Renowned producer, songwriter and recording artist, Rico Love, took a giant step into the art world this year, during Art Basel and his highly anticipated birthday celebration among family, friends and industry leaders, as part of an invitation-only event that took place on Friday, December 6th at Cafeina Lounge in Miami’s Wynwood Art District. The evening began with an intimate dinner followed by the gallery presentation and cocktail party.
More than 200 invited guests witnessed the unveiling of Love’s intimate gallery presentation that featured a highly anticipated showcase of work by esteemed street artists Os Gemeos, Interesni Kazki, Finok, Futura,Phil Frost, and Faile. Rico collaborated with coveted art curator, Allen Benedikt, from 12ozPROPHET, to develop his own handpicked selection of works that would incorporate elements from his own passion project,Save Art, to provide an interesting insight into the scene’s transition from the cover of night to the light of day.
“I am very excited to reveal my first gallery presentation that represents an unbelievable selection of street art by some of today’s most iconic and established names,” said Love. “This shows how art and music can go hand-in-hand as a way of expressing life and culture from the street. I am honored to be able to partner with Allen Benedikt from 12ozPROPHET to present such a unique and diverse range of talent that illustrates the movement’s passion and progression.” Street artist, Faile, was on-hand at the gallery to join Love and Benedikt, as they both made heartfelt speeches, while attendees viewed the gallery presentation valued at more than half a million dollars.
This year’s private dinner presentation featured a menu created, cooked and plated by restaurateur and chef, Amaris Jones. Guests enjoyed the best of her street-inspired cuisine, including shaved rib eye, chicken skewers and mini beef dogs, along with a seasonal Fall salad to start. The family-style entrée included crispy snapper with coconut rice; Cajun spiced poultry and sautéed garlic kale. Outstanding guest favorites during the banquet included mini sweet potato biscuits, white chocolate bread pudding and spiced cheesecake desserts. Half-way through the meal, Master of Whisky, Gerry Graham, presented Love with a gift box containing Crown Royal’s newest offering, Crown Royal XO, a high-end blend of 50 of Crown Royal’s finest whiskies ,finished in cognac casks. Love and his 75 dinner guests were among the first to taste the new variant.
Attendance at this year’s birthday celebration included recording artist, Tiara Thomas, street artist FAILE, DJD-Nice, New York socialite, Legendary Damon and fashion designer, Ashton Michael. This year’s music and DJ skills was provided by the legendary Maseo of de la soul.
Each year, Rico Love’s birthday celebration draws the industry’s elite group of personalities from the world of art, fashion and entertainment, with previous attendance by Usher, Mary J. Blige, Eva Cavalli, Diddy, Kelly Rowland, Russell Simmons, Fat Joe, Pharrell, Fabolous, Bryan Michael Cox, Rocsi Diaz, music exec Sylvia Rhone, Luke James, DJ Cassidy, Chris Bosh, Juwon Howard, Timbaland, Joe Francis, and Yelawolf, among others.
Last year’s event took place at the prestigious and newly opened SLS Hotel South Beach hotel, featuring an exclusive fashion show by Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2013, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour on a purpose-built runway, especially created over the hotel’s infinity pool and attended by Eva Cavalli, as well as the who’s who of the entertainment and fashion industry.
photo credit: Omar Vega/Vega Creative Group