In addition to designer fashion, Miami Design District is one of the best places in the city to experience art. From the Fly’s Eye Dome to Studio Proba’s joyful and zany sculptures — even a parking garage that doubles as public art — the creative neighborhood has an art scene that is not to be missed.
This Miami Art Week, coinciding with Art Basel, the Design District’s legacy continues with interactive installations, art exhibitions, pop-ups and more that you can see right now or have yet to be unveiled. Check them out:
1. Lara Bohinc’s “Utopia”
The neighborhood is getting a vibrant new makeover with “Utopia,” a special installation by designer Lara Bohinc, in collaboration with Design Miami/ Curatorial Lab, a winner of this year’s Annual Design Commission. Described as “irregular” and “bulbous,” pieces include outdoor seating, tables and oversized light sculptures, as well as a giant centerpiece egg-form and birdhouses dispersed throughout the trees. Bohinc’s pieces are made from cork and painted by hand in vibrant hues paying homage to Miami’s architectural palette.
When: November 2023 – March 2024
2. Elliot & Erick Jiménez’s “Reclining Mermaid”
This large-scale billboard is the work of Elliot & Erick Jiménez, a first generation Cuban-American twin photo duo. It’s a portrait of Yemaya, the deity syncretized with our Lady of Regla in Cuba and ruler of the seas. “Reclining Mermaid” is part of Southern Histories, a series of works at culturally significant sites to commemorate under-recognized historical narratives connected to Miami’s roots in the American South, Latin America and the Caribbean, produced in collaboration with Spinello Projects and commissioned by Fringe Projects with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Where: Corner of NE 2nd Ave. & 40 St., Miami, FL 33137
3. CHROMA 2023 at Lucid Design District
CHROMA returns to Lucid Design District this year with paintings, sculptures and digital art by sixteen emerging and mid-career artists. They include Graciela Montich (curator), Payal Tak (owner), Alexandra Arata, Adriana Mangupli, Alejandra Stier, Anne Beatriz, Emilie Gosselin, Francisco Cortes, Karina Guerrero, Kevin Fletcher, Monica Avayou, Sandra De Souza, Simi Bhandari, Tanja Ličina, Victoria Lopez and Wynn Gay. Admission is free with RSVP.
When: December 5 – 19
Where: Lucid Design District, 10-12 NE 41 St., Miami, FL 33137
4. Andrés Reisinger’s “Take Over Miami”
Radiating the city with a pink-hued creative energy, renowned digital artist and designer Andrés Reisinger is presenting “Take Over Miami” in Miami Design District, bringing his digital art series to the physical for the first time ever. The creative talent reinterprets the architecture of major capitals around the globe with pink drapes, integrating hyper realistic elements into existing buildings. Art enthusiasts will be invited to join the “transformation of a physical space into a surreal dreamscape of boundless creativity.”
When: December 4-10
Where: 178 NE 39th St, Miami, FL 33137
5. Craig Robins Collection: “A Train of Thoughts”
The Craig Robins Collection consists of over 1,300 pieces of contemporary art and innovative design, displaying within the DACRA headquarters. This year, “A Train of Thoughts” focuses on two core subgroups of the collection’s holdings: figuration and conceptualism, with works by Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Beuys, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and John Baldessari.
When: December 6 – 8
Where: DACRA Headquarters, 3841 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33137
6. Atiba Jefferson’s Skate Photography Retrospective
With a career spanning over 25 years, Atiba Jefferson is one of the most significant skate photographers of our time. And this exhibition, organized by Architecture, the creative studio founded by the late Virgil Abloh, is the most comprehensive of Jefferson’s photography to date — from his most iconic images of legendary athletes to archival gems.
When: December 6 – 10, 12 – 6pm daily
Where: 50 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137
7. JR’s “The Chronicles of Miami”
Keep your eyes out for ‘The Chronicles of Miami,’ French artist JR’s newest mural. Inspired by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, the piece is part of JR’s Chronicles series, which imagines how an entire city can be represented through art. To create the work, JR and his team visited 10 Miami neighborhoods, inviting anyone who passed by to be photographed and record a story. The result is an epic, highly realistic composition that captures the 1,048 people who make up this ever-changing coastal city.
Where: Jungle Plaza, 3801 NE 1st Ave., Miami, FL 33137
8. Samuel Ross benches
Have a seat! You can find these benches throughout Miami Design District as part of a permanent installation by British artist and designer Samuel Ross. Under the umbrella of his industrial design studio SR_A, a total of three anamorphic chalk forms, made of powder-coated steel, are placed throughout the neighborhood’s public spaces and pedestrian walkways.
9. Shawn Kolodny x House of Creed
Those making their way to the Creed store will have a chance to see visual artist Shawn Kolodny’s artwork! Drawing inspiration from Creed’s iconic fragrance bottle, Kolodny has created a striking installation using his signature medium of mirrored steel spheres. If you simply can’t get enough, the artist has also partnered with the City of Miami Beach, The House of Creed and the Esmeì Miami Beach Hotel to present a large-scale public sculpture on Espańola Way and Drexel Avenue near Miami Beach.
Where: Creed Miami Design District Boutique, 151 NE 41st St PP-143, Miami, FL 33137
10. ICA Miami exhibitions
During Art Week, works by artists Charles Gaines and Sasha Gordon will be highlighted at the Institute of Contemporary Art in the neighborhood. Open throughout November, the Charles Gaines exhibition will feature conceptual artwork from 1992 to the present that provide a rare look into the past three decades of the acclaimed artist’s career. Then opening on December 5th is Sasha Gordon’s first solo museum exhibition with new paintings and hyperreal works.
Where:ICA Miami, 61 NE 41st St, Miami, FL 33137
11. LVMH “Culture House”
LVMH is presenting Culture House, a five-day experiential art gallery pop-up celebrating diversity and creativity, in Miami Design District. A vibrant showcase of profound narratives and exquisite craftsmanship, the immersive experience is designed to amplify voices, build community and foster meaningful networks. A series of thought-provoking and curated conversations will be offered.
When: December 6 – 10, 10am – 6pm daily
Where: 56 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137
12. Jayaram: Making Miami
This public art exhibition, book, and permanent digital archive by Jayaram Law presents work by extraordinary Miami artists who lived and worked in the city between 1996-2012. The gallery spaces are four of the most influential spaces that emerged in the Design District in the early 2000’s, which continue to thrive and support artists today. You’ll find work from nearly 50 artists, including Daniel Arsham’s Snarkitecture, Jan Stark and FriendsWithYou.
When: December 6 – 26; Monday to Saturday, 11am – 8pm; Sunday, 12 – 6pm
Where: 75 NE 39th St, Miami, FL 33137
13. Stardust Pavilion by Flare
Stardust is a 10 foot tall structure spanning 217 square feet. Ideated by Flare, a design studio helmed by architects Alessandra Cianchetta and Veruska Vasconez, it marks the first of a series of glass and steel pavilions that are inspired by XVII Century “Follies.” Merging the boundaries between art, space, experience, and architecture, the Stardust Pavilion series offers an immersive experience through captivating interplays of light and reflections.
When: November 2023 – January 2024
Where: 95 NE 40th St., Miami, FL 33137
14. Gagosian and Jeffrey Deitch: “Forms”
“Forms” will be the eighth annual group exhibition presented jointly by Jeffrey Deitch and Gagosian during Miami Art Week and on view in the Design District. Set to redefine the boundaries between figuration and abstraction, the works included in this exhibit highlight, acknowledge and challenge the pathway between these categories with “surrogates and references to the representational world.”
When: December 5 – 10
Where: 35 NE 40th St., Miami, FL 33137
15. Adolfo Rene Sanchez’s “VALLE DE LÁGRIMAS / VALLEY OF TEARS”
Spinello Projects, in collaboration with Swampspace Gallery, is set to present VALLE DE LÁGRIMAS (1987), a montage of ten canvases that are a meditation on popular culture and a tribute to Mexican fotonovelas of the 1970s. The monumental work was rendered by Adolfo Rene Sanchez before succumbing to AIDS in 1990.
When: December 4 – 9, 11am – 5pm
Where: 3940 N. Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33127
16. Gaetano Pesce’s “Again in Miami With Multidisciplinary Works”
This exhibit, described as a “time-machine,” draws on the legendary designer’s past and present intuitions and ideas, with some brand-new works that have never been shown before. Among the 28 works are translucent pieces of oversized furniture like Oman Chair and Oman Cabinet as well as a limited edition of the “Compasso D’Oro,” which is part of an exclusive collection of 500 pieces paying homage to Italy’s famous Compasso d’Oro award.
When: December 4 – 10
Where: 30-40 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137
17. (RE)BOOT + FUTBOLITIS: Tiempo Extra
Football fans and art enthusiasts alike will enjoy this visual spectacle presented by the Buenos Aires-based gallery Futbolitis and (RE)BOOT, a new brand championing sustainability through sport. Spotlighting the work of Carlos Herrera, who creates works of art from waste, “Tiempo Extra” puts the emphasis on materials that are sourced directly from Inter Miami CF. Alongside Herrera’s work, the exhibition will also be showcasing 10 other artists who portray their passion for football in their craft.
When: November 21 – December 21, 11am – 6pm
Where: 151 NE 41st St, Suite 133, Miami, FL 33137