Miami’s Gallery Scene

What is the Miami gallery scene?

A popularity contest? Something to do on a Friday evening before dinner? A place to see your competition? Maybe.

I’m definitely a hater, but I promise I love Miami’s gallery scene.

Not many places in the world have the privilege of having (decent) art openings almost every weekend, except for the summer which dies here. For years I have been fortunate enough to have access to multiple gallery openings in one night, so much so that I forget who I’m seeing or what I have seen (I also don’t care enough to remember if I didn’t love it). Of course, there are some downsides-

Miami has galleries for the rich and tasteless, like any city that has vacation homes for the tacky wealthy class.

There is also the problem of having too many galleries.

The shit galleries are usually the ones who have a dead artist like Warhol or Keith Haring, a popular, overly accessible artist like Koons, and then have some shit street art type pieces. These galleries are mostly on the Beach, Wynwood and the Design District.

As for curators, I do not think we have reached our full potential but we are blessed with a handful of gallerists that have an eye/taste. We also have some galleries that take risks on some younger artists, but not enough that open up their doors and minds to help uplift the artist. Most allow the artist to make the work they’ve been making, instead of inspiring some change in concept, or material.

I believe curators should take a strong hand in the artist's work when working for a solo show. I don’t want to see the same thing you’ve been doing for 5 years, and neither does the next person…

I’m not gonna mention any galleries by name because it doesn’t matter, but just know, I only love one, I hate a good amount, and I like just a couple. Most are in gentrified or are gentrifying neighborhoods (that's how it usually goes, right?).

I love Miami’s gallery scene. I also think it's slightly wack.

V.N