Moving into your first home is a big deal. And if you’re one of the city’s top art destinations—a museum that has been diligently building a state-of-the-art three-story facility for more than two years—it’s an occasion to celebrate. On December 1, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, which was temporarily housed inside the Moore Building since opening in 2014, debuts its extraordinary new museum, a showpiece in itself in the center of the Miami Design District. Known for breaking fresh talent and giving primary museum exposure to under-recognized artists, ICA Miami has set the stage for its share of firsts in the neighborhood. Ready to go inside? Director Ellen Salpeter gave us a special glimpse of what visitors can expect.
“The Everywhere Studio”
This thematic group show (Dec 1–Feb 28), featuring 100-plus works from more than 50 artists (including Pablo Picasso and Roy Lichtenstein), explores the influence that personal settings have on how artists work and what they produce, which is often a response to larger political and economic factors.
Look and learn
Docents lead free tours throughout the galleries, while scholars and artists host lectures and film nights.
Hometown pride
The museum opens with works from two Miami-based artists: Mark Handforth, whose sculptures will be on view in the garden, and Haitian artist Tomm El-Saieh, whose show of abstract work will be on display in the emerging gallery on the ground floor.
Moving parts
ICA Miami was designed on the concept of flexible space, wherein walls and structural elements can be easily shifted to allow for different types of programming—meaning dance performances will be in the gallery, not in a formal proscenium theater.
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