I'm in love with Oolite Arts Center, it truly takes me back to my art roots! My infinite love for…read moreit and it's nostalgic. Currently taking a Drawing class. My instructor Wil is amazing! I can literally be there in class ALL day. I have really enjoyed meeting new people with similar interests. All around it's a true joy. Love it here!!!

Located in Lincoln Road Mal, Oolite Arts, a non profit was founded in 1984 as ArtCenter/South…read moreFlorida by potter Ellie Schneiderman, who was looking for affordable work spaces for Miami's visual artists. She want to "help artists help themselves." According to their website "Oolite Arts seeks to be the bedrock of the visual arts in Miami. Formed over time, it is composed of residents, alumnae, curators and visitors, coming together to build a community around contemporary art - a fundamental part of our arts ecosystem." Today Oolite Arts provides artists with the free studio space, the chance to exhibit their work, and support. The building contains artists' studios, small exhibitions spaces, and the group's offices. You can take classes or attend events in the building. Oolite also operates out of a new location at 75 NW 72nd St where they will offer more than 200 art classes and launch a visual art program for teens. Oolite Arts recently sold one its two Lincoln Road buildings and there are plans to build and open a new building in Little River later in 2023. Little River is becoming an alternative location for artists priced out of nearby Wynwood. The new building will have two dozen studios for the group's residency program where artists can get free space for two years, an exhibition space, a theater for films and lectures or presentations, a studio, and offices. Any organization that supports and facilitates the arts is a worthwhile one to support. They help artists who might otherwise not be able to afford studio space to have a place to work and exhibit. It looks like they have some amazing plans in the works to help even more artists in the future. This is a fantastic organization. Stop by for inspiration and culture.

Fantastic new(ish) home for ICA. We went for the Dolce and Gabbana exhibit. Very impressive space…read moreand a really fantastic exhibit. Admission was reasonable for the exhibit at $23 (adjustable demand by day pricing... think it ranges up $40 Staffers were warm, friendly and helpful. The exhibit itself was a huge amount of fun. Be sure to explore the neighborhood outside as well as the museum...design district is incredibly cool. Old derelict warehouse neighborhood transformed into luxury boutiques. Parking in this neighborhood is almost never free...several different local parking garages or cheaper pay by phone on neighborhood streets (just be careful of residents only zones)

Came here specifically to see the Dolce and Gabbana exhibit…read more It was an amazing exhibit with different rooms displaying pieces from different time periods There was music in each room to match the display.

One of the Wynwood Art District originals, the Snitzer Gallery is tucked in a nice warehouse space…read morebetween new towers in the Park West area. Logistically speaking, it also has its own parking lot. I stopped by this past Sunday as part of the Progressive Art Brunch and beginning of Art Miami week. In addition to a variety of paintings on display - a lovely series that the artist featured a dog in her paintings - there was a working miniature train set in the gallery, which was interesting to see. The space is spacious, and the industrial aesthetics adds to creative vibes.

Represents Miami artists. Small space that is an easy visit. Many of his artists go on to be in…read morethe Tate!! A local treat.

We walked into the Wolfsonian FIU Museum, which is free to Florida residents. We left our bags in…read morelockers. The museum is 2 blocks from Ocean Drive in a grand Art Deco building that's now home to a Florida International University-affiliated museum, library, and research center dedicated to the importance of art and design throughout history. Since 1985, the Wolfsonian collection has showcased the entire modern age of design, from the Industrial Revolution to the end of World War II. With over 200,000 pieces in the museum's collection are paintings, textiles, furniture, industrial design objects, rare books & magazines. There's was a lot to take in, so the museum categorizes it into a half-dozen or more exhibitions at any given time. The Geneva Window filled the 2nd floor with Harry Clarke's stained-glass masterpiece. In 1926, Irish artist, Clarke was commissioned by the newly independent Irish Free State to create a window as a gift to the League of Nations in Geneva. The completed window was, considered too provocative and "unrepresentative" of the Irish people. This installation told the stories behind the window & consequences of cultural censorship. Modern Design Across Borders exhibit examined the cross-cultural connections among people, ideas & movements that made modern design's remarkable reach and lasting impact possible. Five spotlight subjects were presented; transportation, 1925 Paris Expo, tea & coffee, plywood, and cocktail culture. Designers such as Norman Bel Geddes, Josef Hoffmann, Alvar Aalto, and Charles and Ray Eames innovations presented geometry, clean lines, functionality that defined modern life & continue to shape design today. We enjoyed all of the Miami Beach memorabilia from them motorcycle and sidecar, so all of the cocktail shakers. The posters & furniture on 5 were from the Wolfsonian's sister institution in Genoa, Italy. This ancient port city has a distinct character & is nown as "La Superba" (the superb). Mitchell "Micky" Wolfson, Jr., the museum founder gave us a picture of Genoa as a mercantile & financial center in the start of the 20th century. The hand painted secretary, posters & books represent the era beautifully. The Wolfsonian Design Store & coffee bar was almost an exhibition on its own, with its century-old Snead & Co. Iron Works shelving system presented a variety of books, games, toys, kitchenware, jewelry & tchotchkes that echo the museum's "good design is everything" theme. A smattering of tables makes this the perfect place to cool off & rest or some taking out a laptop to do some work with a fabulous iced latte.

The Wolfsonian - FIU (Florida International University) is a Museum, Library & Research Ctr. In the…read moreArt Deco District in Miami Beach, Fl. Wolfsonian Museum Founder / Author / Philanthropist / Businessman Mitchell "Mickey" Wolfson was inspired by the integration of art & design, established this museum space & donated lots of art that is on display for patrons to enjoy. Art at The Wolfsonian is from the 1850 - 1950 period. We visited during their "Free Fridays", which is from 6pm-9pm. When we walked inside, we admired the lobby for a bit before going into the elevator. Exhibits - Harry Clarke + The Geneva Window (5th Fl.) & The Big World: Alternative Landscapes in the Modern Era (6th Fl.) showcased gorgeous masterpieces. One of my favorites was a furniture piece entitled "Chest" by Josef Hoffman. We were in awe of the various paintings, & other art installations. The Wolfsonian has such a cool Giftshop! Staff & Security were present to provide information if needed. Bathrooms were clean, neat & organized. Wolfsonian.org @wolfsonian Open Wed., Thurs., Sat. & Sun. - 10am - 6pm & Fridays 10am - 9pm Access to the Reading Room only via Appt. Free Admission to select groups if your are visiting outside of Free Friday hours - Check their website for more information. Guided Tours are available upon request.

The current exhibitions being shown in this museum are lovely. I love that they have a studio for…read morearts and crafts. We made some paper flowers after walking the entire museum. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon well spent. The art is abundant and very interesting

It's a very limited art museum. It has a lovely neo-classical building, but there's nothing, or…read morealmost nothing, inside that is not edgy contemporary. If you're gay, it might appeal to you since a lot of the artists are gay. But if you're not, lots of photos and paintings of muscle-boys showing their best might not do so much for you. Also the cafe is so limited that I didn't eat lunch there. Which is ok, since Lincoln Rd is 5 minutes away. 10 minutes away is the Wolfsonian museum. That is also a small museum, but I found it more interesting since it has a bunch of art from the earlier decades of the 20th century. I would come back to the Wolfsonian, but not the Bass.

Located in Miami's Brownsville neighborhood, the Historic Hampton House was once known as the…read more"Social Center of the South." Originally built in 1954 as the Booker Terrace Motel, it became a premier place for African American travelers during the Jim Crow era and remains one of the few surviving Negro Motorist Green Book hotels in Miami. Published by Victor Hugo Green from 1936 to 1966, the Negro Motorist Green Book was an indispensable travel guide for African Americans, listing hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and businesses where Black travelers could expect safe and respectful service. At a time when segregation and discrimination made travel dangerous, the guide provided a lifeline for families on the road. Publication ended after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed legal segregation, making the guide's mission increasingly unnecessary. The Green Book later inspired the title of the 2018 Academy Award-winning film Green Book. The Hampton House also gained renewed attention through the 2020 film One Night in Miami, which dramatizes the evening of February 25, 1964, after Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to win his first heavyweight championship. The film imagines Ali celebrating at the Hampton House alongside Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke. According to local history, it was here that Ali enjoyed the famous bowl of vanilla ice cream he had promised himself after the fight. More than just a motel, the Hampton House became an important gathering place during the Civil Rights Movement. It welcomed influential figures such as Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is said to have practiced an early version of his "I Have a Dream" speech here in 1960. Its renowned pool and jazz club also attracted legendary performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, and many others who could entertain audiences on segregated Miami Beach but were prohibited from staying there overnight. Following desegregation, economic activity gradually shifted away from Brownsville, and the Hampton House closed in 1976 before falling into decades of neglect. Thanks to determined preservation efforts led by the Dade Heritage Trust and local community advocates, notably Dr. Enid C. Pinkney, the Historic Hampton House was saved from demolition in 2002. Miami-Dade County purchased the property, and a $6 million restoration project transformed the abandoned motel into a museum and cultural center, that opened in 2015. In 2022, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today you can tour the two-story, fifty-room, modernist style inn featured a jazz club, restaurant, and swimming pool. Tickets are $25 for a 45 minute tour but they sometimes host events with free tours. Check their website for dates and details. As someone who loves history I appreciate this time capsule of mid century modern design but more importantly the Hampton House is an important symbol of resilience, civil rights, and Black history that continues to educate and inspire.

What an amazing piece of history in Miami. I was lucky to get a personalized tour…read more A Green Book hotel where Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr and others stayed. It is now a historic landmark and inspired the play and movie 'One Night in Miami' Art Basel and other cultural events have taken place here. They do school field trips. A true hidden gem with a story to tell.

The Miami Beach Art Deco Museum is on Ocean Drive between 8th & 9th streets, in Lummus Park. We…read moremade advance reservations for their art deco tour. A visit to this museum informed us about the 3 historic design styles in Miami Beach; Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, & Miami Modern (MiMo). Scale models of select buildings gave us a closer look at the elements of these structures. The Miami Beach Visual Memoirs project recorded personal stories of those who were a part of Miami Beach's story. The museum includes a resource center, 2 rooms with rotating exhibits, and gift shop. I enjoyed all of the old postcards, photographs, maps, and even furniture from old Art Deco Miami Beach. The gift shop was larger than I remembered & items were reasonably priced.

I've lived in Miami for more than a decade but yet I've never done the official Art Deco tour…read morethrough the Miami Beach Preservation Society and decided to do it one weekday I was off from work. The tour occurs every weekday at 10:30 AM and is roughly around 90 minutes or so. It covers about 8 blocks or so and you stop along the way. You have to book the tour through TripAdvisor or can purchase tickets the day of in person from the Museum Welcome Center. I arrived 15 minutes early as the booking suggested and I was the first person there, so I explored the Art Deco Museum while I waited on the tour to begin. Your tour includes admission to the museum to explore throughout the day. The museum is two rooms and you can easily cover it in about 15 minutes. They provide you with headsets and are greeted by your volunteer tour guide. Mine for the day was Franzi and she was so nice and knowledgeable about the Art Deco area and was very personable. We started the tour at the the lifeguard stand behind the museum and continued on Ocean Drive and saw a number of buildings from the outside and also went in two hotels and the tour guide spoke about the significance of each of the buildings and interiors. A number of the things you could learn from reading the monuments and images inside of the museum but Franzi also provided a lot of knowledge about the area and brought everything to light. The tour was really good, and I'm glad I could finally take advantage of going on the tour!

While the frost museum has many different subjects to look at, it doesn't quite master any of them…read more Still, the museum is a cute place to bring your kids for some of their interactive screens and games.

Pros: Beautifully curated museum inside FIU Modesto campus. The space is small but the exhibits…read morewere so powerful. Will definitely continue to return! Cons: None, everything was excellently maintained, I hope they are able to expand one day.