panelling.
• Custom made bar counters and tables.  Bespoke banquet style seating booths with rounded white leather seat pads.
• Interior architecture style ceilings with recessed integrated dimmable lighting.
• Custom made walnut framed arches throughout the space.
• Retractable transparent white curtain divides provide vanity between tables and separate dining guests or open up to accommodate larger groups.
• Low level lighting detail to walls and unitary.
• Custom made wall and mirror features with integral accent lighting.
• Tom Dixon Spring brass finish LED pendant lamps.
• Fully dimmable controlled lighting system to set the level of ambience suitable for a luxury dining experience.
• Tropical biophilia to humanise the space.
• Custom made planters throughout the space also provided vanity and division between guests.

Artworks by Conor Mccreedy.