There hasn’t been a better way to close Art Basel than with fried fish and Chaka Khan
To commemorate the ending of the 2022 Miami Art Basel, artist Kehinde Wiley partnered with The Miami Beach EDITION and with Google to host a Southern Fish Fry event. This Fish Fry invited the most prominent artists, tastemakers, and influencers and was thrown to commemorate the accomplishments of one of Kehinde’s organizations, The Black Rock Global Arts Foundation. The event was held poolside, outside The Miami Beach EDITION hotel and alongside the gorgeous patio space. Over a hundred guests came out to sip on delicious cocktails, indulge on some of the best fried fish in Miami, mingle, listen to some amazing music, and find out who the ‘special musical guest’ was.
The event also featured one of Kehinde Wiley’s works throughout the night. Kehinde Wiley is a prominent Black portrait painter and focuses his style on capturing the naturalistic style of Black people. Kehinde has solidified his standing in the art world and one of his most notable works includes the official presidential portrait of President Barack Obama.
And as the event drew to a close, Kehinde Wiley took the stage to say a few words about this Fish Fry event and the Black Rock Foundation. With the influence that Wiley brings, he helped start Black Rock Global Arts Foundation. The mission of this foundation is to provide a residency program for artists. Artists from across the world have been able to study, work, and create in this 1-3 month residency where Black Rock has provided the necessary resources for them to thrive. After Kehinde finished his speech, he helped introduce the special guest performer of the night, the legendary and incomparable Chaka Khan. As the crowd blew up with excitement, Chaka Khan took the stage and some of her most famous songs including “I Feel You,” “I’m Every Woman,” and “Ain’t Nobody.”