Alexandra Peers gives the world her tally of Art Basel action at New York’s Vulture blog:

Who was recession proof? Cindy Sherman, breaking through to Warhol territory in cred and cost; Whitney Biennial vet Hernan Bas, whose atmospheric and homoerotic works get a show at the Brooklyn Museum of Art next year; and Mickalene Thomas. Her nifty rhinestone-on-enamel portraits were one of the hits of the much-praised show at the Rubell Collection, “30 Americans.” To overgeneralize, pretty, portable art, and video art, was “in” with buyers; large, confrontational, or installation art was “out.” [ . . . ]

Dealers who thrived included Francis Nauman, who did a gutsy show of Marcel Duchamps instead of playing it safe with cheaper works. Kenny Schachter had a lot of demand for his Zaha Hadid works, and New York veteran dealer Max Protetch nearly sold out his “recession booth” of works mostly under $50,000 at the Pulse Art Fair. A breakthrough artist there (almost all of his work sold) was New York artist Siebren Versteeg, whose giant iPhone-like touch screen changed its art as the viewer scrolled a finger across it. Korean art also sold strongly and conceptualist and sculptor Hyungkoo Lee was a big hit. Photography sold strongly at Art Miami booths Yancey Richardson, Barry Friedman, and Stux.

Aftermath: The Big Sales and Breakout Stars of Art Basel Miami Beach (New York: Vulture)