The Miami Herald profiles the unsung heroes of the Art Basel Miami, the ordinary but passionate collectors. The story features some, like Alicia Apfel, who began collecting because of the fair’s presence in Miami:

”I remember when you had to leave Miami to see great art,” says Apfel, 44, a lawyer whose 1938 three-bedroom is filled with vintage touches and, for the last few years, more and more artworks to keep her and The Little Red Girl company. “All of a sudden, we get Basel, and we have everything from everywhere coming to Miami once a year.”

In recent years, many young and not so young locals who lack deep pockets have caught the art-collecting bug. They will never compete with big-league South Florida collectors such as the Rubell family, Norman Braman, Martin Margulies or Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz and must make sacrifices to buy even at the entry price of $1,000 to $5,000. But they are equally committed to the hunt.

For Starry-Eyed Collectors, A Passion to Have and to Hold (Miami Herald)