Hublot is investing in the arts in a very big way. The luxury Swiss watch brand hosted a series of events and artist collaborations during a weeklong extravaganza of events called “Hublot Loves Art” during Art Basel Miami. A much talked about event with famed tattoo artist Maxime Büchi, who created a pop-up tattoo shop for special guests to celebrate his collab on the Big Bang Sang Bleu watch was the highlight, wasn’t the only artist collaboration from the brand. The week also included: a mid-day cocktail party in Hublot’s Bal Harbour boutique to celebrate the arrival of the Concrete Jungle watch made in with graffiti artist Tristan Eaton, an exhibition at the Hublot Galerie in Miami’s Design District of artist “Flore” a.k.a. Christopher Florentino’s artwork, a collector’s dinner with Sam Nazarian and Philippe Starck at The Delano hotel where Dave Chappelle was a seated guest, a party at the Star Island mansion of Lisa and Lenny Hochstein where Fat Joe performed, a brunch at Bagatelle with Mr. Brainwash and Bradley Theodore, and finally a big bash for DJ Khaled’s birthday at Liv in The Fontainebleau Hotel.
Hublot’s Bal Harbour Boutique Celebration with graffiti artist Tristan Eaton
- MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: Artist Tristan Eaton poses for a photo outside the Hublot Boutique displaying a wrap created with his artwork, during the introduction of Classic Fusion Aerofusion Concrete Jungle, Hosted By Tristan Eaton at Hublot Boutique at the Bal Harbour Shops on November 30, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: Artists Stephen Bliss (L) and Tristan Eaton attend the introduction of Classic Fusion Aerofusion Concrete Jungle, hosted by Tristan Eaton at Hublot Boutique at the Bal Harbour Shops on November 30, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: Managing Director of Hublot of America, Jean-Francois Sberro (L) and artist Tristan Eaton pose for a photo at the introduction of Classic Fusion Aerofusion Concrete Jungle, hosted By Tristan Eaton at Hublot Boutique at the Bal Harbour Shops on November 30, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot invited select guests to their Bal Harbour boutique in Miami to announce the arrival in the U.S. of its Classic Fusion Aerofusion Special Edition Concrete Jungle timepiece created in collaboration with artist Tristan Eaton. The watch, which is dedicated to New York City, features actual concrete around the bezel with Eaton’s logo integrated at 3 o’clock, and features a chronograph to track time in the city that never sleeps. (By the way…to all those who have experienced Art Basel, that slogan can be applied to Miami as well.) On the back of the watch is artwork of the Statue of Liberty by Eaton, which has special significance to the artist.
“This is the craziest collaboration I’ve ever really done. Working with Hublot was a huge honor,” said Eaton. “I moved to New York when I was 19 or 20, knowing nobody, and I was just trying to start my life there as an artist. By the time I left New York it went from being this big beast that I was trying to conquer, that was so hard on me, to being this giving mother of a beautiful metropolis. One of the things I left behind was this mural of the Statue of Liberty at Canal Street and Mulberry. I wanted to paint that piece there because I was so scared of New York forgetting that I was there. I painted this five-story mural of the Statue of Liberty and that snowballed into over 40 murals around the world in over 20 countries. It was a big boost into my fine art career. When Jean-François [Sberro, managing director of Hublot America] got to know me, he knew that was very symbolic of my time in New York. He asked me to recreate that Statue of Liberty in an exclusive way for Hublot. I made three paintings for them so they could choose one. That one is on the back of the watch. It’s this love letter to the city that made me who I am.”
Eaton also made a wrap of his artwork around the boutique and debuted two new works, Mystic Mystic (2016) and Kiss My Assassin (2016). The Concrete Jungle Classic Fusion Aerofusion timepiece is limited to 50 and will be available for purchase at Hublot boutiques for $19,500.
- MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: A view of the watch collaboration with artist Tristan Eaton on display at the introduction of Classic Fusion Aerofusion Concrete Jungle, hosted By Tristan Eaton at Hublot Boutique at the Bal Harbour Shops on November 30, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 30: A view of the watch collaboration with artist Tristan Eaton on display at the introduction of Classic Fusion Aerofusion Concrete Jungle, hosted By Tristan Eaton at Hublot Boutique at the Bal Harbour Shops on November 30, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot Galerie Unveils Art Exhibition by Flore a.k.a. Christopher Florentino
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: A view of art on display during the Hublot Cocktail Reception with Artist Flore at Miami Design District on December 2, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: Artist Chris ‘Flore’ Florentinoand CEO, Hublot Ricardo Guadalupe attend Hublot Cocktail Reception at Miami Design District on December 2, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: A view of art on display during the Hublot Cocktail Reception with Artist Flore at Miami Design District on December 2, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot converted the Hublot Galerie in Miami’s Design District Boutique into an exhibition space to showcase the worls of Christopher Florentino, known professionally as “Flore”. The artist displayed works created exclusively for Hublot in the boutique, two of which sold during the event. And if you’re looking for something to wear on your back instead of on your walls, the artist has created limited-edition jackets with the girls behind Instagram hit Here/Now Shop (@herenow_shop), see below and stay tuned. And, naturally, although there is no official word, we can imagine you will be seeing a bigger collab between this artist and Hublot in the future.
“I just moved to Miami two months ago. My pace has really slowed down,” said Florentino. “I’m from New York so I’m used to hustling and going like crazy, but out here it’s a much slower pace. Just by virtue of being by the beach and near the ocean it changes your whole way of life. The water here is gorgeous. I’m used to the brown water in the Hudson River, you know what I mean? So my palettes have also been changing in my work. I’ve been using more color. Miami is paradise so it has directly affected my work in every way from the colors to the mindset I’m in while I’m painting.”
Florentino can thank the rapper for Future for catching the eye of Hublot. “Ricardo [Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot] had seen a piece I had done for Future at a Haute Living event and he told me he loved my work and wanted to get together on an event for Art Basel and this what the outcome of that,” said Florentino. “Art Basel gets bigger and better every year. It’s very inspiring because all of the architecture and all of the interior design in these hotels have so much artwork, so it’s everywhere you go. If I got out to dinner at the Faena Hotel, I can se Damien Hirst or if I go to the PAMM Museum [Péres Art Museum Miami], I can see Basquiat works there, so Miami is really rich in art.”
In case you are unable to get your own Flore painting from the Hublot boutique (they were going quickly), you can track him down at Oliver Cole Gallery in Miami’s Wynwood district or in Palm Beach at DTR Modern Galleries.
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: Artist Chris ‘Flore’ Florentino (C) attends Hublot Cocktail Reception at Miami Design District on December 2, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: Artist Chris ‘Flore’ Florentino and Maxime Buchi attend Hublot Cocktail Reception at Miami Design District on December 2, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 02: Artist Chris ‘Flore’ Florentino attends Hublot Cocktail Reception at Miami Design District on December 2, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot’s Collector’s Dinner Hosted by Haute Living at Bianca at The Delano Hotel
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Dave Chappelle attends Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Artist Mr. Brainwash attends the Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: (L-R) Philippe Starck, Sam Nazarian and Ricardo Guadalupe attend Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot hosted a dinner for collector’s with artist Philippe Starck and Sam Nazarian, the CEO and founder of SBE Entertainment Group, at The Delano Hotel’s Bianca restaurant. The hotel was one of Starck’s design projects in the mid-90s and remains one of the must-see hotels in Miami. A family style dinner of shared plates including beef carpaccio, rigatoni Bolognese, 42 oz. dry aged bistecca fiorentina, grilled red snapper, and chocolate budino were served and paired with vintage wines from Sinegal Estate Winery, a Napa Valley wine from vintners David and Shelley Sinegal, who were also in attendance. Big name art world guests like Mr. Brainwash and Bradley Theodore were in attendance, but perhaps the biggest and most surprising appearance of all was comedian Dave Chappelle. Heads turned and smartphones were whipped out as soon as Chappelle slipped into the room. The notoriously reclusive Chappelle has been back in the spotlight recently thanks to a brilliant hosting gig on Saturday Night Live. Here’s hoping there’s more where that came from!
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Annabelle Galli and Jason Morrison attend Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Bradley Theodore, Taylor Boozan and Mike Tommasiello attend Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: (L-R) Dave Chapelle, Sam Nazarian, Emina Cunmulaj, Jasmine Abdellatif Starck and Philippe Starcke attends Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: A view of the table settings at the Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: View of table arrangement at Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Hubolt watch on display at Hublot Collectors Dinner Co-Hosted By Philippe Starck at Bianca at Delano on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot After-Party on Star Island at the Residence of Lisa and Lenny Hochstein
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Fat Joe and CEO, Hublot Ricardo Guadalupe attend the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Hublot of Americaa)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: A general view of atmosphere at the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Hublot of Americaa)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Mr. Brainwash and John Simonian attend the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
After the dinner at Bianca at The Delano Hotel, guests from the dinner and more headed over to the mansion of Lisa Hochstein (of the Real Housewives of Miami fame) and her husband Lenny Hochstein. Guests sipped on drinks on a sleek patio overlooking Biscayne Bay and South Beach, where a boat full of guests arrived mid-party. Later in the evening there was a performance by hip hop artist Fat Joe, who was presented with his own Hublot watch by CEO Ricardo Guadalupe before the show. The artist performed his best hits like: “What’s Luv”, “Make It Rain”, “Lean Back”, “All The Way Up”, and “All I do Is Win”.
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Bobby Zarin (C) and Jill Zarin (L) attend the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Hublot of Americaa)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Jay Ajayi (R) attends the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: ‘Crime By Design’ founder Ray Vanderbilt (L) attends the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Mike Tommasiello and Bradley Theodore attend the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Hublot of Americaa)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Rick De La Croix and CEO, Hublot Ricardo Guadalupe attend the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Fat Joe performs on stage at the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Fat Joe performs on stage at the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: Fat Joe performs on stage at the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: A general view of atmosphere at the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Hublot of Americaa)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 02: A general view of atmosphere at the Hublot after party on December 2, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
Hublot Charity Brunch Hosted by Haute Living and Jetsmarter to Support Black Jaguar Tiger
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Bradley Theodore speaks at Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Mr. Brainwash with one of his original pieces of artwork at Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Hublot watches on display at Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
At Bagatelle in Miami Beach on Saturday, Hublot held a charity brunch for Haute Living‘s annual Black Jaguar White Tiger Brunch. The fundraiser supports the Black Jaguar White Tiger rescue, a nonprofit that helps rescue animals in need and provide them with medical care and a home. The organization, which was started by Eduardo Serio in Mexico, rescues and cares for over 240 jaguars, tigers, leopards, lynxes, pumas, lions, and more from the abuse of circuses, zoos, and breeders. Art by Mr. Brainwash (who was seen tagging guests with his yellow crime scene tape that read “Life is Beautiful”), Romero Britto, and Bradley Theodore were auctioned off to support the cause and each piece went for upwards of $40,000. The proceeds of the entire event raised approximately $230,000.
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: (L-R) Yolanda Berkowitz, Jeff Berkowitz, Romero Britto, Mr. Brainwash, Bradley Theodore, and Jean-Francois Sberro attend Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: A piece of artwork by Romero Britto on display at Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Artist Romero Britto attends Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Artist Mr. Brainwash and Eduardo Serio, Founder of The Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation attend Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Eduardo Serio and Ricardo Guadalupe attend Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
- MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 03: Hublot watches on display at Hublot x Black Jaguar White Tiger Foundation Brunch at Bagatelle Restaurant on December 3, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hublot of America)
And FINALLY! Hublot Hosted DJ Khaled’s Birthday at Club LIV at The Fontainebleau Hotel
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 04: Yossi Shetrit and Davidson Petit-Frere attend DJ Khaled’s birthday dinner hosted by Hublot at Komodo on December 4, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Hublot)
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 04: Tyson Beckford attends DJ Khaled’s birthday dinner hosted by Hublot at Komodo on December 4, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Hublot)
- MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 04: DJ Khaled attends his birthday dinner hosted by Hublot at Komodo on December 4, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Hublot)
Hublot threw a bash for DJ Khaled’s birthday at Komodo in Brickell. During cocktails, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe presented DJ Khaled with a custom made Big Bang Key watch designed in his likeness with the motto “We The Best” on the caseback. Later, DJ Khaled was also gifted the first-ever pair of Hublot sneakers co-designed by Davidson Petit-Frère and Yossi Benshetrit for their New York-based label Lavati. The sneakers come with Lavati’s signature waxed laces with black Swarovski-embedded lace tips, a fine matte black leather upper. The sneakers were commissioned by Hublot to celebrate 10 Years All Black watch.
To say that Miami has a huge presence in Miami would be an understatement!