Ruinart and David Shrigley Kicked Off Art Basel Miami Beach With a Bubbly Fête

How does one start the marathon that is Art Basel off properly? For Ruinart, Champagne is always the answer. This year, the nearly 300-year old house invited friends of the brand and art enthusiasts to celebrate the artist David Shrigley—whose work was quite on-theme.

 This kick-off party for Basel was everything one may expect it to be: a little rambunctious and very high-energy. Attendees like Jemima Kirke, Hari Nef, and Pritika Swarup were met with Shrigley’s life-size interpretations of the artist’s witty designs. Guests danced near a large piece that read “News: It Won’t Be like This Forever” while others sipped on one, two, maybe three glasses of Champagne near a swirly worm-like painted figure placed nearby. Other pieces, like a blown-up painted Earth painting, served as the perfect photo opportunity for the evening’s attendees to let their friends (or Instagram followers) know that they’ve touched down onto the scene. 

 While DJ Timo Weiland carried the vibrant tunes of the party, artistic culinary pieces by rising chef Flynn McGarry, drifted around causing taste buds to ring in delight. For those there, the excitement of the evening may have made it difficult to view Shrigley’s whole installation. Luckily, the series remained available on view in the Ruinart Lounge and virtually, so guests could come back and perhaps appreciate it without being too blurry-eyed.