A visit to the Miami Art Museum will present you with a broad collection of international art from the 20th and 21st centuries, drawn especially from the Americas, Europe and Africa. This institution aims to reflect the cultural diversity of the Miami residents in its exhibits, and promote the general public’s appreciation and understanding of modern art.
The museum was founded originally in 1984 as the Center for the Fine Arts. However, at the time, it was purely an exhibition venue, with no core collection of its own. Since its promotion to museum status in 1996, the Miami Art Museum has been steadily building its permanent collection of works, focusing on the period from the 1930s onwards.
This collection emphasises the interplay between Miami, its residents and their origins, and the increasingly international outlook of modern art movements. One of the museum’s main aims is to promote the work of artists residing in South Florida, whilst setting this within the context of pieces from all around the Atlantic rim, the geographical origin of most of the local population. Discover the multi-cultural themed works by South Florida-based artists such as Leonardo Drew and Nancy Graves, alongside pieces by internationally acclaimed artists like Diego Rivera and Fernando Botero.
You’ll also be treated to a programme of temporary exhibitions, that focuses especially on themes and questions that are central to South Florida culture and identity, such as the recent “Frames of Reference: Latin American Art from the Jorge M Pérez Collection”. Try one of the guided tours to get the best insights into the works and the topics they explore.
The Miami Art Museum is continually evolving. Construction has begun on a new building to house the museum from December 2013, following a large donation from long-time board member Jorge M Pérez, previously mentioned. It will be re-launched as the Pérez Art Museum Miami.
The museum is currently open from Tuesday to Sunday, with tours available from Tuesday to Friday. The admission price is reasonable and is free for children under 12.
