The Perez Art Museum Miami: Celebrating Culture Through Art
Located in Miami, Florida, the Perez Art Museum Miami stands out as a hub of contemporary artistic expression. This cultural landmark showcases a wide-ranging collection including drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, and immersive installations. It celebrates the creativity of African, Latinx, and local Miami artists, exploring themes of heritage and cultural history. Each artwork prompts reflection on pressing social issues and the meanings embedded within.
Photo By Iwan Baan and Jason Brough, JTI
Central to its mission is the PAMM’s commitment to spotlighting contemporary art while honoring and nurturing Miami's vibrant cultural communities. Opening originally as the Center for Fine Arts, it was renamed to the Miami Art Museum. The institution underwent a transformative evolution, thanks to a donation from Jorge M. Pérez, culminating in a modernized vision that bears his name. In its essence, the Perez Museum invites visitors to embark on a journey where creativity flourishes and diversity thrives.
Since its establishment in 1984, the Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade County has served as Miami-Dade's premier museum for nearly 35 years. Founded with a focus on 20th and 21st-century international art. PAMM aimed to address the absence of a contemporary art museum in Miami, a city then in its youth. In 1994, The museum shifted its collection by focusing on Art that reflects the cultural vibrance of Miami, and went on to renovate and expand to a 200,000 foot campus.
The museum serves as a sanctuary where art transcends conventional boundaries. Its collection includes treasures such as works by Victor El-Saieh, with his piece “Fet Chaloska”. This piece is a colorful and energetic large scale acrylic painting that depicts a carnival. The work was inspired by a traditional Haitian carnival figure, Chaloska, which is infamous for its claw like teeth and dressed in military attire. Although this piece is vibrant and bright, it actually explores the political turmoil that Haiti has experienced. He was based off of a Haitian military officer who was in charge of 150 prisoner deaths in the early 1900’s. With this figure surrounded by a carnival and other animated folk characters, El-Saieh explores how political unrest affect Haiti’s cultural traditions.
Victor El-Saieh “Fet Chaloska” 2005-2016
The current exhibition at the PAMM, titled "Sea Change," runs until August 18th of this year. It offers an immersive experience reflecting on the rapid transformations in climate, culture, and time. The exhibition explores futuristic perspectives on technology and its intersection with nature. Featuring a diverse array of artists and mediums, including generative art by Alfredo Salazar-Caro, Harvey Moon, Rick Silva, and Nicolas Sassoon, animated GIFs by Lorna Mills, 3D experimental films by Rodell Warner, as well as video games and virtual reality, this exhibit presents a vibrant collection of innovative and immersive art forms.
Rick Silva and Nicolas Sassoon. Signals 4, 2023. HD color video with sound. 6 min.
Ultimately, the PAMM encourages visitors to explore a world where each brushstroke and textile tells stories of resilience, identity, and the human experience. By celebrating diversity and pushing artistic boundaries, the museum demonstrates how art can provoke thought and inspire change.
Hours:
Monday:11 AM–6 PM
Tuesday - Wednesday: Closed
Thursday:11 AM–9 PM
Friday - Sunday:11 AM–6 PM