With three gallery spaces tailored for public art, the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas stands as the inaugural venue designed for showcasing contemporary art in the Kendall region.Through its lively programming and rotating exhibitions, the Museum bridges the gap between the community and artists hailing from all corners of the globe. It nurtures emerging artists, encourages established ones to explore new horizons, and demonstrates Kendall's aspirations to establish itself as a key player in the South Florida and wider American contemporary art scene.
The Museum's exhibition program presents solo and group shows by local, national, and international artists, prioritizing originality and striving to showcase works from a diverse array of creators. Its goal is to bring innovative contemporary art that transcends borders to South Florida and beyond, connecting communities and broadening horizons.Exhibitions are organized by Jorge Rodríguez (R10), the Museum's director and Chief Curator, and by guest curators from all visual arts. Each one runs for an average of 45 days, with shorter exhibitions of seven to fifteen days being planned in cases where certain works cannot be displayed for the usual period of time.
The "Pop Up Shows" or ephemeral exhibitions are conceived as part of a specific line of projects aimed at presenting as many local artists as possible to the community and offering them exhibition spaces throughout the regular season.
"Exaggerations of History" is a compelling collection of 101 miniature portrait paintings of female artists spanning from the 12th to the 20th centuries, each coupled with an embedded Augmented Reality (AR) experience. Via an app-enabled AR journey, viewers are privy to a video narrative that vividly brings to life the biography and creative trajectory of each artist. A salient goal of this series is to affirm the significant role of women in the arts from the outset. Apia views this omission in historical records as a profound distortion of history. The artists selected for this compilation were pivotal during their eras but were conspicuously absent from scholarly texts, effectively leaving successive generations bereft of a full historical narrative.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 15, in a meaningful commemoration of Women's History Month and under the auspices of the Women in the Arts program, the American Heartbeats collective exhibition was inaugurated with great anticipation. This exhibition serves as a vibrant showcase for the works of a carefully selected group of women artists who have garnered substantial recognition within the dynamic cultural scene of South Florida. Embracing an open theme that focuses on displaying their latest artistic endeavors, the exhibition presented an eclectic array of pieces from artists hailing from various corners of Latin America.
Featured within this diverse collection were the captivating works of Uruguayan artist Evelyn Politzer, whose creations delve into themes of empowerment and resilience; Peruvian Aisha Ascóniga, known for her intricate explorations of identity and heritage; Brazilian Bella Cardim, whose art captures the vibrancy and fluidity of life; Costa Rican Aimée Joaristi, who challenges conventional perceptions through her abstract expressions; Panamanian MaiYap, celebrated for her environmental consciousness; Venezuelan Carola Bravo, who navigates the intricacies of space and memory; and Colombian Sandra García Pardo, whose pieces reflect on the human condition and societal constructs.
Art as a discipline has the power to transcend boundaries and connect people from diverse origins through the universal language of creativity. In the vibrant world of art, associations play a crucial role in bringing together like-minded individuals who share a passion for artistic expression. One such association is the Dade Art Educators Association, a community that acts as a melting pot for artists of various genres and styles. Members of this enriched association had the generosity to share their art with colleagues and art enthusiasts at the DAEA President’s Showcase.
READ MOREGeometric Abstraction is a thoughtfully curated exhibition paying tribute to the extensive career of an artist of Pedro Hernández's stature. He is among the Cuban artists who arrived in the 1960s and, despite the inherent challenges, seamlessly integrated into a society that was vigorously growing and constantly redefining its identity. While Pedro practiced as a medical professional his entire life, he consistently created stunning pieces of art with remarkable regularity.
READ MOREIn Miami, you hear a lot about art, but not so much about craft. James Herring's work in ceramics fuses the two. Herring eschews the title of "artist" and sees the resurgence of crafts and craftsmanship as a necessity for human growth in modern times. An outspoken supporter and practitioner of the maker movement, Herring has maintained a presence locally by doing demonstrations and leading classes and workshops on the ancient craft.Abel Folgar for '100 Creatives Miami New Times' | December 27, 2016
READ MOREIn close collaboration with the Fine Art Ceramic Center, the annual juried exhibition for its members was open to the public from Friday, February 9, through Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas. This year's exhibition featured works from forty members, in various formats and techniques. The show was juried by Kelly and Kyle Phelps, nationally recognized collaborating artists, twins, and art professors based in Ohio.
READ MOREAriel Orozco, curator of "El Charco y la Curva," launched the project after finding the Cuban Circle of Mexico A.C., a hub promoting Cuban art and culture, including politically nuanced workshops and events. Seeing a chance for unity among Cuban emigrants across generations, Orozco proposed an abstract art project to foster dialogue without engaging the space's political aspects. This approach allowed artists with diverse creative methods and interests to coexist in a harmonious, reconciliatory exhibition.
READ MOREWithin the esteemed milieu of Art Basel, the illustrious Bernardo Medina, will grace the Aldo Menéndez Permanent Hall at the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas with the presentation of his tome, 'The Sofrito Manifesto', a work that proudly encompasses two volumes. In the foreword of the second volume, dedicated to the cocktails and libations commonly savored in Puerto Rico, Joaquín E. Bacardí III penned: "It is a source of great pride for me to speak on a subject that, within my family, has been woven into the fabric of our daily discourse from a young age..."
READ MOREOn December 1st, 2023, MoCAA will inaugurate three simultaneous exhibitions. One of these will be "El hombre es una isla," featuring pieces created by Pepe Franco over the last decade. In an article published by Hypermedia magazine in September 2020, Cuban art expert and professor François Vallée remarked in the introduction: "José Franco has been a prominent figure in Cuban art since the 1980s. His artistic practice is prolific and eludes easy classification. As is often the case in what has come to be known as postmodernity (...)"
READ MOREOn July 7, 2017, the Kendall Art Center (now Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas) inaugurated "Cuban Slugger," an exhibition by the renowned Cuban artist Reynerio Tamayo. On this occasion, Tamayo expressed that this exhibition was a 'long-standing debt' he felt he owed, as he had participated in various group exhibitions on the theme of baseball but had never held a solo exhibition entirely dedicated to this sport. The project was previously showcased at Galería Habana in Havana and traveled almost in its entirety to South Florida.
READ MOREA selection of works from the recent Pop Up Show 'Halando parejo' will remain on display throughout October and extend into November of this year. Additionally, we are introducing pieces previously unseen in our context. Guided solely by the keen interest of a discerning segment of the audience and the museum's intention to share artworks that now enrich its collection, 'Harvest Bazaar' brings together a diverse group of creators. Their oeuvre predominantly centers on the human figure as a sociopolitical subject.
READ MOREDuring the sixth edition of the 2022 FOTOFOCUS BIENNIAL: World Record—the most expansive of its kind in the Americas—the Annex Gallery in Cincinnati unveiled "Cuba Real," a solo exhibition by the esteemed Cuban photographer and documentarian Raúl Cañibano. This Biennial venerates lens-based art and photography, convening artists, curators, and educators from across the globe. The past iteration showcased significant artist commissions and an extensive range of exhibitions, events, and novel projects, all orbiting the theme of World Record. This motif contemplated the vast photographic archive of life on Earth, humanity's imprint on the natural world.
READ MOREFor Gabriela, painting is a therapeutic endeavor. Often, we encounter emotions that elude verbal articulation, especially feelings determined by nebulous sensations. Yet, these emotions flow seamlessly through the boundless spectrum of hues and gestures. Gabriela dreams, allowing her visions to manifest directly onto the canvas; her strokes dream with her, melding into a singular creative entity. From the canvas emanates a palpable aura of opulence and empowerment. The flourish of her brushwork is not one of timidity, but of audacity. Her palette consistently challenges conventions, rejoicing in genuine primary colors. She regards her abilities as a transcendent power.
READ MOREMónica Batard, presents this exhibition featuring seven female artists and seven male artists. Most, with the exception of Ivonne Ferrer and Milena Gutiérrez, have recently arrived in the US or various European capitals. "Halando Parejo" primarily focuses on the challenges they've faced in integrating into a community that operates under paradigms vastly different from those they've known throughout their lives. It's an exhibition of, one might say, cathartic nature. A significant portion of Cuban art over recent decades addresses political themes. Once an artist leaves the island and their circumstances shift, so too may their interests, and, indeed, the very audience of their art.
READ MOREThe collection comprises roughly twenty bronze pieces of small to medium scale, crafted over the past two decades. Nurit has always been captivated by the human figure – its malleability, movement, and curvature. She regards the human body as a flawless machine constructed of flesh and bone. However, beyond mere shape, it is the meticulous attention to gesture that has ultimately defined the character of her sculptures. Through this gesture, one can discern their emotions and moods. As attendees will note from the inaugural event, these pieces allow for the appreciation of diverse feelings of many people, who have navigated the ups and downs of life with varying degrees of success.
READ MOREThe collection comprises roughly twenty bronze pieces of small to medium scale, crafted over the past two decades. Nurit has always been captivated by the human figure – its malleability, movement, and curvature. She regards the human body as a flawless machine constructed of flesh and bone. However, beyond mere shape, it is the meticulous attention to gesture that has ultimately defined the character of her sculptures. Through this gesture, one can discern their emotions and moods. As attendees will note from the inaugural event, these pieces allow for the appreciation of diverse feelings of many people, who have navigated the ups and downs of life with varying degrees of success.
READ MOREThe Kendall Art Cultural Center (KACC), dedicated the past six years to the preservation and promotion of contemporary art and artists, and to the exchange of art and ideas throughout Miami and South Florida, as well as abroad. Through an energetic calendar of exhibitions, programs, and its collections, KACC provides an international platform for the work of established and emerging artists, advancing public appreciation and understanding of contemporary art.
READ MOREThe Rodríguez collection is a blueprint of Cuban art and its diaspora. Within the context of the new MoCA-Americas the collection becomes an invaluable visual source for Diaspora identity. It represents a different approach to art history to try to better understand where we come from to better know where we are heading.
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