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Best Modern and Contemporary Art in Miami
Whether you're visiting Miami for the first time or you're a local searching for something to do on your day off, spend the day redefining your idea of what constitutes art. The city’s world-class galleries, fairs, and museums listed here are by no means an exhaustive list, but they are a great place to get your feet wet in the contemporary art world. Here’s where to find the best modern and contemporary art in Miami.
The Bass
Explore innovative masterpieces at this Miami Beach contemporary art museum. The Bass stands apart from other local contemporary institutions by incorporating design, fashion, and architecture. The museum is housed in the former Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, a 1930s Art Deco building on the National Register. Be sure to visit Art Outside, a collection of public artworks installed in Collins Park and around The Bass, including the brightly painted Miami Mountain.
Museum of Graffiti
The first museum of its kind, the Museum of Graffiti is dedicated to telling the art form’s history and its emergence in design, fashion, advertising, and galleries. The museum experience includes an indoor exhibition space, 11 exterior murals, a fine art gallery, and a world-class gift shop stocked with limited edition merchandise and exclusive items from the world’s most talented graffiti artists. Save 10% on entry to the Museum of Graffiti when you book your South Beach stay with The Sagamore.
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
The crowning jewel of Miami’s modern and contemporary art is the PAMM. Since its inception in 1984, the museum has focused on international art of the 20th and 21st centuries. In addition to reflecting Miami’s diverse communities through its exhibitions, PAMM offers waterfront dining at Verde restaurant, a gift shop, and spectacular views of Biscayne Bay.
Contemporary Art Galleries
Miami has some of the best ever-evolving contemporary art galleries in the world. Try Artechouse and Eden Gallery in Miami Beach, Yeelen Gallery and David Castillo Gallery in the Design District, and Bakehouse Art Complex, Fredric Snitzer Gallery, and the Rubell Family Collection in Wynwood (which is one of the biggest private contemporary art collections in the country).
Wynwood Walls
The iconic Wynwood Walls is hard to miss. After all, the large-scale murals sit boldly on NW 2nd Avenue amid colorful street art and graffiti-clad eateries. The Wynwood neighborhood and subsequent outdoor museum have become a haven for aspiring painters, world-renowned graffiti artists, creatives, and young innovators alike.
Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami
The ICA provides an important platform for local, emerging, and under-recognized artists with its permanent collection and energetic calendar of exhibitions and programs. Best of all, year-round fee admission is offered to provide open, public access to the artistic experience.
Pop-up Miami Contemporary Art Fairs
In addition to the illustrious Art Basel Miami Beach, at least 18 other prominent contemporary art fairs take place during Miami Art Week each December. Some are especially outstanding in terms of atmosphere and attendance. Be sure to stop by fairs like Art Miami, Design Miami, Scope Miami Beach, and UNTITLED, ART Miami Beach when art fair season is in full swing.
Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami
MOCA is dedicated to discovering new artists, contemplating the work of contemporary masters, and learning about our living cultural heritage. The museum maintains an active exhibition schedule, presenting 8 to 10 provocative and innovative exhibitions annually. Their permanent collection consists of over 400 works by local, national, and international contemporary artists including Pablo Cano, Teresita Fernandez, Keith Haring, Alex Katz, Edward Ruscha, and George Segal.
The Sagamore
Miami’s original Art Hotel continues to evolve as a place for ground-breaking content, expression, and immersive experiences. Known for rotating exhibitions of museum-quality art year-round, #SagamoreIsArt presents ambitious and innovative art programs coordinated by Grela Orihuela, Resident Art Curator of The Sagamore Hotel South Beach. Artworks are on view 24/7 and completely free to the public. Stay up-to-date with us by following the Sagamore Instagram for artsy inspiration, our latest acquisitions, and specials.
While seeing the best modern and contemporary art in Miami can sometimes require paying a hefty ticket price, many of Miami’s iconic art destinations don’t charge admission (you just have to know where to look). Visit leading contemporary art institutions and colorful street murals for no money at all with our guide to finding Free Art in Miami.
Book your South Beach stay with The Sagamore Hotel, an iconic Miami Beach oceanfront destination known for its unique collection of contemporary art, spacious suites, and prime location only steps from the white sands of SoBe.
