This past weekend, BACARDÍ, Swizz Beatz and The Dean Collection took over Wynwood at Art Basel Miami with their NO COMMISSION: Miami showcase.
The showcase entailed a three-day (December 7-9th) art, music and cocktail experience hosted at Soho Studios. NO COMMISSION is a roving experiential platform, by BACARDÍ and The Dean Collection, that forges a direct link between art and art patronage – all artists are given their exhibition space for free and 100% of the sale of each artwork goes directly to the artists.
Over 30+ visual artists participated in the showcase — including Alex Gardner, whose use of clean lines and movement were a clear standout, to the beautifully intricate details seen in the works of Ebony G. Patterson. Friday evening was the perfect balance of artistic vibes, thoughtful curations, and solid sounds. Although plenty of open space, the event had an intimate feel, including moments where Swizz walked around the space snapchatting the crowd, as if he was just another guest.
On Saturday evening, NO COMMISSION: Miami concluded the showcase with an epic finale of performances — shutting down the block around Soho Studios with more than 3,000 guests in attendance. 2 Chainz opened the night and got the crowd hype, followed by headliner Lil Wayne, who performed a full 45-minutes, including crowd favorites, “Lollipop,” “I’m the One,” and “A Milli.” Swizz Beatz took the stage at midnight, bringing out surprise guests A$AP Rocky, Busta Rhymes, and birthday boy DJ Khaled, who switched his phone to selfie mode to capture Swizz Beatz and the wild crowd wishing him a “Happy Birthday.” Swizz Beatz and Busta Rhymes also gave a heartfelt toast to BACARDÍ for supporting emerging artists and championing creative visionaries.
Backstage, Swizz Beatz brought out Hollywood’s elite, including wife and Grammy Award winning artist Alicia Keys, Insecure lead actress Issa Rae, critically acclaimed actress Rosario Dawson, Power actor Rotimi and Issa Rae’s Insecure co-stars Broderick Hunter and Sarunas J. Jackson.
Needless to say, NO COMMISSION: Miami brought all the vibes this year, and ended the weekend strong with a full house and an unforgettable night for Art Basel Miami 2017.
