A Culture-Defining Event in Miami Beach: Swizz Beatz Hosts Art Basel Awards Night Unveiling Inaugural Class of Gold Awardees
Presented in partnership with BOSS, the landmark gathering brought together global leaders in contemporary culture for a multisensory celebration at the New World Center
Art Basel unveiled its first class of Gold Awardees with a captivating, high-impact event at the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center, marking the culmination of the inaugural Art Basel Awards cycle. Dedicated to advancing excellence and innovation across the contemporary art ecosystem, the Art Basel Awards recognize practitioners whose work is shaping the future of contemporary culture.
Hosted by Grammy Award-winning producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, the evening offered guests a richly layered experience – an interplay of music, architecture, performance, gastronomy, and cross-cultural exchange. Following the program’s initial milestone in Basel, Switzerland, this June, the celebration in Miami Beach reflected the breadth and ambition of the Awards program itself.
Swizz Beatz reflected on the occasion, stating: ‘Hosting the inaugural Art Basel Awards was truly an honor. For the first time, the entire arts ecosystem – from artists to cultural leaders and the many people working behind the scenes around the world – was recognized on a global stage. Through The Dean Collection, we’ve always believed in championing artists, and tonight embodied that energy in the most powerful way. Being invited to lead the first edition was deeply meaningful, and I’m proud to have helped set the tone for a night that will resonate for years to come. ‘By the artist, For the artist, With the people!!’’
Honorees, guests, partners, and Art Basel leadership also remarked on their experiences of the first Art Basel Awards Night.
Guests entered an environment transformed through dynamic lighting, architectural projections, and a live orchestral performance by musicians from the New World Symphony. A special performance by Kelsey Lu – bridging classical and experimental sound worlds – created the night’s powerful emotional crescendo. The evening’s red carpet and after-party were hosted by cultural commentator Dylan Kelly, setting the tone for a night centered on creative exchange and cross-disciplinary dialogue.
The atmosphere and program underscored the Awards’ mission to spotlight visionary cultural voices, celebrate excellence across disciplines, and position Miami Beach as a global, cross-cultural stage for contemporary creativity.
Guided by a virtual appearance from Emma D’Arcy, the ceremony honored 11 individuals and organizations selected through a unique peer-driven voting process:
Cecilia Vicuña (Icon); Nairy Baghramian and Ibrahim Mahama (Established); Mohammad Alfaraj and Saodat Ismailova (Emerging); Formafantasma (Cross-Disciplinary); Joel Wachs (Patron); RAW Material Company (Institution); Candice Hopkins (Curator); Gasworks / Triangle Network (Allies); e Negar Azimi (Media & Storytelling).
Each recipient was honored with a handmade blown-glass trophy designed by Swiss architect Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron – each uniquely formed to evoke the shape of breath -, produced in collaboration with a Basel-based foundry. Gold Awards in the artist categories provide immediate, flexible support by distributing nearly USD 300,000 annually in honoraria and philanthropic gifts.
The night also marked the debut of the BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement, recognizing exceptional cultural impact across and beyond the art ecosystem. It celebrates innovative work that inspires change and embodies the BOSS values of boldness, personal authenticity, ambition, and responsibility. This year’s recipient is Meriem Bennani.
Following the ceremony, honorees, partners, and guests gathered for an intimate rooftop after-party featuring a DJ set by Puerto Rican-born, Miami-based DJ and producer Natalia Roth, who brought a fresh, contemporary pulse to the evening with her modern and minimal house and techno sound. Set against the Miami Beach skyline, the evening closed with guests mingling through music, conversation, and spontaneous creative exchanges, creating a vibrant, cross-disciplinary finale.
WHO
Notable attendees included leading figures from across art, design, fashion, and culture, as well as prominent voices from music and entertainment. Among them were Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, Kelsey Lu, A$AP Ferg, Khalid, e Fridayy. Additional guests included Malcolm Jenkins, Dylan Kelly, Kimberly Drew, Tyshawn Jones, LUNAY, Larsen Thompson, Paris Hilinski, Zarina Yeva, Ashley LaMarca, Angel McCoughtry, Jordan Rand, Francelys Infante, Nikki Kynard, Nasteha, and Nuni Yusuf, Jimmy Akingobla, Edgar Berlanga, Maxi Peters, e Kennedy Yanko.
The evening brought together many of the art world’s most influential curators and museum leaders, including Erin Christovale, Es Devlin, Mike Winkelmann (“Beeple”), Pablo León de la Barra, Pablo José Ramírez, Ruba Katrib, Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Stefanie Hessler, Susan Lacy, Yasmil Raymond, András Szántó, e Hans Ulrich Obrist. They were joined by leading gallerists such as Alan Cristea, David Maupin, François Ghebaly, Friedrich Petzel, Gordon VeneKlasen, José Kuri, Kamel Mennour, Lorenzo Fiaschi, Marc Payot, Marc Straus, Mónica Manzutto, Nicola Vassell, Peter Freeman, Hannah Traore, Wendy Olsoff, Xavier Hufkens, Glenn Scott Wright, Rachel Lehmann, Gabrielle Richardson, e Nicola Lees.
Notable patrons and collectors in attendance included Benny Gross, Catherine Petitgas, Don and Mera Rubell, Ellen von Unwerth, Karen Boros, Komal Shah, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Nicolai Frahm, Nicolas Berggruen, Pablo Rodriguez-Fraile, Susan Hort, e Gardy St. Fleur.
Art Basel leadership was represented by Noah Horowitz, CEO, Art Basel, and Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, together with Bridget Finn, Director, Art Basel Miami Beach, Maike Cruse, Director of Art Basel in Basel, Angelle Siyang-Le, Director of Art Basel Hong Kong, Karim Crippa, Director of Art Basel Paris, and Carly Murphy, Global Head of Collector and Institutional Relations.
New World Center, Miami Beach on Thursday, December 4, 2025
Event Images:
Courtesy of Getty, Photographed by Demetrios Kambouris.
Il Art Basel Awards are presented in partnership with BOSS. The Art Basel Awards Night is supported by the City of Miami Beach and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the after-party is supported by our event partner Perro Verde Mezcal.
Art Basel Awards Gold Awardees 2025
ICON ARTIST
- Cecilia Vicuña
ESTABLISHED ARTISTS
- Nairy Baghramian
- Ibrahim Mahama
EMERGING ARTISTS
- Mohammad Alfaraj
- Saodat Ismailova
CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CREATORS
- Formafantasma
PATRONS
- Joel Wachs
INSTITUTIONS
- RAW Material Company
CURATORS
- Candice Hopkins
ALLIES
- Gasworks / Triangle Network
MEDIA AND STORYTELLERS
- Negar Azimi
BOSS AWARD for Outstanding Achievement
- Meriem Bennani
In loving memory of Koyo Kouoh (December 24, 1967 – May 10, 2025)
Art Basel Awards is deeply grateful for Koyo’s spirited participation as a Juror of this year’s edition and her unwavering commitment to the Awards’ mission to uplift the next generation of cultural changemakers, of which she was emblematic. The Awards honor Koyo’s life and carry forward her enduring example and legacy.
