The 5 Best Art Museums in Miami

Miami, Florida, is perhaps best known for its beautiful beaches and party-loving atmosphere. But did you know it’s one of the country’s best cities for art? This warm and sunny cultural hub is home to countless well-to-do art collectors, as well as a burgeoning scene of acclaimed and up-and-coming artists—which means you’ll find no shortage of great art museums, art galleries, and exhibits while you’re in town. 

If you’re an art lover who is new to Miami or getting ready to move here, you’ll feel right at home among the intimate, industrial galleries and exhibits in Wynwood, the sprawling museums in downtown Miami, and the many pop-up exhibits that take over local restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs throughout the year.

In fact, there are so many options for art lovers to explore in this city that planning out your adventures can seem overwhelming! To make it a bit easier for you, we’ve created a guide to some of the best Miami art galleries and museums, including:

1. The Pérez Art Museum Miami
2. The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami
3. The Bass Museum of Art
4. The Wolfsonian Art Museum
5. The Lowe Art Museum

Let’s get started!

The Pérez Art Museum Miami

Located in the Magic City’s bustling downtown, the Pérez Art Museum Miami is a favorite among serious art lovers. Known locally as the PAMM, it hosts an ever-rotating lineup of traveling art exhibitions. These cover everything from eye-catching multimedia work presented on screens to socially and culturally significant paintings and displays relating to the African Diaspora, Caribbean culture, feminism, and the diversity of Miami. The PAMM’s permanent collection comprises nearly 3,000 works of art showcased across eight galleries and focuses largely on Miami’s rich blend of cultures.

During your visit, make sure you check out the museum’s must-see open-air sculpture garden, which features large-scale works by multiple artists. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant, Verde. It offers stunning views of Biscayne Bay and a menu that spotlights creative dishes made with seasonal ingredients. Here’s a pro tip: The cocktails and pastries are as wow-worthy as the art.

Details: Admission to the PAMM costs $16 for adults. You can also purchase an annual membership for $65 and enjoy free unlimited visits, members-only previews of special art gallery exhibits, invitations to exclusive events year-round, and discounted parking, among other perks.

The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami

The Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (or MOCA, for short), started in the early ’80s as a single art gallery. The first museum in Miami-Dade County to begin assembling a collection of contemporary fine arts, it has grown into a cultural hub that hosts exhibits and works by new artists, contemporary icons, and boundary-pushing creators. Many of MOCA’s exhibits are research- and culture-driven, supported by educational programs with the goal of nurturing conversations about art and cross-cultural understanding.

Its permanent collection includes over 400 pieces by local, national, and international artists, such as Teresita Fernandez, Alex Katz, Pablo Cano, George Segal, and Keith Haring. It has loaned paintings and other works from its own collections out to London’s Tate Modern, Barcelona’s Contemporary Art Museum, and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Past gallery exhibits have examined the art of printmaking, yarn-bombing, and more. And it hosts several locally loved events, like free outdoor jazz concerts at 8 p.m. on the last Friday of every month.

Details: Admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami is $10 for adults. You can also purchase an annual membership for $50 and enjoy free unlimited visits, free admission to select performances, screenings, and workshops, discounts on MOCA education programs, an invitation to MOCA’s annual Miami Art Week Celebration, and more.

The Bass Museum of Art

Here’s another great option for contemporary art lovers. Located in Miami Beach, the Bass Museum of Art showcases exhibits by established and mid-career artists from around the world. Its shows include all kinds of contemporary art, media, and subject matter, from fashion to architecture to contemporary culture. In fact, one recent gallery exhibit, Alex Israel x Snapchat, featured works by a Los Angeles-based artist that implemented Snapchat’s augmented reality technology.

The Bass also has a fascinating ongoing exhibit of over 70 works on loan and from its founding collection, as well as exciting recent acquisitions. It’s called Open Storage, and it runs the gamut from photography to painting, and from North and South America to African and European continents.

Details: Admission to the Bass is $15 for adults. You can also purchase an annual membership for $50 and enjoy free unlimited visits, access to exhibition celebrations and special art gallery shows, 10% off items from the museum shop, and more.

The Wolfsonian Art Museum

This local favorite in the heart of Miami Beach’s Art Deco district highlights a specific time period, 1850 to 1950. Guests can learn about everything from colonial empires to Cold War-era tensions, the creation of American railroad empires, and the dawn of TV.

Containing the largest American university art collections, the Wolfsonian is home to more than 200,000 objects from around the world, including groundbreaking household appliances that had a major impact on productivity, propaganda that influenced the outcomes of major wars, and architectural designs that connected transcontinental cultures and communities.

Past exhibits have covered Depression-era glassworks, artwork around extremism in America, Cuban caricature and culture, and so much more.

Details: Admission to the Wolfsonian is $12 for adults, though Florida residents can visit for free. Admission is also free every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. You can purchase an annual membership for $50 and enjoy unlimited free admission for you and a guest, invites to VIP preview parties, members-only tours, and more.

The Lowe Art Museum

Part of the University of Miami, the Lowe was the first Miami-Dade County museum and art gallery to be professionally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It has been recognized by the state as a Major Cultural Institution and houses nearly 20,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of creativity in every continent. 

The Myrna and Sheldon Palley Pavilion for Contemporary Glass and Studio Arts is a favorite among visitors. The art gallery is home to a glass exhibition worth $3.5 million that features masterpieces by Jolley, Chardiet, Chihuly, and others, as well as stunning ceramic pieces by acclaimed artists from around the world. 

The Lowe Art Museum’s permanent collections include works from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Egypt, Europe, the Pacific Islands, ancient Americas, and the ancient Mediterranean, among others.

Details: Admission to the Lowe Art Museum in Miami is free through May 31, 2022. You can purchase an annual membership for $60 and enjoy unlimited museum admission, free admission to special events and exhibit openings, and free admission to lectures.

More to explore in Miami for art lovers

These are just five of the must-visit museums that make up the thriving Miami art scene. There are plenty more options to fill all your free time with art and unique discoveries, including the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (ICA), the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and the Rubell Museum, to name a few. 

And, make sure you check out Wynwood, Miami’s famed arts district, whose buildings showcase some of the city’s best street art. One of the amazing things about Miami is that you’ll literally find art on every street corner, from public sculptures to vibrant murals splashed across the sides of warehouses and high-rises. You don’t have to try too hard to encounter something truly inspiring here in South Florida.

Want to simplify your move to the Magic City? Landing offers fully furnished apartments in Miami with flexible lease terms that let you stay and soak up the local art scene as long as you like. Learn more about becoming a Landing member today!