As she welcomed guests into dinner on Thursday evening, Google Shopping’s Stephanie Horton began by addressing the biggest theme of the week.
“Welcome, thank you. I know the traffic’s awful,” Horton, the company’s senior director of global consumer marketing, said to the room. Those who had successfully battled Miami’s notoriously bad traffic during Art Basel week included Mickalene Thomas, Savannah James, Ravyn Lenae, Kimberly Drew, Yvonne Force Villareal and George Wells, who had gathered inside the Matador Room at The Edition on Miami Beach for a private dinner celebrating artist Lauren Halsey. Sadly, the artist herself was unable to travel for a medical emergency, and sent word via Gagosian’s Kathy Paciello.
“Nothing would’ve made me happier than hanging in Miami with all of you tonight, celebrating and sharing this moment together,” Halsey had written in.
“This is our fourth year during this event and I think for me the best part, it’s the ability to honor so many amazing artists and have their work be accessible,” Horton said. The evening featured a special hat Halsey had designed, available on Google Shopping, one of which was placed on each table for guests to wear throughout dinner.
“This year Lauren created these amazing hats that are on their tables and we’re so happy that she did it. I think the great news is being able to be here in community every year, and I think now more than ever, it’s so important,” Horton added.
After dinner, the party moved into an adjacent space for a special performance by emerging artist Lenae.
