When it comes to art and culture, Miami is pretty hard to beat. There’s never a shortage of things to see, with Art Basel making its art-fueled run every year and colorful murals stretching on for blocks in Wynwood. There are also a number of museums packed with art exhibitions, both ongoing and temporary, that prove the city to be an art lover’s paradise.
As always, we’ve got you so here are some of the most unique exhibitions taking place in Miami that you simply cannot miss!
1. The Art of the Brick: An Exhibition of LEGO® Art
The Art of Brick is an amazing exhibit you have to see to believe. It has impressed 10 million fans worldwide and now, Miami gets the chance to be stunned by over 100 sculptures made from tiny LEGO® pieces by artist Nathan Sawaya! Highlights include a massive T-Rex and reimagined versions of some of the world’s most famous artworks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Get tickets to The Art of the Brick at the Olympia Theater here.
On April 15th, join Art of the Brick in celebrating World Art Day! Enjoy a special 15% discount with code ‘ARTDAY15’ at checkout. Don’t miss it – book now!
Where: 1301 Stanford Dr, Miami, FL 33146
When: Until May 2024
2. Yayoi Kusama: LOVE IS CALLING
If you can’t get enough of Yayoi Kusama’s work, marvel at “Love Is Calling,” on display at the Pérez Art Museum. The installation first premiered in Japan in 2013 and is considered to be “the most immersive and kaleidoscopic of the artist’s Infinity Mirror Rooms.” Covered in the artist’s characteristic polka dots, tentacle-like sculptures hang from the floor and ceiling, as mirrored walls create an infinite space in the room.
Where: 174 East Flagler Street, Miami, 33131-1130
When: Until April 7, 2024
3. JR: The Machine Behind the Art
If you make your way to Superblue, you’ll come across two new experiences by renowned artist JR. On the building’s exterior is a massive mural featuring 1,048 portraits of Miami residents and visitors that make the city unique. Named The Chronicles of Miami, JR’s mobile studio traveled through well-known Miami neighborhoods back in 2022 to create the work, encouraging passersby to take their portraits and share a thought, store or experience in a recording booth.
Inside of Superblue, through a portal-like door embedded into the mural, you’ll find The Machine Behind the Art: Inside JR’s Printing Press. This installation takes visitors through the mechanical world crucial to JR’s artistic practice, where they can take their portraits in photo booths, see an oversized printing press and witness their portraits escape from the rollers and float to the ground.
Where: 1101 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127
When: Now through the end of 2024
4. Da Vinci: Machines & Robotics
After charming San Diego’s Air and Space Museum, this interactive exhibit has arrived to the city highlighting some of da Vinci’s most iconic creations. Interact with exclusive technology, take a look at the world-class craftsmanship and marvel at an extensive art gallery of reproduction masterpieces. Secure your spot for Da Vinci: Machines & Robotics here.
Where: 117 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132
When: Until March 24, 2024
5. Future Sketches / Code Poems
ARTECHOUSE, a leader in digital and experiential art, is bringing one of the most uniquely immersive digital art experiences to Miami Beach with “Future Sketches / Code Poems” by Zach Lieberman and his MIT Media Lab students. Through a series of installations, the exhibit explores the fields of coding and animation and celebrates the convergence of art and technology.
Where: 736 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
When: Now through May 2024
6. Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids
Come face to face with a 17 foot-long dragon, a giant Kraken with 12 foot-long tentacles and a 10-foot unicorn at HistoryMiami Museum’s mythical exhibit. Hailing all the way from the American Museum of Natural History in NY, you’ll learn all about the cultural roots of some of the world’s most enduring otherworldly creatures from Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond. There will also be a local component, Mythic Miami, where you’ll learn the stories behind Puerto Rico’s Chupacabra and South Florida’s own SkunkApe.
Where: 101 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130
When: Until March 31, 2024
7. From the Bronx to the Beach
With hip-hop recently marking its 50th anniversary, the newly-opened Art of Hip Hop exhibition is taking visitors through the history of the genre and Miami’s very own contributions. Presented by Alan Ket and Allison Freidin, founders of The Museum of Graffiti, its inaugural exhibit, titled From the Bronx to the Beach, will showcase rare vintage ephemera from Hip Hop’s first NYC DJ, Kool Herc, to Miami’s own pioneer Uncle Luke.
Where: 299 NW 25th St., Miami, FL 33127
When: Ongoing
8. Jamea Richmond-Edwards: Ancient Future
Ancient Future is definitely one not to miss while it’s at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). The exhibition showcases vibrant paintings, films, and immersive installations from Jamea Richmond-Edwards’ exploration into Afro-futurism and Black mythologies. Her paintings use fascinating methods to merge history and fantasy.
Where: 770 NE 125th St, North Miami, FL 33161
When: Until March 17, 2024
9. Alberto Checa: Amidst Twin Suns
Local artist Alberto Checa will soon have a powerful exhibit on display at Oolite Arts, in which he reflects on his life as a Cuban immigrant artist and critique of the American labor system, while paying tribute to his mother’s many years of back-breaking work here. Opening on February 7th, “Amidst Twin Suns” is a labor of love and an exploration of labor, presenting an archive of the artist’s drawings, installations and ongoing performances.
Where: 924 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
When: Until April 14, 2024
10. Charles Gaines: 1992–2023
If you don’t know the name Charles Gaines already then you need to pay a visit to ICA Miami! Recognized as as a pioneer of conceptual art, Gaines has been at the forefront of introducing language and systems into artistic production for decades. This exhibition brings together, for the first time, 60 works from 1992 to the present day, including Greenhouse (2003–2023) and Falling Rock (2000–2023).
Where: 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
When: Until March 17, 2024
11. Marcela Cantuária: The South American Dream
Marcela Cantuária is a Brazilian artist who portrays South American people, in particular women, in bright, vivid paintings. These complex pieces tell stories of resilience, reflecting the artist’s passion for social and environmental activism including famous figures like Chico Mendes and Maria do Espírito Santo da Silva. You can see some of her most impressive work at the Pérez Art Museum right now!
Where: 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
When: Until July 28, 2024
12. Jason Seife: Coming to Fruition
Also at PAMM, Jason Seife’s art focuses on Middle Eastern artwork like the traditional art found in mosques. Intricate patterns weave together to form something reminiscent of a Persian carpet. He designs the patterns digitally first, before painting them by hand onto canvas or onto slabs of concrete. This exhibition shows the progression of his artwork, or rather its ‘coming to fruition.’
Where: 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
When: Until August 11, 2024