Visitors should be aware that Miami and South Florida have a vibrant art scene throughout the year. So, if you want to bring out your inner artist, here are some of the gems worth exploring the next time you or your family visit Miami the city.
Arsht Center
Officially known as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, the Arsht Center is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. Not only can you catch various world-class performances, but you will be stunned by the fantastic architecture and spectacular views. It is well worth a visit to take in one of two free weekly tours, Mondays and Saturdays at noon.
You’ll get insider information about the center’s architecture and enjoy dramatic views of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay. Check the center’s calendar while visiting to take in a concert, play, or other performance.
Miami City Ballet
Enjoy the classics and contemporary favorites brilliantly performed by the Miami City Ballet, a troupe of over 50 professionals. Starting in 1985, the Miami City Ballet was a relative newcomer to the Miami art scene. Still, it has quickly earned its reputation throughout the community. There is even a school for young aspiring dancers.
Museums
Miami’s commitment to the arts is evident in its wide selection of art museums.
Pérez Art Museum Miami
Perez Art Museum of Miami or PAMM. This was the first museum in Miami to embrace modern and contemporary art. The building itself is a work of art, reflecting the city’s diverse culture.
In more ways than one, PAMM is a cultural hub. The modern museum has an extensive collection of beautiful contemporary works. PAMM’s waterfront stairs, on the other hand, serve as a gathering spot for Miami’s creatives, holding anything from independent concerts to drag acts to Q&As with legends.
PAMM’s interactive outdoor exhibits will make the journey worthwhile before entering the building. Enjoy the bayfront vistas while strolling around the sculpture garden, or bring out your phone to check out Felice Grodin’s current augmented reality (AR) display.
Bass Museum of Art
The Bass Museum of Art features a portion of the original Bass collection along with traveling exhibits worldwide. In addition, the Bass Museum of Art strongly focuses on art education and the impact art has on personal growth.
Surprisingly, maybe Miami Beach’s most well-known piece of modern art is housed at a museum that many tourists are unaware of. Miami Mountain, the brilliantly painted rock tower near Collins Park’s entrance, is a section of the Bass Museum, a tiny but modern solid art museum on the park’s opposite end.
Modern art exhibits from across the globe are shown in the bright, open area, which rotates every few months. The museum is worth visiting many times a year since the works are often relevant and thought-provoking, providing a unique experience each time.
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in North Miami combines the works of maters with those of recently discovered artists to offer a striking blend of contemporary art. MOCA has about 600 pieces on permanent display and about ten temporary exhibits throughout the year.
The initial modern art museum in South Florida has been functioning since 1981, but it relocated to its current location in 1996. The North Miami venue hosts free jazz performances regularly in its airy MOCA plaza courtyard. In addition, it showcases intriguing rotating exhibitions by up-and-coming young artists.
The displays are still open and available for visitors, even if the concerts are virtual for the time being. From now through March, you can see Life and Spirituality in Haitian Art and Raul de Nieves: Eternal Return and Obsidian Heart.
Lowe Art Museum
The Lowe Art Museum is a centerpiece of the University of Miami. Starting in 1950, the museum has amassed a vast collection of over 17,000 pieces, including paintings by Claude Monet, Medieval manuscripts, African sculptures from 500 BC, and more.
The Lowe is the only museum in the region with a significant collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, the Kress Collection of Renaissance and Baroque art, and galleries dedicated to pre-Colombian, Asian, and African, Native American, European, and American art.
The European collection includes works by Monet and Gauguin; the South-West Indian art collection comprises textiles, baskets, and other valuable items; and the Art of Asia exhibit has works from China, Korea, Japan, and South Asia.
Gary Nader Art Centre
At about 55,000 square feet, the Gary Nader Art Centre is the most extensive private gallery in the world. It includes Nader’s collection, Sculpture Park, and an exhibition gallery.
From his early career as the Director of Nader Gallery of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic in 1981 to his move to the United States in 1985 to open a gallery specializing in Latin American Art in Miami, Gary Nader has been determined not only to establish himself as an expert on Latin American Art but also to disseminate information about this recognized and exciting area of art to broaden the horizons of his artists and collectors.
To do this, Nader has founded several notable art initiatives and publications. However, he is still looking for more ways to raise his profile and that of the art he passionately supports. Gary Nader Fine Art, which opened in Coral Gables in 1992, was another step toward broadening his function beyond that of a gallery director engaged in commercial art sales.
Wynwood Walls
When visiting Miami, visit the city’s most extensive outdoor “gallery,” Wynwood Walls featuring the works of some of Miami’s most talented street artists.
With Tony’s passion for graffiti and street art, which he thought was underappreciated and undervalued, the Wynwood Walls became a significant art statement. He intended to draw greater attention to and respect for the movement: “By presenting it uniquely, I was able to introduce the audience to something they had only seen in passing.”
Goldman Properties welcomed ten additional artists to their Walls roster in 2010, building on the excitement of the previous year. In addition, they extended the mural program beyond the Walls. They established the Wynwood Doors, Tony Goldman’s homage to classic portrait galleries.
The Wynwood Walls have drawn some of the world’s best graffiti and street art artists to Miami. In 2009, Jeffrey Deitch co-curated the project’s first successful year, working with Tony before he was appointed head of MOCA Los Angeles. “We’ve worked hard to include a varied collection of American and foreign artists, ranging from old school graffiti artists to the most cutting-edge work being made throughout the globe.” As a result, Tony said, “The project has blossomed into what my buddy Jeffrey Deitch refers to as a Museum of the Streets.”
Wynwood Art Walk
Miami’s vibrant art scene is fueled by many recurring events, including the Wynwood Art Walk. The walk takes place in the revitalized warehouse district and includes 60 galleries. Second Saturdays include food trucks and live music.
Staying in Miami
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