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.
As part of its Women in the Arts Program, the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas is pleased to present to the art lovers of its community, and indeed to the entire community of artists and enthusiasts of South Florida, Sacred and Daily Patterns. This exhibition celebrates the powerful and intricate works of five prestigious female artists in the realm of geometric abstraction. Sacred and Daily Patterns brings together a diverse array of pieces that explore the intersection of form, color, and structure, highlighting their unique perspectives and innovative approaches. Through meticulous lines, bold shapes, and vibrant colors, these incredible artists challenge conventional boundaries and invite viewers to engage with the profound beauty and complexity of geometric art.
The 'Gratitude' series, officially started in 2016, represents a significant milestone in MaiYap's artistic evolution. While she began moving away from realism as early as 2012, her journey into abstraction was characterized by a shift in her color palette—from vibrant, intense colors to muted, soft pastels. By adopting softer colors, MaiYap sought to convey a more subtle, yet profound message, suggesting that if people could see the beauty she captures, they might also listen more attentively to the planet's needs. Each piece, meticulously crafted with a palette knife, layers these gentle colors and textures to build tactile canvases that engage and demand contemplation. These textured strokes serve as metaphors for the intricate relationship between human activity and nature.
Latin American Rockers brings together artists from South America and Mexico. Each artist was invited by the curator to reflect on their cultural roots and to explore the spirit of rebellion, freedom, and creativity that characterizes Latin American culture. Ultimately, it is a tribute to the influence of music on art and society, seeking to connect the rhythm of rock with the visual rhythm of art. The concept centers on the idea that, just as rock is a universal language, art also transcends borders and creates a dialogue among diverse Latin American cultures. The exhibition showcases a heterogeneous array of artistic forms, including painting, sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations, ensuring a broad representation of artistic expressions within the Latin American context. This interdisciplinary dialogue highlights the evolution of art south of the United States, anchoring the exhibition in the complex pathways of contemporary creativity, ever-evolving and in a constant state of flux.
Ana Albertina Delgado uses her pictorial language to express the current social debates surrounding diversity, emphasizing the role of women in society. With her paintings, Delgado builds human scenarios as metanarratives that reflect upon the construction of quotidian life while visualizing the social and psychological links between members of society. She takes the temperature of her times, using her artistic tools to build a conversation surrounding social progression and change. Her characters are ambiguously connected to one another through their enigmatic abilities and capacity for seduction, often expressed through sexuality, as they explore the mystery of life. Like a skilled fiction writer, Ana Albertina Delgado isolates the distinguishing qualities of her subjects and then amplifies those qualities visually and thematically in a way that celebrates humanity’s potential. While indistinctly, she takes as references urban mythology, as well as traditional country stories and myths.
During 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 MOREAs we evolve into an increasingly visually-oriented society, the skills to identify and distinguish valuable objects, interpret symbolic meanings, and swiftly organize a deluge of captivating visual stimuli become indispensable. Contemporary education now more than ever requires educators specialized in visuality and, by extension, in the realm of visual arts. The artist-educator has always held a prominent position within the educational profession. Successful art teachers possess the unique ability to grasp the creative process and convey this elusive knowledge to others. Their key skill is inspiring student achievement.
READ MOREAt first glance, it would seem that the work of Antonio Espinosa and Alain Pino – two visual producers trained in art academies in Cuba, who participated in the generational will of the nineties– have no connection to each other, as they are two artists with different trajectories and, if you will, polarized. But beyond the topics that obsess both creators, the turning point that unites them is the procedural conception of their pieces, the transformation of a primordial idea that will later evolve into an artistic expression. This is the reason that brings them together and becomes a pretext to join them in the upcoming exhibition at the MoCAA.
READ MOREIn recent years, Cirenaica Moreira has frequently delved into the realm of performance art. Since the 90s, Moreira has focused—through the representation of her own body—on challenging the political discourse expressed as yet another projection of toxic masculinity. She analyzes the female body from the perspectives of sexuality, gender, and race. Much of her work as a photographer transports us to dreamlike or unreal contexts where the subject has evolved at its own pace, untouched by the haste and agitation of 'becoming'. Cirenaica's models simply 'are'. On this occasion, the involvement of the audience was crucial.
READ MOREFor the past six years, the erstwhile Kendall Art Center —now reimagined as the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas— has devoted itself to nurturing a profound dialogue surrounding painting, encouraging a spirit of experimentation and a multiplicity of perspectives. 'Old Friends' exemplifies this fruitful discourse between two maestros of abstract art. This dialogue was sparked by Rigoberto Mena's journey to Boston in 2000, some 23 years ago. Mena, traversing to the USA, participated in the exhibition 'Cuba, Cuba, three contemporary artists', showcased alongside fellow artists Alejandro Lazo and Pango at the Espacio 12 gallery.
READ MOREThe Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas and the Fine Arts Ceramic Center presented their exhibition "Unlikely Assemblages" as part of the 57th Annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference, which took place from March 15th to 18th, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The Annex Gallery, located next to the Pendelton Art Center and directed by photographer and cultural promoter Jens G. Rosenkrantz, hosted the exhibition, which will run until April 29th, 2023. "Unlikely Assemblages" showcases the works of three prominent Cuban creators who are based in South Florida.
READ MOREThe Women in the Arts Program, along with a sizable group of Cuban artists, pays homage to the extraordinary Cuban artist Carmen Herrera. The Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas in Kendall inaugurated the group exhibition 'A mi me manda Carmen' on Friday, March 10, 2023, witnessing an exceptional turnout. In response to a call by curator Monica Batard, a select group of artists, predominantly Cuban, decided to honor the memory, life, and legacy of Herrera. These artists shared their works with the public in Kendall and Miami-Dade County, once again showcasing the diversity of female creativity in the world of contemporary art.
READ MOREThe Fine Art Ceramic Center and Miami Ceramic League are teaming up to promote and educate the public on ceramic arts. The Miami Ceramic League recently hosted an annual exhibition in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas, featuring renowned ceramicist Tom Coleman as the keynote speaker. The event provided a platform for artists to showcase their latest creations and network with fellow creators for several hours. The evening was filled with creative and motivational experiences, and attendees gained a deeper appreciation for this unique art form.
READ MOREI don’t remember when I first met Montoto, but by the time I began to associate with the art world, he was already well-established. It’s been over 25 years now. I later designed several catalogs for him and got to know him personally. At that time, he often worked with art critic Rufo Caballero, who unfortunately passed away at the peak of his career. Rufo told me that Montoto’s entire discourse was based on deep intellectual convictions and that I should not be swayed by appearances, that beyond his almost absolute mastery of technique, there were deep philosophical reflections layered underneath.
READ MOREThe Rodríguez Collection, displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas (MoCAA), offers a fascinating exploration of contemporary Cuban and continental art. Encompassing various mediums and styles, the collection emphasizes the richness and diversity of continental artistic expression. Featuring paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and ceramics, the works interact with each other and captivate viewers, creating a unique heritage that transcends boundaries of time, culture, and geography, for a truly enriching and immersive artistic experience, serving the Kendall community and the rest of South Florida.
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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