Wednesday 21 January 2015

Guide to Miami's 10 Must-See Contemporary Art Galleries

Focused around the city’s revitalised Wynwood Art District these ten contemporary galleries and art organisations have brought international acclaim to the Miami art scene. Whilst success has come for their commitment to high-quality, cutting edge art across all mediums, they have maintained a strong sense of community spirit throughout, supporting local artists by taking art to the streets.

Wynwood Walls
An inspiring model for community revitalisation, Wynwood Walls was established in 2010 by renowned community place-maker Tony Goldman and designed as a centre for the exploration and development of pedestrian areas in the Wynwood Art District. Goldman believed that the area’s numerous warehouse fronts would be his giant canvases on which to present the greatest collection of street art ever seen in a single place. Dedicated to presenting graffiti and street art in a unique, experimental way, Wynwood Walls transformed the area through a series of world-class murals by a diverse selection of internationally renowned street artists including Os Gemeos, Invader, and Kenny Scharf. Wynwood Walls is a self-proclaimed ‘Gallery of the Streets’, and continues to collaborate with leading artists, curators and experts to bring exceptional street art to the public, ranging from old-school graffiti to the latest trends. 
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
One of the most cutting-edge galleries in Miami, Fredric Snitzer Gallery is known for its leading role in the Miami contemporary art scene and bringing international attention to emerging and mid-career artists such as Hernan Bas, Luis Gispert, and Naomi Fischer. Based in the Wynwood Art District, Fredric Snitzer himself has been a mentor for local artists for many years, nurturing emerging talents and supporting their artistic expression. The gallery presents a range of edgy, high-quality exhibitions throughout the year including solo and thematic group shows, participates regularly in renowned international art fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach, and is a key fixture on the Second Saturday Wynwood Art Walk
Dina Mitrani Gallery
This dedicated photography gallery is a key venue in the Wynwood Art District. Based in an old clothing factory owned by Mitrani’s father, Dina Mitrani Gallery is a contemporary photography emporium showcasing works by emerging, mid-career and established photographers. Providing a platform for artists and enthusiasts to appreciate and engage with the medium, the gallery regularly collaborates with independent curators and arts organisations to present high quality, critical photography exhibitions that showcase both the classic and the contemporary. Featured artists include Marina Font, Peggy Levison Nolan and Kanako Sasaki. The Mitrani Family are also active members of the Miami arts community helping to support the Wynwood Art District through the provision of artist studios, exhibition spaces and an outdoor events space. 
David Castillo Gallery
Exhibitions at David Castillo Gallery demonstrate a strong focus on conceptual curatorial models. Representing local and international mid-career and emerging artists, their shows often relate to contemporary cultural and personal investigations of identity. These are programmed alongside exhibits of important historical artworks by renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol. Contemporary artists represented by David Castillo Gallery are distinguished by their commitment to their individual histories and artistic practices and have shown in numerous international venues including the Metropolitan Museum of ArtTate Modern, and High Museum of Art. David Castillo Gallery is also a regular participant at international art fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach and The Armory Show in New York. 
Emerson Dorsch
One of the leading contemporary art galleries in Miami, Emerson Dorsch is the renamed Dorsch Gallery founded by Brook Dorsch. The gallery was renovated and rebranded in 2013 and has emerged with a renewed focus on avant-garde artworks. Emerson Dorsch represents a diverse range of emerging and established international artists such as Frances Trombly, Victoria Fu and Clifton Childree. These artists are distinguished by their individual vision combined with an active academic and collaborative engagement with the artistic community. The first gallery to set up in the Wynwood District, Emerson Dorsch has become a pioneering institution in Miami and a key player on the international art scene, exhibiting at key events such as PULSE Miami.
Emerson Dorsch, NW 24th St, Miami, FL, USA, +1 305 576 1278

Dimesions Variable
Dimensions Variable is committed the advancement of artistic discourse within Miami and beyond. Run by artists Adler Guerrier, Leyden Rodriguez-Casanova and Frances Trombly, the organisation’s focus is on the exchange of ideas between international and local communities. Exhibitions and site-specific projects at Dimensions Variable have featured artists such as Margrethe Aanestad, Kevin Arrow, Loriel Beltran, Jenny Brillhart and Felecia Chizuko, all of whom are known for blurring the line between traditional and street art scenes. Dimensions Variable boasts a broad programme of exhibitions, discussions, lectures and one-off projects promoting community engagement and encouraging critical dialogue on contemporary art. The organisation works on both independent and collaborative projects with artists, galleries and institutions from around the world and regularly exhibits at art fairs such as PULSE Miami. 
Avant Gallery
Forward-looking, innovative art hotspot Avant Gallery is a must-see venue in Miami. Its evolving collection contains an extensive range of fine art, sculpture, photography and mixed media works, sitting alongside furniture, lighting, wall, and floor designs. These extraordinary objets d’art by world-renowned and emerging artists such as Alec Monopoly, DAIN, Chad Jensen and Marcel Wanders are filled with fantasy and wonder. The gallery also presents works by important contemporary and modern figures such as Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol. Avant Gallery certainly has a unique approach to exhibiting artworks and designs, departing from the traditions of both the showroom and the white-wall gallery space to create this unique venue in which to experience cutting-edge creativity.

Locust Projects

Experimental exhibition space Locust Projects is dedicated to supporting the freedom of contemporary visual artists. Founded by a trio of Miami-based artists, Elizabeth Withstandley, Westen Charles, and COOPER in 1998, Locust Projects was one of the first arts organisations to move into the Wynwood Art District. Working with local, national and international artists, the organisation encourages the creation of site-specific installations that are an extension of the artists’ representative work, and provides an unconstrained environment in which to do so. Alongside innovative projects and exhibitions, Locust Projects actively supports the local community through free education programmes and initiatives. This pioneering organisation has grown over the years to become a recognised institution with a national and international reputation for presenting ambitious projects by a diverse range of artists at pivotal points in their careers. 
Kelley Roy Gallery
The Kelley Roy Gallery focuses on contemporary paintings, drawings and sculptures by contemporary American and international artists. Founded by experienced collectors and dealers Susan Kelley and Bill Roy, the gallery showcases a wide range of aesthetic styles from representational to conceptual and abstract expressionism, with the works on show featuring a wide range of mediums. Kelley Roy Gallery currently represents 19 established artists including Mimi Bates, Pablo Cano, Patricia Claro, and Jae Hahn, with several represented artists working across multiple mediums. The gallery also features an annual group show of emerging artists and takes part in local and international art fairs including the Wynwood Art Fair and Miami International Art Fair (MIA)

By Lauren England