Walter Otero Contemporary Art Hosts Art Basel Party at Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach

"Warhol would have loved to be at this party," said Ultra Violet, Andy Warhol superstar and artist who attended the fast becoming legendary party hosted by Walter Otero Contemporary Art at the Bass Museum of Art on Saturday, December 8(th), during Art Basel week in Miami Beach.

"This event is by far the best marriage between the arts and party of Art Basel for many years to come. It was pure contagious magic and love, every second of it," said Brandi Reddick of Cultural Affairs and Art in Public Places of Miami.

Puerto Ricans know how to mix and blend, and the occasion celebrating the upcoming opening of the new gallery space of Walter Otero Contemporary Art in San Juan Puerto Rico was indeed pure magic.

Some of the most influential artists, collectors and power players in the art world including artist Tracy Emin (of Lehmann Maupin and White Cube Gallery, who was the first to arrive!), Rachel Lehmann and Carla Camacho, (of Lehmann Maupin Gallery, NY, Hong Kong), Luisa Lagos (of Yvon Lambert Gallery, Paris), Celia Birbragher (of Art Nexus), Silvia Cubina (director of the Bass Museum of Art), collector Cesar Reyes (whose house in Puerto Rico was designed by artist Jorge Pardo), artist Carlos Betancourt, Rocio Aranda, (curator of the Barrio Museum), Elisa Turner (of Art in America), Delphine Dray (owner of the National Hotel), Desiree Busi (of ArtBinder), MacArthur fellow poet Cambell McGrath, French singer Florent Pagny, international curator Mariagela Capuzzo, art critic Ann Tchida, Carmen Dominicci (of Telemundo), Belkys Nerey (Fox news anchor), collectors John Belk and Margarita Serapion and Broadway Producer Richard Jay Alexander were seen passionately dancing and chatting under the stars to an eclectic and spectacular mix of the sounds of Sinatra, Mancini, The Cure, Hector Lavoe and Mana amongst others.

Guests were immersed in the superb setting and uplifting mood of the party created by a combination of exquisite music, food, art and energy that catapulted into a frenzy of joy and a communal celebration of life. To add enchantment to the night, a large format video projected on the exterior walls of the museum caused a constant burst of "wows" from the audience all evening. Classic clips from movies such as La Dolce Vita, Metropolis, Auntie Mame, Julieta of the Spirits, and Barbarella were blended and collaged with footage of Puerto Rican vedette and cult icon Iris Chacon. Images from artists including Carlos Betancourt, Angel Otero, Allora & Calzadilla, Arnaldo Roche, Luis Vidal, Rafael Vega, Gamaliel Rodriguez, Michael Linares, Ramon Miranda, Monica Rodriguez, Axel Ruiz, Victor Vazquez, Hector Arce, Osvaldo Budet, Ignacio Lang, Andres Serrano and Fabian Marcacio represented by the gallery were also dancing in and out in the video mix throughout the night. Betancourt, whose passion for all things magical was instrumental with the musical selection and video, was seen dancing all night long. Also caught on the dance floor, was Walter Otero with Ultra Violet, moving to the rhythms of Hector Lavoe.

As the night came to a closing, the buzz was that it was by far one of the best events of Art Basel, a legendary night to remember and emulate for many years to come.