There’s no better way to spend an art-filled afternoon than a great gallery hop followed by drinks and food with good friends..
For me, Little Haiti and Little River’s dynamic gallery scene is the perfect precursor to a build-your-own martini and steak frites at the acclaimed Sunny’s Steakhouse on NW Miami Court. From neighborhood mainstays like Primary, Nina Johnson Gallery, and Dot FiftyOne, to more recent additions like homework Gallery and Mahara+Co., and even artist studio spaces like Laundromat Art Space and Dimensions Variable, the neighborhood is full of opportunities to encounter the most exciting emerging art and artists in the Miami scene.
At the same time, Allapattah’s smaller and more walkable art center offers an amazing afternoon. A stop into Mindy Solomon Gallery, Andrew Reed Gallery, Voloshyn Gallery, and KDR, followed by a Bronx Bomber pizza at Jon & Vinny’s — conveniently located in the Rubell Museum for even more of an art kick — never fails to hit the spot.
Outside of the fairs and craziness of Art Week, it’s Miami’s rapidly growing gallery and studio scene that really offers a top tier view into the region’s emerging art scene. As younger collectors and art enthusiasts look for more opportunities to engage with the art world, the city’s diverse range of spaces offers access to everyone, even those intimidated by the hot-shot fair Booths.
The Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), The Bass Museum, and ICA are all staples of the city’s museum scene, though I would also highly recommend hitting MOCA North Miami for some fresh exhibitions. MOCA’s hyper-local focus mixed with global perspectives perfectly embodies Miami’s identity as a point of cultural encounter and melting pot of ideas, languages, and identities. And it’s important to not forget that Miami’s institutional foundation also includes museum-style private collections. The Margulies Collection and Juan Carlos Maldonado Collection are both personal favorites that are thoughtfully and expertly curated and may often get skipped over.
South Florida’s incredible art scene doesn’t end at the county line, either. You can hop on the Brightline to West Palm Beach for an added experience. Florida Avenue is home to three world class galleries: Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, TW Fine Art, and GAVLAK, each showing exceptional contemporary art. For an added bonus, Beth Rudin DeWoody’s private collection at The Bunker is a treat; the space kicks off its season each year on the Saturday of Art Week. Add on dinner at The Blue Door around the corner for an airy, tropical-feeling, Mediterranean meal with great wine, and you won’t be disappointed.
