Miami Beach, FL – March 10, 2016 –  It is with heavy heart that we report the loss of a well-known Miami real estate developer, owner of the Sagamore Hotel, attorney, art collector and philanthropist, Martin “Marty” Taplin. Taplin’s life may have been cut short, but without a doubt has left an impact on the cultural communities of Miami. Marty and his wife Cricket Taplin began collecting art 25 years ago, and when they opened the Sagamore in 2001 they saw the opportunity to share their passion with the public. There is art everywhere you turn at the Sagamore, quotes by artists line the hallways murals in the stairwell, videos in the garden and site-specific installations throughout the hotel. Selections from the Taplin’s impressive catalog of contemporary photography and painting are shown in continually changing exhibitions, offering visitors something new to discover on each visit to the Sagamore.

As a major force in the burgeoning Miami art movement, Taplin was also instrumental in helping bring the organizers of Art Basel to Miami Beach and for 15 years the famous Sagamore Art Basel Brunch has been one of the most sought after invites of Art Week. He has also been a member of the boards of the Bass Museum, MoCA, PAMM, and amongst many others.

Marty Taplin at 14th Annual Sagamore Brunch on December 5, 2015

Yoko Ono, Marty Taplin, & Nikki Haskell at XM Satelite Presents Yoko Ono at Social Miami on December 7, 2006

Cricket & Marty Taplin, & Nikki Haskell at XM Satelite Presents Yoko Ono at Social Miami on December 7, 2006

Marty Taplin & Lee Abrams at XM Satelite Presents Yoko Ono at Social Miami on December 7, 2006

Marty Taplin & Georgette Mosbacher at XM Satelite Presents Yoko Ono at Social Miami on December 7, 2006

Martha Stewart & Marty Taplin at Sagamore Art Basel Brunch on December 7, 2013

Will Ryman & Cricket Taplin at Sagamore Art Basel Brunch on December 9, 2006

Andy Summers & Marty Taplin at Ocean Drive Presents Andy Summers of The Police Book Launch at Sagamore on July 13, 2007

Marty Taplin & Jane Manus at Sagamore Brunch on December 4, 2010

Cheri Steen, Marty Taplin, & Patrick Kennedy at Sagamore Brunch on December 4, 2010

Rubem Robierb, Marty Taplin, Sam Champion, & Cricket Taplin at Sagamore Art Basel Brunch on December 8, 2012

Spencer Tunic Photo Shoot at Sagamore on October 4, 2007

Spencer Tunic at Spencer Tunic Photo Shoot at Sagamore on October 4, 2007

Cricket & Marty Taplin at Sagamore Art Basel Brunch on December 8, 2012

Silvia Karman Cubiñá,  Cricket Taplin, & John Hanhardt at Art Talk at the Sagamore on November 21, 2013

Marty Taplin, Cricket Taplin, & Martha Stewart at Sagamore Art Basel Brunch on December 7, 2013

Cricket Taplin & Anthony Spinello at 13th Annual Sagamore Brunch on December 6, 2014

 Jordana Pomeroy, Martin & Cricket Taplin, & Carlos Estevez at BNY Mellon Wealth Management Celebrates “The Gift of Art” at The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU on September 26, 2015

 Martin Taplin, Carlos Estevez, & Jose Valdes-Fauli at BNY Mellon Wealth Management Celebrates “The Gift of Art” at The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU on September 26, 2015

Martin Taplin, Jordana Pomeroy, & Cricket Taplin at BNY Mellon Wealth Management Celebrates “The Gift of Art” at The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU on September 26, 2015

Marty Taplin & Amar Bakshi at 14th Annual Sagamore Brunch on December 5, 2015 

Martin & Cricket Taplin at 14th Annual Sagamore Brunch on December 5, 2015