When you think of Miami, you often think mainly of Miami Beach and its famous Art Deco district or its skyscrapers or bling-bling parties, but you should know that Miami is also a city very much oriented towards art in general. A brief overview of the places and events not to be missed!
Wynwood: a district entirely dedicated to Street art
Located in central Miami, Wynwood is an abandoned industrial area of Miami that was transformed into an epicenter of street art in the early 2000s
It is in this area that street graphic arts lovers will find something to satisfy their love of graffiti and stencil. Indeed, the majority of the walls of the district are covered with these ephemeral works made by artists from all over the world, strange and sublime contrast with the white and sparkling walls of the rest of the city.
Prepare your cameras, and your smartphone for the selfies, because you will want to take pictures of most of these huge and colourful works - real works of art - whose life span is often so short.
Wynwood is not only about its superb graffiti, it is also a very dynamic art district with many art galleries. They are generally open to the public, and you can discover superb works by famous contemporary artists.
It is not surprising that in the face of such excitement, many foreign investors have decided to set up their businesses in this part of the city, whether they are restaurants or even artistic structures.
Design in the spotlight
In the heart of Miami and near the Wynwood district, Design District is also a district that was born in the 2000s, in an area of the city that was abandoned. The district houses more than 130 boutiques and showrooms (including about sixty luxury boutiques) for a rich and wealthy clientele. But it is now one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Miami, with many recent extensions such as Palm Court Square, which cannot be missed with its huge transparent design ball. In the near future, new brands, new restaurants, a boutique hotel and a large museum of contemporary art are currently under construction
During your window shopping session at Design District, take the time to observe the shop fronts. They all have their own style. In order for them to integrate harmoniously into the Design District, they have the particularity of having been designed with a facade equipped with art or design elements. Sometimes, it is simply the showcase that is a unique model for a particular brand. The major brands therefore often offer shops here that are completely different from their usual stores. So Tiffany, renowned for being a brand that puts perfection in the spotlight, has a broken mirror on its front: it is the only store in the brand where you can see this
However, it is prudent to avoid deserted streets in Design District but also in Wynwood as these two neighbourhoods are close to Miami's deprived neighbourhoods such as Little Haiti and Overtown and theft has been reported. For more information on this subject, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which always gives useful advice to travellers
Art Basel, a major contemporary art festival
At the beginning of December, the famous Art Basel contemporary art fair is held every year in Miami Beach. Each year, nearly 100 galleries participate in the event and some 30 countries are represented. More than 70,000 artists, collectors and art aficionados are expected to attend.
But the public can also attend 20 "satellite" fairs ñ which are held all over Miami at the same time ñ allowing everyone, not just insiders, to admire works of art and installations by artists from all over the world.
