Art Basel 2011: Miami Parties From P. Diddy to Tilda Swinton.

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Everyone knows Art Basel Miami is about more than just buying art. From Tilda Swinton to Brett Ratner, P.Diddy to Roberto Cavalli, see pictures of the stars who descended on South Beach.

Every December at Art Basel Miami, hundreds of thousands of people descend on South Beach to soak up some sun, attend lavish parties, and maybe—just maybe—buy some art. But as any good collector will tell you, it's about a lot more than the amount you drop at the Gagosian booth at the Convention Center. Several parties defined the week—and attracted a slew of talent, both art world and otherwise. There was Julian Schnabel, meandering through the main fair, practically shaking every hand and kissing every baby. Collectors like Eli Broad and Dasha Zhukova dropped a penny at the fairs—and others were there just to have a good time.

And, as always when the world of art and Hollywood collide, there were some unusual bedfellows throughout the week. Paris and Nicky Hilton sandwiched MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch at a dinner the museum hosted with the Kingdom of Morocco and Maybach on Wednesday night (Maybach floating in the pool of the Raleigh Hotel, check.) Director Brett Ratner—fresh off being fired from producing the Academy Awards—celebrated Art.sy, the much-anticipated Web start-up being financed by Wendi Murdoch and Dasha Zhukova. Catherina Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas even made an unexpected appearance at a Dom Perignon–sponsored party at the W, hosted by Vito Schnabel (Julian's son), Stavros Niarchos, and Alexander Dellal (the actors were spotted sneaking out of the party through the kitchen at the end of the night.) The next evening, Tilda Swinton hosted an intimate dinner in honor of the Scottish label Pringle, while P. Diddy headlined a 300-person dinner at Mr. Chow, with Jimmy Iovine and Andy Valmorbida—which attracted everyone from designer Roberto Cavalli to actor Will Smith.

— Isabel Wilkinson

Getty Images (3)

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Artist Julian Schnabel attends Art Basel Miami Beach 2011 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

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Nicky Hilton, Jeffrey Deitch, Paris Hilton at a dinner for MOCA, Art Basel held at The Raleigh.

Joe Schildhorn, BFA / Sipa Press

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Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones attend Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images

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Naomi Campbell attends the Kingdom of Morocco and Maybach dinner in celebration of Art Basel with Maria and Bill Bell, Jeffrey Deitch, and MOCA at the Raleigh Hotel.

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for HL Group

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Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Vladislav Doronin (Naomi Campbell's boyfriend), and Pharrell Williams attend Art Basel Miami Beach.

Uri Schanker / FilmMagic

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Daphne Guinness attends the Phillips De Pury dinner and dancing hosted by Simon de Pury at Cecconi's Soho Beach House Miami on Dec. 1.

Alexandra Wyman / Getty Images for Soho Beach House

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Dasha Zhukova attends the Art Basel Miami Beach 2011 preview at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Nov. 30.

Venturelli / WireImage

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Stephanie Seymour and Peter Brant attend the opening of the Convention Center on Tuesday night.

Venturelli / WireImage

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Janelle Monae-Essence and Solange Knowles attend the celebration of Ferrari's chairman Luca di Montezemolo hosted by Interview’s Peter M. Brant and Sotheby’s Tobias Meyer.

Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images for Interview

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Brett Ratner attends Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Louis Johnny / Sipa Press

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Val Kilmer attends Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Nov. 30.

Louis Johnny / Sipa Press

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Artist Damien Hirst and Markus Anderson attend the White Cube Party at Soho Beach House Miami on Nov. 29, 2011.

Jennifer Graylock / Getty Images for Soho Beach House

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Tilda Swinton at the Pringle of Scotland Pop Up Shop during Art Basel.

Neil Rasmus, Billy Farrell Agency / Sipa

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P. Diddy and Will Smith attend a dinner hosted by Andy Valmorbida, Jimmy Iovine, and Diddy, in celebration of Culo, a book by Raphael Mazzucco.

David X Prutting / Billy Farrell Agency

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Allison Sarofim and Jean Pigozzi at the dinner hosted by P. Diddy.

David X Prutting / Billy Farrell Agency

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Pharrell Williams attends the dinner hosted by P. Diddy.

David X Prutting / Billy Farrell Agency

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Alexandra Richards at Mr. Chow, at the dinner hosted by P.Diddy.

David X Prutting / Billy Farrell Agency

Art Basel 2011: Miami Parties From P. Diddy to Tilda Swinton.

Everyone knows Art Basel Miami is about more than just buying art. From Tilda Swinton to Brett Ratner, P. Diddy to Roberto Cavalli, see pictures of the stars who descended on South Beach.

Isabel Wilkinson