8 Artists to Watch at Art Basel Miami Week

Artist Theo-Magma works on a mural. Photo: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee.

Every year during the first week of December, art professionals travel from across the world and country to the highly concentrated Miami Beach for Art Basel.

This year's event will take place from December 1 to December 4. The fair hosts hundreds of galleries with each exhibit showcasing the edgiest and most contemporary artists. But Art Basel is not the only fair to have planted its roots on the coast. Many satellite fairs have sprung to compete, supplement, and collaborate with Art Basel. Often representing lesser known, emerging artists, these satellite fairs give the opportunity for art collectors and the general public to experience a vast array of curation. Here are eight artists to keep an eye on over the weekend.

Mickalene Thomas

"Portrait of Sidra Sitting, 2012," C-Print. Image courtesy of the artist and Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Known for her awe-inspiring color composition and settings, Mickalene Thomas will be launching two projects; she is curating a group show "Tete-a-Tete" at David Castillo Gallery and her work will also be exhibited at Art Basel with Galerie Nathalie Obadia.

Rin Johnson

"Memory Proposition," 2016. Image courtesy of Eduardo Restrepo Castano of the collective Sweety's.

Working in mixed-media, Rin Johnson explores topics of race, sexuality, and body conformity. Her work will be featured in a group show at Satellite Art Show with Disclaimer Gallery.

Rashaad Newsome

Look Back At It, 2016, collage in custom frame with leather, Swarovski crystal, and automotive paint. Image courtesy of De Buck Gallery.

Pulling from queer and trans culture, Rashaad Newsome uses film and photography to bring to life the effervescence of various communities around the country. De Buck Gallery will exhibit a solo show of Newsome's most recent collage work at PULSE Contemporary Art Fair.

Paul Sepuya

Mirror Study, 2016, 51x34" archival pigment print. Copyright the artist, courtesy Yancey Richardson Gallery.

Paul Sepuya is a portrait photographer. In an attempt to blur the lines between fiction and fact, Sepuya uses the body to trick the viewer into a state of witnessing. He'll be exhibiting work with Yancey Richardson Gallery at PULSE Contemporary Art Fair.

Samuel Amoia

Courtesy of Delorenzo.

Designer Samuel Amoia will be exhibiting his intricately manufactured pieces at Design Miami.

Raul de Nieves

Uuu Me, mixed media on shoes. Image courtesy of Company Gallery.

Brooklyn-based musician, multimedia artist, and performer Raul de Nieves will be showing work at NADA with Company Gallery. Working with and around bright hues, sculptures, and his Mexican heritage, de Nieves plays with fairytales to create high fashion objects.

Violet Overn and Emma Sulkowicz

"No, You." Image courtesy of Michael Valinsky

On December 3 at Satellite Art Show, artists Violet Overn and Emma Sulkowicz will perform "No, You," a visceral, immersive, and intense experience about the side effects of rape.

Will Benedict

'White Woman I,' 2016, Print designed by Katie McKay, gouache on canvas, gouache, and archival inkjet print on foamcore, aluminum, glass, tape. Image courtesy of What Pipeline.

Exploring the nature of interpersonal relationships, artist Will Benedict will take part in a group show at NADA with Queer Thoughts.