Avant Gallery opens a pop-up boutique concept in Aventura Mall
Avant Gallery, known for pushing the envelope with its cutting-edge art and design, is bringing its roster of internationally collected artists that you would normally find at major shows during Art Basel to the shopping mall environment. Avant Gallery’s Pop Shoppe boutique concept is now open in Aventura Mall, located on the lower level across from the Louis Vuitton store. A second location is slated to open later this month upstairs next to the Breitling store.
“The goal for us with this concept is to bring a taste of our standout artists and share their work with the public in an accessible atmosphere. The price points are also more accessible, with original pieces starting at about $500. In some respect, Avant Gallery’s Pop Shoppe is meant to blend the line between art and commerce, without diluting the quality of the work”, said Avant’s founder and director, Dmitry Prut.
• Just like in its main gallery located in Miami Beach, most of the pieces that you will find at Avant are either one-of-a-kind originals or limited edition. Some of the featured artists include Argentinean-born, Miami-based Alejandro Vigilante, who is collected around the world and known for his forte concept of Internet-themed Pop Art. He takes famous icons and gives them a new voice through clever, witty posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Email, often using their original quotes from real life. For example, Audrey Hepburn tweets: “The best thing in life is to hold on to each other”, or Tony Montana is seen searching for wholesale Ziploc bags on Google. Celebrity collectors include Lady Gaga, Alex Rodriguez, Halle Berry, and Mark Zuckerberg.
• Nathan Sawaya, who is known globally for his extraordinary LEGO sculpture, has a few pieces in the window display wow’ing the passer by’s. He is also currently on exhibit at the Hollywood Arts & Culture Center.
• Another pixel-inspired medium is the Rubik’s Cube. You will find paintings of Pacman completely assembled in a pattern from the cube’s color blocks by Canadian artist Josh Chalom. Chalom also holds the Guinness Book world record for the largest Rubik’s Cubes work of art, The Last Supper, which was built using over 4,000 cubes. Eva Longoria is a big fan who owns a commissioned portrait.
• Lladro’s bold new porcelain sculpture collection is also on display its own vignette. The limited-edition series featuring a character called The Guest is a completely new direction for Lladro, which was known as a traditional company until they launched this edgy line at Avant Gallery earlier this year.
“We aim to reach a new type of client that doesn’t normally go to art galleries, but still has the disposable income to shop at high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton (which is located directly opposite Avant). Just like shoes and handbags for women, or watches for men, art can be somewhat addicting. And it’s a good addiction to have because it’s something that you will look at every day in your home or office, it will inspire you and bring a smile to your face. Art is also a product that’s investment-quality, so you’re spending wisely, which is important in this day and age.”
www.avantgallery.com
