“Art of Basketball” Set to Unveil “Heat Wave” Exhibition

For the third straight year, the “Art of Basketball” is returning to Art Basel Miami Beach, the world’s premier art show for modern contemporary works. This time around, the “Art of Basketball” will be celebrating and commemorating the Miami Heat’s 2012 championship in a unique way:

From Public Works Department:

The “Art of Basketball: Heat Wave” exhibition features a select group of renowned graffiti and street artists from around the world who have created portraits of the team’s players, notably LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and canvases, re-imagining the most iconic symbols of their championship season, on actual NBA backboards supplied by Spalding.

The featured artists include Mr. Brainwash, URNY, Sofia Maldonado, The Dude Company,Shiro, Cern, Rene Gagnon, Joe Iurato, Ewok One 5MH, Jack Aguire, David Cooper, Cope2, Chris Stain, Gaia, J. Robles, Sero, ECB, Veng, Peat Wollaeger, Junk, Blanco, Bill Fickett and Billi Kid, who is the curator of “Art of Basketball.”

“The Miami Heat has been very good to ‘Art of Basketball,’” Kid said. “From allowing us to paint an official NBA backboard at the American Airlines Arena during a game, to giving us an opportunity to work with its elite players at different events, it was time for us to return the love.”

The “Art of Basketball: Heat Wave” exhibition runs from Dec. 5 to 9 (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at 2048 Northwest Miami Court, about five minutes from American Airlines Arena. Each artwork piece will be available for purchase.

In addition, Wade and Bosh are hosting a private VIP party on Friday, Dec. 7, at the same address (from 8 to 11 p.m.), which includes music from the Heat’s own popular DJ Irie, the NBA’s first team DJ, and food from Shake Shack. The party is sponsored by Premier Beverage and Public Works Department, which established “Art of Basketball,” and a portion of the proceeds raised that evening will benefit Wade’s foundation “Wade’s World” and Bosh’s foundation “Team Tomorrow Inc.”