Miami Beach, FL – December 2, 2012 – It’s been 11 years since Art Basel first hit American soil in Miami, and those of us who have seen the city evolve since its inception are gleaming with pride. Because Miami is no longer a place limited to beaches and boozing (read: there’s still plenty of that, of course) but instead, we’re quickly coming up in the ranks as one of the most influential cities in the US. And it’s about time.

With the 2012 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach upon us, we thought we’d take a look back at the highlights from last year, beginning with Art of Night: our very own Seth Browarnik’s inaugural exhibition-turned-wild freak show, undoubtedly one of the best Basel parties of the week. Pharrell Williams, Gabrielle Union, Micky and Madeleine Arison, James Rosenquist, Ivana Trump and Paul Shaffer all stepped out to celebrate Browarnik and the moments in time captured only through his lens.

To adequately showcase his gallery, documenting the lives of individuals from Michael Jackson to local influencers past like Tony Goldman, the Shelborne South Beach was transformed into an adult playground (remember the human disco ball?) where DJ Paul Sevigny was spinning in the hotel’s black lounge while musical ensemble DJ Mia Moretti and violinist Caitlin Moe provided the poolside entertainment. It was one for the books.

And because we know that gearing up for Art Basel Miami Beach involves serious mind and body preparations, we thought this might also remind you exactly who and what makes the whirlwind week of sleepless nights and non-stop days all worthwhile.

Stay tuned for more flashbacks from Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, and check back daily for exclusive coverage of over 200 private parties, exhibitions and celebrations from this year’s lineup.

Art of Night Opening Night

Miami Beach, FL – November 30, 2011 – Bing, the decision search engine by Microsoft, celebrated the official Grand Opening of the Shelborne South Beach and the Art of Night exhibit with a beachfront bash, which included Gabrielle Union, Pharrell Williams, Ivana Trump, Paul Shaffer, Mario and Ramona Singer, & David Barton embracing the art of nightlife.

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To watch the video click here.

Pharrell Williams & Seth Browarnik

Susanne Bartsch

James Rosenquist

Desiree Gruber & Kyle MacLaughlan

Ivana Trump & Seth Browarnik

Caitlin Moe & Mia Moretti

Susanne Bartsch

Jill Martin, Micky Arison, Madeleine Arison, & Seth Browarnik

Micky Arison, Madeleine Arison, & Marvin Ross Friedman

Paul Sevigny & Paul Shaffer

Art of Night Opening Dinner

Miami Beach, FL – November 30, 2011 – On Wednesday, November 30th, Jason Binn and his wife Haley toasted the unveiling of my first-ever exhibit, Art of Night, with an intimate dinner at the Shelborne South Beach’s Vesper American Brasserie, sponsored by Dom Perignon. Gabrielle Union, Ivana Trump, Paul Shaffer, Roy and Leah Black, David Barton, Jill Martin, Jorge and Darlene Perez, Susanne Bartsch and Menin Hotels’ Keith Meninand Jared Galbut were all there to join in on the celebration.

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Seth Browarnik & Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union

Jason Binn & Jonathan Cheban

Jason Binn & Seth Browarnik

Jason Binn, Gabrielle Union & Ivana Trump

Gabrielle Union & Ivana Trump

David Barton & Paul Shaffer

Barry Slotnick, Charles H. Townsend, & Jorge Perez

Alex Rodriguez Private Party

Miami Beach, FL – December 2, 2011 – World Red Eye was invited to join Alex Rodriguez at his home for an intimate get together at his home in Miami Beach before the fun of Art Basel ensued on Friday night.

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Alex Rodriguez

Culo by Mazzucco Book Launch

Miami Beach, FL – December 2, 2011 – The Friday of Art Basel 2011 was unlike any other this year with dinners and parties to remember, but the special book launch hosted by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs at Mr. Chow left an impression unlike any other. Diddy hosted the release of “Culo” by Raphael Mazzucco. Janice Combs, Will Smith, Adrien Brody, Chris Bosh, Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Pharrell Williams, Russell Simmons were just a handful of guests that came in support of the famed fashion photographer.

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Raphael Mazzucco

Thierry Guetta (Mr. Brainwash)

Waris Ahluwhalia & Johan Lindeberg

Brett Ratner

Brett Ratner & Chris Bosh

Nicky Hilton, Thierry Guetta (Mr. Brainwash), Chris Bosh, & Adrienne Bosh

Sean “Diddy” Combs & Pharrell Williams

Damien Hirst & Sean “Diddy” Combs

Roberto Cavalli, Sean “Diddy” Combs, & Raphael Mazzucco

Adrien Brody & Rick Rubin

Fabian Basabe, Tara Solomon, & Lance Bass

Damien Hirst & Nelly Hooper

Art.sy Party at Soho Beach House

Miami Beach, FL – November 30, 2011 – Wendi Murdoch of Art.sy and Louis Vuitton hosted a Beachside Barbeque at the Soho Beach House which made for a start studded event. Hosted by Adrien Brody, the invite only party had an impressive guest list including the Hilton sisters and Naomi Campbell.

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Adrien Brody

Naomi Campbell & Wendi Murdoch

Val Kilmer, Afef, Naomi Campbell, & Wendi Murdoch

Paris Hilton & Nicky Hilton

Jean Pigozzi & Brett Ratner

Art Basel VIP Preview

Miami Beach, FL – November 30, 2011 – The Art Basel VIP preview is the most exclusive day of the art fair. With 260 galleries all within the Miami Beach Convention Center, celebs like Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Naomi Campbell, & Diddy all came to have their first pick of the art. Diddy reportedly put down around $95,000 for a 2011 neon work by British artist Tracey Emin which spells out in bright letters “I Listen to the Ocean and All I Hear is You,” from Lehmann Maupin Gallery. The day also brought out the likes of Warner Music Group chairman-CEO recorded music Lyor Cohen; artist and director Julian Schnabel; billionaire Eli Broad(who’s also the founding chairman of L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art); a group from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

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Karim Masri, Meir Teper, Tony Shafrazi, & Gianni Nunnari

Tony Shafrazi, Vladimir Doronin, Naomi Campbell, Sean “Diddy” Combs, & Asex

Tony Shafrazi & Naomi Campbell

Helly Hamad

Larry Gagosian

Johan Lindeberg & Aaron Young

Montblanc Honors Craig Robins

Miami Beach, FL – December 1, 2011 – Montblanc honored Craig Robins, longtime supporter of art, design and culture, in the 20th anniversary year of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Awards. The award was presented by Pharrell Williams at a gala event in the Miami Design District during Miami Beach’s celebrated Art Basel show in the company of numerous design and fashion stars. There was also a performance by French top band Yelle and a live art piece created by Jona Cerwinske.

Attendees of the gala included Craig Robins, CEO of Dacra and co-founder of Design Miami; Design, music, sports and fashion stars including Chris Bosh, Eva Green, David Adjaye , Zaha Hadid, Dan Carten and Dean Carten, DJ Paul Sevigny and more.

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Pharrell Williams, Zaha Hadid, & Craig Robins

Craig Robins & Zaha Hadid

Jona Cerwinske

Eva Green

Dan Caten & Dean Caten

Chris Bosh & Paul Sevigny

Craig Robins & David Adjaye

F*** Me I’m Famous

Miami Beach, FL – December 3, 2011 – None of us here at WorldRedEye have ever seen LIV so awesomely insane as it was Friday night. F*** Me I’m Famous, hosted by Cathy & David Guetta was arguably the biggest night at LIV in 2011. The event was the celebrity hotspot for Art Basel Miami Beach with appearances by Usher, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and the Hilton sisters.

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David Guetta

Jada Pinkett Smith

Cathy Guetta, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, & David Guetta

Cathy Guetta, Usher, & David Guetta

Interview Magazine Honors Luca Di Montezemelo

Miami Beach, FL – November 29, 2011 – Ferrari North America along with the legendary Interview Magazine hosted guests from around the world, celebratingFerrari’s heritage and Luca di Montezemolo’s 20th anniversary with Ferrari on Tuesday, November 29^th.   Ferrari hosted the private party at 11 11 Lincoln Road, the iconic structure situated at the gateway to Lincoln Road’s pedestrian promenade.

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Adriana Biasi, Brandon Ralph, & Val Kilmer

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae

MAM Crash the Ball

Miami Beach, FL – December 3, 2011 – Art lovers of all kind gathered at Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau Resort for Art Basel’s yearly MAM Ball. This event was a success for the attendees as they enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and special celebrity appearances by Lisa Pliner & Donald Pliner. Unsurprising, the fundraiser didn’t disappoint when it came to collecting cash for the support of educational and public programming.

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Stephanie Reed & Marc Spiegler

Thom Collins, Darlene & Jorge Perez

Vanity Fair at MOCA

Miami, FL – November 29, 2011 – On the occasion of 10 years of Art Basel Miami Beach, MOCA celebrated the Vanity Fair International Party with special guests including Sandy Brant & Ingrid Sischy. The party was also the opening of Mark Handforth’s Rolling Stop|Knight Exhibition Series.

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Mark Handworth

Bruce Weber

Donna Karan & Mark Handworth

Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Mark Handworth, Julian Schnabel, & Ingrid Sischy

Wolfsonian Art Basel

Miami Beach, FL – December 2, 2011 – The Wolfsonian–FIU’s annual Art Basel party on Friday, December 2, 2011 was a celebration of the new exhibition, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, which explores French cultural identity through design produced from the mid-twentieth century to the present. The exhibition will be on view through March 26, 2012 and is organized by The Wolfsonian from the collection of the Centre national des arts plastiques, France (National Center for Visual Arts or CNAP). The opening of the exhibition was also a celebration of the 10^th Anniversary of Art Basel Miami Beach and Design Miami/. The evening featured a performance by French multi-instrumentalist Arandel.

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Designer of the Year – David Adjaye

Miami, FL – December 2, 2011 – Design Miami/, the global forum for design, honored David Adjaye, OBE, Principal Architect of Adjaye Associates, as the 2011 recipient of the Designer of the Year Award. A site-specific installation by Adjaye, commissioned for the fair, was presented at Design Miami/, November 29-December 4, 2011. Each December, the Design Miami/ Designer of the Year Award recognizes an internationally renowned architect, designer, or studio whose body of work demonstrates unmatched quality, innovation and influence, while expanding the boundaries of design. The Designer of the Year must demonstrate a consistent history of outstanding work, along with a significant new project, career milestone, or other noteworthy achievement within the previous twelve months. Past Designer of the Year winners include Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson, Tokujin Yoshioka, the Campana Brothers,Maarten Baas, and Konstantin Grcic.

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Craig Robins, Sabina Belli, Pharrell Williams, David Adjaye, & Ashley Scott

Pharrell Williams & Craig Robins

Scissor Sisters

Jason Sellards (Jake Shears) of Scissor Sisters & Laurie Lynn Stark

Evenings in Vogue

Miami Beach, FL – December 3, 2011 – VOGUE Magazine hosted the annual “Evening in Vogue” event at the picturesque Miami estate of Loren and JR Ridinger on Saturday. Loren Ridinger and Jeffrey Kalinsky hosted over 300 guests in the lavish pool garden on the Ridinger property. Special guests Angela and Vittorio Missoni celebrated Missoni’s Summer 2012 Collection presented by Nordstrom.

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Angela Missoni & models wearing Missoni

Paris Hilton & Nicky Hilton

Rocsi Diaz, Gabrielle Union & LaLa Vasquez

Loren Ridinger & Andre Balazs

Ocean Drive Magazine – Art of Night

Miami Beach, FL – December 3, 2011 – Ocean Drive magazine and Rhum St. Barth celebrated celebrity and nightlife photographer Seth Browarnik’s Art of Night photo exhibit on Saturday December 3. Over 800 friends and fans attended the “Fete a la Plage” at the newly revealed Shelborne Hotel complete with international DJ Jacques Dumas.

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Theophilus London & Tyson Beckford

Erwin Wurm’s Beauty Business

Miami Beach, FL – November 30, 2011 – Artist Erwin Wurm’s Beauty Business opening recpetion took place at the Bass Museum of Art for VIPs and Bass Museum members only. Wurm showcased his first show with a cohesive focus on the home or dwelling which consisted primarily of sculpture and photography.

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TV on the Radio at Ricochet

Miami, FL – December 2, 2011 – The second night of the Spotify & McDonald’s at Ricochet Lounge during Art Basel 2011 drew quite the crowd with another phenomenal performance lined up by TV on the Radio. The vibe connected everyone as Big Macs were passed around and everyone complimented the recently opened venue. This was an epic night to remember!

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TV on the Radio

Bing Presents Young the Giant & Theophilus London

Miami Beach, FL – December 2, 2011 – Bing, the decision search engine by Microsoft, rounded out the week of Art of Night celebrations in honor of celebrity lensman Seth Browarnik’s first ever exhibit with an poolside performance by up and coming artists, Theophilus London and Young the Giant at the Shelborne South Beach. To enhance the energy of the crowd-pleasing performances, the crowd was treated to a visual spectacle that included lasers and hologram projections and art installations by Brazilian graffiti artist Finok and Havaianas flip-flops.

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Young the Giant

Theophilus London