Art Basel Appoints Bridget Finn Director of its Miami Beach Fair

Art Basel is delighted to announce today that Bridget Finn has been appointed Director of its Miami Beach show. In this role, Finn will steer the direction of the Miami Beach edition as it continues to innovate, overseeing the team staging the fair, cultivating and expanding Art Basel's network of galleries, collectors, and artists in the Americas, and working in concert with Miami and South Florida's world-class museums, institutions, and cultural partners. Finn will focus on strengthening Art Basel's position as the premier Modern and contemporary art fair in the Americas and global platform for the dialogue and discovery of new artistic practices and perspectives from the region. Finn will begin her directorship in September 2023 and will be based in New York. She will report to Vincenzo de Bellis, Director, Fairs and Exhibition Platforms, and work closely alongside Maureen Bruckmayr, Head of Business and Management Americas.

Finn brings to the role a deep knowledge of the gallery ecosystem. Before joining the eponymous, Detroit-based gallery Reyes | Finn, she directed the contemporary art program at Mitchell-Innes & Nash (2013-2017) and held several roles at Anton Kern Gallery (2007-2010) in New York. As part of a gallerist collective, she established the collaborative curatorial project space Cleopatra's (2008-2018) in New York, which later operated a Berlin location, working collaboratively with hundreds of artists and cultural producers for a decade. Previously, Finn served as the Director of Strategic Planning & Projects at Independent Curators International (ICI) (2010-2013), where she developed unique projects and formats in partnership with leading galleries, museums, auctions houses, corporations, and philanthropic organizations to deliver contemporary art programs to broad public audiences.

Finn comes to the position with an intimate understanding of the North and South American art markets and an extensive, established network of galleries, collectors, artists, curators, and institutional leaders across the region, within and outside of the traditional hotspots in the U.S. A Detroit native, Finn co-founded the city-wide exhibition platform Art Mile Detroit in 2020, serving dozens of local galleries, institutional non-profits, museums, and artist-run spaces. In 2022, she established FLOURISH, a platform that employs art to drive advancements and positive transformations for children affected by rare disease. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees of Independent Curators International (ICI) and is active on the Advisory Committee of the Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC).

"We are thrilled with Bridget’s appointment and could not have found a better fit to lead our Miami Beach fair," says Noah Horowitz, CEO, Art Basel. "She is deeply committed to Art Basel's mission and strategic direction, and to our contributions in shaping and promoting the health and vibrancy of the artworld ecosystem and local art scenes in Miami Beach and beyond. She has vision, ambition, and the requisite skillset in spades to drive forward our team and our many new and longtime partners in Miami Beach. I am immensely proud to welcome her to the Art Basel family."

Vincenzo de Bellis, Director, Fairs and Exhibition Platforms, says: "Our Miami Beach show is absolutely singular – in its history and topography, in its character and spirit, and in the extraordinary community of Miami Beach that continues to shape this landmark fair and cultural experience of unparalleled quality. Bridget is a lifelong partner to and champion of galleries and artists. She brings invaluable leadership experience, a wide network of collectors, galleries, artists, and cultural partners, and unfettered enthusiasm for and conviction in Art Basel's purpose and vision. I am confident that she will take our show and all that makes it unique into an even stronger, brighter future."

Of being named the Director of the stalwart Americas edition, which in 2022 celebrated its milestone twentieth anniversary, Finn says, "I am deeply honored to assume this role, and to join in the transformative journey of Art Basel Miami Beach since it was launched more than 20 years ago – the global anchor for the North and South American creative community and industry, in the heart of the incredible city of Miami Beach. I look forward to the many collaborations and contributions that lie ahead with our galleries, patrons, and partners, as we look towards the next 20 years with limitless possibilities. We will continue to propel the show to new heights of artistic excellence and profound impact."

Finn will lead the Miami Beach show in 2024. She will attend the 2023 edition in December, which is spearheaded by de Bellis. She joins Art Basel alongside the recently appointed Maike Cruse, Director, Art Basel Basel; Clément Delépine, Director, Paris+ par Art Basel; and Angelle Siyang-Le, Director, Art Basel Hong Kong.

Source: Art Basel