Artifacts Artist Group was founded by Howard Davis in June, 1984. According to Davis, "Artifacts was conceived with four goals in mind:
To provide a showcase for emerging as well as more established artists in Miami/South Florida
To provide a framework for artistic collaboration
To engage the various cultural communities in South Florida
To promote the 'demystification of art, i.e. presenting multimedia art happenings and installations in unconventional settings and venues, e.g. nightclubs, etc.'"
To that end, Artifacts would set up art salons and events in galleries and nightclubs throughout Miami, in neighborhoods such as the Design District and Miami Beach, places that were just then beginning to experience the renaissance that would eventually bring them to the forefront of the global arts community with contemporary events such as Art Basel.
