Away from the Rambunctious Art Basel Scene, Nicola Vassell Hosted an Intimate Dinner

Midway through 2021, Nicola Vassell tapped famed photographer and long-time friend Ming Smith to debut works at Vassell’s relatively new Chelsea Gallery. The exhibition was met with vast excitement, drawing in art aficionados and creative types from all over. Now, Vassell’s vision makes its way down South to Miami during Art Basel, and to celebrate, the gallerist invited close friends to enjoy a moment of quiet during a whirlwind of a week with an intimate dinner hosted alongside The Face.

Hosted at the cozy Hotel Greystone, Vassell’s friends gathered to share their excitement about the inaugural Miami exhibition. Entitled “Color Vaults,” the presentation showcased Fred Eversley and Alteronce Gumby’s shared adoration for abstraction, color, and space. Art-world attendees like Charles Moore, Ming Smith, Tiona Nekki McClodden, and Courtney Willis Blair toasted to the occasion, while others posed in front of a chic wicker room divider. As guests spent time catching up with one another, the evening seemed to evolve into a big art-family reunion.

The congratulations continued over Florida snapper and herb-roasted cauliflower steak with dark chocolate chiffon cake. While the rest of Miami was experiencing a bit of sensory overload, the dinner was an oasis that excluded the sheer exuberance of the week and was rather lovely.