The woman-owned and produced Conception Art Fair, (which debuted this year), featured art that has political and social impact and highlights minority and female artists. Pioneering neo-pop artist Ariel Shallit (a longtime friend of Eco-Chick) was among the featured artists with his new collection of reimagined portraits. Shallit uses over painting to bring new perspectives on pop stars, luminaries, heroes and curious modern people.
“The art of over painting has a long tradition in the history of humanity and begins with body painting in the early history of mankind. While these embellishments once came as a stigmatizing message for marginal groups in the port environment to Europe, the tattoo has become socially acceptable,” German cultural historian Dr. Matthias Henkel, Former Director of the Museums of the City of Nuremberg wrote of Shallit’s work.
This was Shallit’s first time showing at Art Basel Miami Beach, and he told Eco-Chick: “I was privileged to show my work…at the first art fair run solely by women in Art Basel history. Rachel and her team made a determined effort to provide a diverse group of artists the opportunity to exhibit at a once in a lifetime event and I will be proud to tell my daughter that I was there.”
Conception allowed one to digest one body of work at a time and meet the artists to talk about their work, rather than an agent, gallery rep, or art manager of dozens of works on display – this becomes overwhelming at the other fairs, such as Spectrum or Red Dot.