In the second instalment of our Santos de Cartier sunglasses series, we explore Miami’s colourful art scene .

Miami is a city of numerous faces. It is, at once, a hedonist, with the greatest parties and the finest bars, and yet also a naturalist, a place of winding waterways, generous beaches and a vast unmatchable array of wildlife. And it is both those things and yet still refined, with the some of the best restaurants in the US, developed by some of the most celebrated chefs. And yet, if you were to look into its very heart, to drill into what really puts the city on the map, you would find something else: art. This great city by the sea has been home to the greatest contemporary art show in the world for the past 14 years: Art Basel Miami Beach.

Each December, thousands of collectors, gallerists and connoisseurs come to buy or simply look at the $3bn worth of art on sale across the 269 galleries represented at the fair. Alongside Art Basel, there are 20 other independent shows that run across those same four days. The breadth and quality of the art on sale is unparalleled. Even after the show’s close, its aftershock can be felt in the ever-growing number of galleries that fill the city.

To help you get the best from the city’s thriving art scene, MR PORTER and Santos de Cartier sunglasses have created a guide to its highlights.

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Mr Fredric Snitzer, 66, is the only local dealer who has been selected for every Art Basel since its inception in 2002 – a testament to the quality of the art he showcases. Founded in 1977, his gallery features contemporary work by a roster of emerging artists, such as sculptor Mr Rafael Domenech, and established names, including Mr Ridley Howard and Mses Alice Aycock and Naomi Fisher.

When MR PORTER visited, the gallery was exhibiting New York-based artist Mr Alan Sonfist’s Surface Memory. The show, which featured vintage work from the 1960s and 1970s, demonstrates an artist working in multiple mediums – sculpture, casting and ceramics – and documents his attempts to link city dwellers to the natural world. It is in many ways a representative of the work you can see at the Fredric Snitzer Gallery; challenging yet pleasing if read on an aesthetic level. Be sure to check the website to find out what’s on before you visit – you won’t be disappointed.

Part of the relaxed Wynwood Art District, the White Porch Gallery features a revolving programme of art, food and music. Known for taking a democratic approach to its curation, the space attempts to bring contemporary art to a broader audience – names such as US artists Mr JonLouis Gonzalez and Ms Janet M Mueller. Founded and curated by Mr Tom Shirk, it is unique in the city in that it is a proper working gallery space, and also somewhere you can pause for food. Little wonder it is popular with families wanting to introduce their children to the art world.

The Wynood Walls are one of the centrepieces of the Miami art scene. Each year, the outside walls of the 70 galleries and museums in the area become a giant canvas for dozens of street artists. Since its inception, 50 artists from 16 countries have covered more than 80,000sq ft of wall space. Last year, the theme was “Fear Less”, which honoured Mr Tony Goldman, who started the wall project in 2009 with gallerist Mr Jeffrey Deitch. It is the perfect place to don a pair of Santos de Cartier sunglasses and take in the latest in contemporary art away from the hubbub of South Beach. An artistic feat of incomparable scale, the walls are a visually generous experience that encompass everything from graffiti art to photo realism. The area brings together both emerging and well-known artists, too, making it a must-see for anyone with an interest in contemporary art.

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Discover more with our guides to Miami