de la Cruz Collection in Miami

Most of my week in Miami Beach with friend and artist, Shari Epstein was on foot or bike.  We took time one afternoon to rent a car and visit some of the galleries in Miami's Wynwood Art District and the Design District.   

Gallery spaces in the midst of vacant lots,
murals and sporatic palm trees in the Wynwood Art district.

Crocheted bicycle by olek,
Chuck Close print of Philip Glass, far right,
and in the rear wall on left, a Damien Hirst print
 Vibera Lebetina

Shepard Fairey wall in Design District

Highlight of the afternoon was a visit to the de la Cruz collection in the Design District.  The building  was 3 floors of exciting contemporary art, beautiful light, and wonderful open space. It was designed and built specifically for the collection and offered a lovely reprieve from many of the windowless, vault like galleries in Wynwood.

We were greeted by Melissa, a young woman with a great job, who also informed us that free tours were available- which we promptly took her up on. Melissa led Shari and I through the building introducing us to the work and answering all of our questions with insight and interesting anecdotes.

Melissa (left) and Shari on the second floor in front
of Aaron Curry's work.

Another view of an Aaron Curry sculpture &
installation looking down to the first floor

Miami, like any other city- a land
of contrasts, view from the 2nd floor window
of the de la Cruz collection

Shari in front of a Jim Hodges installation on the
3rd floor, holding a take away piece of a
Felix Gonzalez -Torres installation.

Sure beats coming home with a T-Shirt!