Private galleries bring immersive Art Week experience

Private art galleries and pop-ups are teaming up with venues and brands to bring new immersive experiences during Miami Art Week.

CONTRA is a new private, invite-only events platform curating experiences for creators and brands. On Dec. 4, Contra will celebrate with a VIP grand opening at Wyncatcher, a new work and social club by Knotel in Wynwood. The evening will feature live DJ sets by Brooke Brazelton and Nemekko, an art installation by Daniel Allen Cohen, and a first look inside the club’s multi-level space – complete with a restaurant, rooftop terrace, and event hub designed to inspire creativity and connection. Details: https://www.houseofcontra.com/events/wyncatcher

The NFL is returning to Miami with an expanded Artist Replay experience. The gallery experience brings together a group of artists whose work celebrates the connection between art, culture, and sports. The weekend will start with a private gallery event Dec. 5, bringing together athletes, artists and cultural tastemakers to preview the new works debuting at this year’s gallery showcase. For the first time, an active NFL player, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Marco Wilson, and NFL legend Martellus Bennett will debut their own original artwork, adding a new dimension to the lineup and offering fans a look at how players express themselves beyond the field.

The NFL Artist Replay gallery at 320 NW Second Ave. opens to the public on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, for the sports and art community to experience the artwork up close, sit in on live panel discussions with NFL Legends taking the stage as artists and collectors, celebrate art and culture, and tap into game day energy with a Miami Dolphins game day watch party.

The Opera Gallery Miami’s at 151 NE 41St. forthcoming exhibition, “In Dialogue with Color: Mid-20th Century to Now” is a curatorial exploration tracing how artists ranging from Roy Lichtenstein to Yayoi Kusama have transformed color into a complex language for expressing emotion and identity. Highlights include Marc Chagall’s celestial blues and verdant greens, Keith Haring’s kinetic oranges capturing the energy of 1980s New York, Yayoi Kusama’s pulsating reds, and Pierre Soulages’ luminous use of black to reveal light through darkness.

London-based artists SLAWN are debuting their new collaborative exhibition “Heroes, Villains, and Violence” at The Art of Hip Hop at 299 NW 25th St. Presented by Zig-Zag, the installation will be an immersive fine-art takeover by SLAWN × OPAKE: giant wood-panel works, pop-icon satire, and a boxing motif about discipline, recovery, and family.

Donde Esteban, the resort wear brand by Colombian designer Esteban Cortázar, presents “La Tiendita Donde Esteban” pop-up at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach at 40 Island Ave. Inspired by traditional Colombian bodegas, the pop-up captures the essence of Colombia and Miami’s summer spirit.

Artist Amanda Linares presents “Tierra Húmeda,” an installation of clay tiles and graphite drawings on wood that meditates on the intertwined relationship between land and memory. On display at The Miami Beach EDITION, Ms. Linares’s installation for the City of Miami Beach’s “No Vacancy 2025” marks the first participation of the Miami Beach EDITION in the program. With Tierra Húmeda, she constructs an intimate landscape of earthen surfaces and delicately rendered marks.

Artist Lee Pivnik presents “Wellspring,” an installation that traces the flow of water through the Floridian landscape: its capacity to hold memory, shape ecosystems, and foreshadow the region’s future. Located at The Shelborne By Proper’s Lobby Gallery at 1801 Collins Ave., Mr. Pivnik’s installation is also in collaboration with Miami Beach for No Vacancy 2025.

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach’s Guest Rooms & Lobby will also host luxury design brand Moooi, which will be reimagining five premiere hotel rooms into immersive sensory experiences. Additionally, hotel’s lobby has been reimagined by Moooi as well.

Moxy South Beach at 915 Washington Ave. will debut the Keep Walking Staircase Project, a collaboration with the Jason Perez Art Collective that transforms the hotel’s staircases into an immersive, property-wide installation. Beginning Nov. 28 and continuing through Dec. 8, the project showcases mural works from a curated group of graffiti-style artists, whose pieces wind through the property and extend into the lobby, creating a playful yet elevated visual journey.

Mr. C Miami – Coconut Grove at 2988 McFarlane Road will inaugurate its first cultural activation during Art Basel with a focused presentation of new works by Italian-born and New York-based artist Federico de Francesco. Conceived as the starting point of an ongoing arts program at the hotel, the project introduces a curatorial approach that brings contemporary artistic practice into dialogue with the creative heritage of Coconut Grove.

WE ARE ONA and Luca Pronzato are announcing a new collaboration with Designer Sabine Marcelis in partnership with Andaz Miami Beach at 4041 Collins Ave. for a special pop-up. The artists will transform Andaz Miami Beach into a sensorial and sculptural environment where food, light, and stone converge in harmony. The creative partnership also marks the hotel’s inaugural event as Andaz brand’s flagship debut in Florida and the first opening under the newly formed Hyatt Lifestyle Group.

Design Hotels brings Mexico City-based Casa Bosques – a creative studio and bookshop concept – to Miami for a month-long residency at The Shelborne By Proper, By Proper’s newest property and the first member of Design Hotels in Miami. Opening Dec. 3, the pop-up bookshop showcases a curated selection of international titles in art, design, travel, and hospitality, and the first issues of the Design Hotels Book 2025 – Designed to Stay, which will be available in the US next year.

Opening Dec. 1, Nina Johnson at 6315 NW 2nd Ave. presents Acid Bath House, a group exhibition curated by Jarrett Earnest; Dara Friedman’s solo exhibition Star People; and functional outdoor works by Emmett Moore in the Gallery Courtyard. Alongside the exhibitions, Nina Johnson makes its debut at Art Basel Miami Beach with a presentation of artists and long-time collaborators whose practices have shaped the gallery’s growth and embody its vision for the future.

Lina Cerrone Gallery at 2239 NW Second Ave. is celebrating its second anniversary with multiple exhibitions, including Mystic Roots by Colombian artist Juliana Plexxo, whose work went to the moon; Quantum Painting by French artist Véronique Barrillot, the pioneer of quantum painting; Oh What Beautiful Flowers by local emerging talent Patrick Penkwitt; and Resonance by contemporary graffiti artist Cedric Bouteiller. Details: linacerronegallery.com

On Dec. 6, The National Hotel Miami Beach at 1677 Collins Ave. returns with Art Legends 2025, its fifth annual one-night celebration uniting global art, music, and nightlife, presented by NellysList. The Art Deco landmark transforms into an open-air gallery and high-energy after-party featuring international painters, muralists, graffiti artists, and live performers. Guests will experience dynamic works from creators across the Americas, Europe and Israel, while DJs, immersive entertainment, and specialty activations bring the night to life. Details: https://nationalhotel.com/

On Dec. 4, Magie Wine Bar at 8281 NE Second Ave. invites art lovers to celebrate Miami Art Week with an exclusive one-night-only pop-up featuring handwritten artist Renda Writer. Details: https://www.magiemiami.com/.

Clevelander South Beach at 1020 Ocean Dr. will offer a fusion of art, music, and culture. As Art Basel takes over Miami, Clevelander is turning up the creative energy with live painting and a curated art showcase from two artists: Shane Goudreau and Luis Bredeson. From Dec. 5-7, guests can witness creativity in motion as both artists create live on-site while also displaying a selection of their finished works. Details: https://www.clevelander.com/

On Dec. 5, NYLON House in partnership with e.l.f. Cosmetics will host an exclusive event with exclusive brand activations, and the chance to connect with fellow tastemakers at one of Miami Art Week’s most anticipated parties. Headlining the evening is Adriatique, who are featured on the cover of NYLON House.

Visa presents “The Art of The Draw,” exclusive event in partnership with Joopiter and co-hosted with KidSuper on Dec. 3 at The Goodtime Hotel in Miami. Visa’s new project brings together artists from six continents, each tasked with creating work inspired by the energy of football and the spirit of their local communities. These artworks will be showcased at special Visa activations across the globe throughout the FIFA World Cup.

Apple Music’s Art Gallery at Superblue will bring to life an immersive art and sound experience featuring a wide range of works and installations during Miami Art Week. The gallery will feature exhibitions from renowned artists, including Henry Taylor, Calida Rawles, Devon Turnbull, Jeremy Deller, Sara Sadik, Angel Otero, Gabriel Moses, and Tommy Malekoff.

HexClad, a luxury cookware brand, will curate the inaugural VIP welcome dinner Dec. 3 at the W Hotel South Beach at 2201 Collins Ave. Additionally, HexClad will be celebrating culinary council member Nancy Silverton with the Art Basel x Chef’s Table Dinner Series on Dec 7.

Starting Dec. 2, NADA Miami is making a return with Banana Daddy, Miami’s newest banana-based soft serve concept, offering an exclusive first look into a premium dessert at Ice Palace Studios at1400 N Miami Ave.

Alfa Romeo at Bit Basel will also be held at The Sagamore Hotel between Dec. 3-7. Art lovers are encouraged to discover the artistry of Alfa Romeo, where the 33 Stradale and a one-of-a-kind Tonale art car designed by Motive Artworks will be showcased.

On Dec. 4, Sperry is celebrating and launching a collab with One Of These Days to transform classic American footwear into wearable art at Midnight Sun Yacht Venetian Marina and Yacht Club at 1635 North Bayshore Drive.

Champion and Reebok are hosting “Uncommon Events x Authentic Live Present Hugel” on Dec. 4 at Little River Studios. Music lineup includes| Alkeme, Johan (Beatrice), Topic, and Vanjee.

“Las Bandidas” by Cuban-American artist Gabriela Noelle, presented by Private Gallery, the curatorial arm of the Museum of Graffiti in Wynwood. Ms. Noelle’s work, which combines art, design, and play, has been celebrated by Vogue World, ELLE Décor, and Frame. With Las Bandidas, she brings her signature mix of color, lucite, and nostalgia to a powerful new story about rebellion, care, and creativity in uncertain times.

74th Arts, a global arts organization known for creating intimate, immersive encounters with contemporary art and culture, announces its Miami Art Week “Layover,” as part of a multi-city program of activations. On Dec. 2, 74th Arts will present a special program in collaboration with El Espacio 23 at 2270 NW 23 St. and the Jorge M. Pérez Collection. The program will include a guided walkthrough led by Patricia Hanna, curator and director of the Pérez Collection of A World Far Away, Nearby and Invisible: Territory Narratives from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection.

Guests are invited to a panel discussion titled The Past, Present and Future of Latin American Art – Inspiration, Investment, and Collecting. The conversation features collector and philanthropist Darlene Pérez; Alejandra Rossetti, director and senior advisor at The Fine Art Group; and Nina Surel, artist and founder of The Collective 62 and will be moderated by Ms. Hanna.

YoungArts Gallery and Open Studios at 2100 Biscayne Blvd. will have an exclusive opening celebration for contemporary artist Sam Moyer’s solo exhibition during Miami Art Week, and open studio time to see the work of YoungArts’ latest artists-in-residence. Guests will learn more about their mission and programs, which recognize and foster talent throughout the full lifecycle of an artist’s practice.

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