Monique McIntosh: SCOPE Miami has ballooned in size since its first outing in 2001. How has SCOPE's mission evolved since?
Alexis Hubschman: Over the last twenty years I’ve had a front row seat as the art world transformed during the rise of the art fair. From a scrappy upstart to creative R&D, SCOPE has played many roles in this reconfiguration of the gatekeeper. But one constant has always underpinned our mandate to level the playing field for the galleries, artists, curators and collectors that have supported SCOPE: introducing new talent to the world.
MM: What has been the most significant change to art fairs in general since you first started? How has SCOPE met that change?
AH: Much has come full circle in the twenty years since SCOPE started as the original satellite art fair. Blue Chips dominate the market again, while smaller galleries are struggling to survive, but I am proud that SCOPE remains a safe haven and an incubator for new voices to thrive and grow.
MM: You produce multiple shows around the world. What’s particularly special about the Miami edition?
AH: Miami Beach truly harmonizes with our sense of the spectacular, and it’s a celebration of all the best galleries, curators, and institutions we work with throughout the year. Last year SCOPE celebrated a landmark when it was honored by the City of Miami Beach Commission for the show’s achievements, in a bill sponsored by Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, and Commissioners Michael Góngora and Kristen Rosen Gonzalez.