A Brief Guide to Miami’s Art Scene
Miami boasts a thriving art scene as one of the top art destinations in the country. From the historic Art Deco district in South Beach, with its distinctive buildings painted in ice cream colors, to the up-and-coming Wynwood arts scene and the Design District, a hotbed for interior designers, architects, furniture-import companies and artists, Miami truly offers it all.
The arts are particularly vital to Miami and its economy, with nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences producing over $1 billion in spending, according to an Arts & Economic Prosperity study conducted by Americans for the Arts.
If you’re an art enthusiast who’ll be making a move to this city, when searching through homes for sale in Miami, you may want to consider options close to one of these areas that will allow you to be within walking distance of some fantastic ways to indulge your passion.
Whether you choose to move here, or you plan to visit, this guide is a great way to begin your explorations of the Miami’s art scene.
photo/ Peter Kraayvanger
The Design District
The Design District, which lies just north of Midtown, is much more than interior design, it’s filled with over 130 art galleries and show rooms, along with plenty of bars, eateries and antique stores tucked in between. Despite receiving national attention in recent years, it still remains largely unknown outside of Miami, as the Miami Herald notes, making it a surprise gem for many visitors, with its well-preserved historic treasures mixed with new modernist buildings including organic facades and art installations.
If you’re here on the second Saturday of any given month, you can attend the Art & Design Night, hosted from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with galleries and designer showrooms opening up their doors to the public, combining beautiful works with music and refreshments. No matter when you visit, you’ll find a highly walkable neighborhood that features the very best in fashion, design, art, culture and cuisine. Don’t miss the Maman Fine Art gallery with its works from cutting-edge Latin American artists.
Art Deco in South Beach
The Art Deco Historic District boasts over 800 historic buildings built between 1923 and 1943 as one of the largest areas in the nation on the National Register of Historic Places. The Miami Design Preservation League organizes the official Art Deco District Walking Tour, which includes the stories behind the buildings and the chance to learn about the architectural style and the history of the district. The Art Deco Welcome Center is the starting point for guided tours and also provides brochures and books on the area.
The Wynwood District
The burgeoning Wynwood arts district, bounded by NE 36th Street to the north and NE 2nd Avenue to the east, is home to the must-visit Wynwood Walls urban park, Miami’s only outdoor graffiti park. A “museum of the streets” it’s focused on presenting street art and graffiti in a unique way with world-class murals created by a diverse array of internationally famous street artists like Shepard Fairey, the designer of the Obama “Hope” poster. Be sure to check out the Eleazer Delgado Studio, featuring the work of the South American artist who can be found in his studio that’s connected to the art gallery on any given day of the week. Delgado was part of the founding of the Wynwood art scene, with the walls here draped with scenes of Miami culture and landscapes.
Author: Kristopher Jones
