Pickleball Meets Art Basel in Miami Beach

Art and Pickleball Collide at Art Basel Miami Beach

Art Basel Miami Beach, billed as “North America’s most comprehensive international contemporary art fair,” was an unlikely place for pickleball to make an appearance. But that’s just what the country’s fastest growing sport did.

PickleBasel, a one-day pickleball pop-up, gave festival-goers in Miami the chance to play the country’s fastest growing sport on Saturday, December 9. Visitors took part in clinics led by experts from the Ace Pickleball Club. Participants also had the opportunity to test out FlexCourt’s quick-assembly courts, along with various new paddles.

Off the court, visitors were met with a selection of cocktails and energy drinks, along with food and even skincare treatments. The event wasn’t completely out of place in an art festival either – it featured artwork from famous French photographer and artist JR. Breathe Miami, a website that compiles events in the city, referred to the collaboration as "the fusion of sports and art." High praise.

Sports Intersect with Art all Weekend

Pickleball wasn’t the only sport on display in Miami Beach over the weekend. Bleacher Report held an exhibit for artists to showcase their NBA-inspired work. Meanwhile, Malbon, a golf equipment and apparel company described by Forbes as being on a “mission to make golf cool,” teamed with JBL and several former professional athletes to unveil their new Miami store.

About Art Basel Miami Beach

Art Basel, one of the world’s premier art festivals, was founded in Basel, Switzerland in 1970. Art Basel Miami Beach debuted in 2002, and the fair has since reached Hong Kong and Paris as well. Thousands of artists, galleries, collectors and aficionados gather at the events every year. As of 2019, the Basel and Miami versions were drawing crowds approaching 100,000.

This year’s event was no exception. Running from December 8-10, Art Basel Miami Beach 2023 featured thousands of pieces from 277 galleries. A who’s-who of the entertainment world was in attendance. Leonardo DiCaprio made an appearance, as did Will Smith and Robert De Niro. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was in attendance as well. Pre-festival parties and after-parties saw performances from Janelle Monae, Travis Scott and DJ Khaled.

But, of course, pickleball was still the star of the show.