Art converged with music, architecture, and global creative power at the New World Center as Miami Beach hosted the inaugural Art Basel Awards Night—a landmark celebration that signaled a new era for the cultural landscape. Under the magnetic guidance of Grammy-winning producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, the evening unveiled Art Basel’s first class of Gold Awardees, drawing together visionaries who continue to push the boundaries of contemporary expression.
Luke Drake, Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, Swizz Beats, and Noah Horowitz, CEO, photographed on the step-and-repeat at the Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach, December 4, 2025. Courtesy Getty
The Frank Gehry–designed space became a luminous stage for an experience crafted with cinematic precision. Guests arrived to sweeping architectural projections and dynamic lighting that shifted the building’s geometry into something dreamlike, accompanied by a live orchestral ensemble from the New World Symphony. The atmosphere was one of reverence—an acknowledgment that this was a cultural moment poised to shape the future.
Kelsey Lu performs at the inaugural Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach, December 4, 2025. Courtesy Getty
Kelsey Lu’s performance created the night’s emotional apex as her sound—rooted in both classical tradition and experimental edge—filled the chamber with a kinetic presence. Throughout the evening, host and cultural commentator Dylan Kelly shepherded red carpet arrivals and late-night conversations, weaving together a cross-disciplinary energy that carried through long after the final ovations.
Red carpet and after-party host Dylan Kelly joined by Ellen von Unwerth at the after-party for the Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach, December 04, 2025. Courtesy of Huy Luong
At the heart of the night was the recognition of the eleven honorees selected through Art Basel’s unique peer-driven voting process. This year’s Gold Awardees included Cecilia Vicuña, Nairy Baghramian, Ibrahim Mahama, Mohammad Alfaraj, Saodat Ismailova, Formafantasma, Joel Wachs, RAW Material Company, Candice Hopkins, Gasworks / Triangle Network, and Negar Azimi. Each was celebrated with a blown-glass sculpture designed by Jacques Herzog—an object that suggested breath, fragility, and the force of creation. The Awards also provided nearly USD 300,000 in flexible support, underscoring Art Basel’s commitment to fueling the next generation of cultural innovators.
Art Basel Awards 2025 Gold Awardees and BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement winner pose with ceremony host, Swizz Beats at the Awards Night in Miami Beach, December 4, 2025. Courtesy Getty
The evening marked another milestone: the debut of the BOSS Award for Outstanding Achievement, presented to Meriem Bennani for her boundary-pushing practice and enduring cultural impact. This new accolade reflects a growing recognition of the ways creativity moves beyond traditional art-world structures into global conversations of identity, futurity, and collective imagination.
Against the Miami skyline, the celebration continued on the New World Center rooftop, where DJ Natalia Roth infused the night with a cool, contemporary rhythm. Artists, curators, collectors, and cultural luminaries flowed freely across the terrace, exchanging ideas in a setting that felt both intimate and electric—a perfect embodiment of the Awards’ mission to elevate dialogues across disciplines.
ASAP Ferg captured on the black carpet at the Art Basel Awards Night, December 4, 2025. Courtesy of Getty
Notable figures from the art, fashion, and music worlds—including A$AP Ferg, Khalid, Fridayy, Kimberly Drew, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Beeple, Paris Hilinski, and an influential constellation of gallerists, curators, and patrons—reinforced the event’s global pull. Art Basel’s leadership, led by CEO Noah Horowitz and Chief Artistic Officer Vincenzo de Bellis, emphasized the Awards’ role in shaping a worldwide platform for excellence. As the event concluded, it was clear that Miami had hosted and witnessed the founding chapter of a cultural institution designed to champion vision, amplify innovation, and spotlight the individuals and organizations redefining the contours of contemporary art. The inaugural Art Basel Awards Night set a tone of ambition and expansiveness, promising a future where creativity is celebrated with the magnitude it deserves.
