Miami, Florida
October 2004
Please view our Miami, Florida checklist at the end of the article...
If you spend enough time at the world’s major art and antiques fairs, it’s inevitable that the conversation travels south to … Miami? That’s right. This fast-growing city, with its vibrant multicultural art and antiques markets, quirky museums and miles of powdery sands, seems to be on both buyers’ and sellers’ lips in New York, London and Basel, Switzerland.
Indeed, in the last five years Miami has landed itself on every globetrotting culture vulture’s A-list. It has no fewer than 125 galleries, dozens of antiques shops and the singular, most important emerging contemporary art fair, Art Basel Miami Beach. Steamrolling into its third year this December 2 to 5, Art Basel Miami Beach brings with it a smorgasbord of arts events that will leave even the most culturally ravenous satiated. And the bonus for those who visit Miami during the rest of the year? There are plenty of leftovers.
While out-of-towners might think of Miami as one big city, locals divide it into one of the many districts or towns that make up the whole. For art and antiques lovers, that means seven different areas: Miami Beach, the Miami Design District, Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Little Havana, Coral Gables and North Miami.
Never more than a 25-minute ride by car from one another, each area offers its own snapshot of the Miami arts scene and is best navigated with one of the comprehensive Art Circuits guides available in galleries and museums. When planning a trip, try to experience the art districts’ monthly gallery walks—lively art-centric evenings that spill into the streets with wine and live music.
When heading out to shop, start with the smattering of galleries in the downtown Miami and neighboring Coconut Grove area, especially the AJ Japour Gallery, 1000 South Pointe Drive, tucked into the owner’s condo, exhibitions might feature works by contemporary artists along with Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein. At Beaux Arts, 2451 Brickell Avenue, sculpture collectors can snap up bronzes by Cuban artist Manuel Carbonell. Maquettes begin at $5,000 and commissioned monumental sculptures top off at $500,000.
Back in South Beach, Ashmore Gallery, 2213 Collins Avenue, which specializes in 17th- through 20th-century paintings, is a refreshing trip to the past, while Carel Gallery, 922 Lincoln Road, a SoBe classic, is the place to go for post-Impressionist works and 19th- and 20th-century masters.
Next stop is Wynwood, where pastel-washed warehouses reveal emerging artists, progressive galleries and the must-be-seen trailblazing private collections of Martin Marguiles, the Rubell family, and Debra and Dennis Scholl (an appointment might be necessary).
Here, also visit Dorsch Gallery, 151 N.W. 24th Street, one of the area’s pioneers, which represents South Florida artists. Among more recent arrivals, look for: Liquid Blue, 3438 North Miami Avenue, and Art Vitam, 3452 North Miami, which both feature international contemporary paintings, with prices beginning at $2,000.
Karpio Facchini Gallery, 1929 N.W. First Avenue, is the recent partnership of a well-known Miami contemporary art duo who show at ArtBasel Miami Beach. And don’t miss Frederic Snitzer Gallery, 2247 N.W. First Place, for everything from Robert Chambers’ sculptures to Isca Greenfield-Sanders’ photographs.
Just minutes away, keen shoppers will find Miami’s Design District, where they can complement their art with finds in interior design shops that in other cities would be to-the-trade only. You’ll also encounter a smattering of antiques dealers here, including the 5,000-square-foot Evelyn S. Poole Ltd., 3925 North Miami Avenue. While Poole specializes in European wall panels, screens and mirrors from the 17th through 19th centuries, her showroom also is stuffed with antique lighting and furniture, including a 1935 Art Deco Jules Leleu mahogany kneehole desk ($35,000).
For Art Deco lighting and ironwork from the houses of Lalique and Sabino, travel slightly north to Artisan Antiques Art Deco, 110 N.E. 40th Street. Prices range from $500 to $15,000.
For some of Miami’s finest art, the Barbara Gillman Gallery, 3814 N.E. Miami Court, is a must-visit. Browse Chuck Close fingerprints, Jim Dine paintings and photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe. Gillman also prides herself on her “new talents,” whose works start at $450 and rise to $5,000. Works by well-known talents such as Roy Lichtenstein start at $20,000.
Adamar Fine Arts, 117 N.E. 39th Street, is another local favorite for regional and international contemporary works on paper, sculpture and paintings. Look for the figurative sculptures of Israeli artist Tolla Inbar, whose unpainted bronzes range from $4,000 to $40,000, from 30 inches to the monumental scale.
Of course, many collectors come to Miami for its vast selection of Latin American and Cuban art. These buyers should head south of the city, stopping first in Little Havana for the Cuban artists’ studios, galleries and coffee houses sprinkled along South West Calle Ocho (8th Street). Then pop back in the car and continue on to Coral Gables.
This upscale Mediterranean-inspired oasis, with the landmark Biltmore Hotel at its hub, also has one of the region’s oldest gallery scenes. Here you’ll find outstanding collections of Latin American greats Rufino Tamayo, Wilfredo Lam and Francisco Toledo at Gary Nader fine art, 3306 Ponce de Leon Boulevard; or the Uruguayan-born, Spanish rising star Ignacio Iturria at Praxis International Art, 2970 Ponce de Leon.
Collectors can span the history of Latin American contemporary art at ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries, 169 Madeira Avenue. The 31-year veteran features everyone from masters such as Agustin Cardenas, Armando Morales and the complete archive of Mexican wonder Gunther Gerzso ($2,800–$49,500) to emerging artists whose works begin at only $95.
At Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts, 3080 S.W. 38th Court, buyers are treated to the Argentine owner’s amazing eye for emerging Latin talent and will mix with the international collectors, who know her from her booth at ArtBasel in Switzerland and ArtBasel Miami.
Before you leave Coral Gables, be tempted by the art glass, French Art Deco furniture and bronze sculptures at Valerio Antiques, 250 Valencia Avenue.
While contemporary art aficionados might venture up to North Miami just to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and antiques lovers to peruse the shops on Biscayne Boulevard, all are in for a pleasant surprise when they discover this up-and-coming area’s exciting little gallery scene and the plethora of shops selling excellent mid-century vintage furniture. (You just might want to rent a U-Haul.)
Start across the street from MOCA at the reputable Ambrosino Gallery, 769 N.E. 125th Street, where internationally known contemporary artists share space with up-and-comers. Then hit the Smoke Gallery, 793 NE 125th Street, where mixed-medium works from fresh local
talents debut every Friday.
Also along this stretch: Vermillion, 765 N.E. 125th Street, with a tasteful selection of 1930’s to 1970’s European furniture, paintings, sculpture and glass; and Belvair, 859 N.E. 125th Street, a groovy homage to 20th-century furniture, Italian lighting and Higgins American studio glass. Among the treasures: a Gio Parti bar taken from a 1940’s yacht ($28,000).
Several blocks away, on N.E. 123rd Street, in-the-know dealers and decorators wait for the 9 a.m. opening of a cluster of shops specializing in mid-century furniture and decorative antiques. Don’t miss: Stripe, No. 1684, for period lighting and indoor-outdoor furniture; Living Global, No. 1662, for classic 1950’s furniture and lighting and onwards interiors sourced from Miami’s elite; and Mr. Bill’s, No. 1648, for Pop Art and 1960’s finds.
For antique porcelain, Murano glass and more, leave time to browse the treasure-packed It’s Antiques, No. 1660. If you don’t see it, ask for it—Francine Peltz’s inventory has a little bit of everything from her 40 years in the business.
MIAMI, FLORIDA CHECKLIST
(Area code 305 unless otherwise noted)
ANTIQUES SHOPS
► 79th Street Rug Shop
2823 Peachtree Rd.
Antique and new rugs.
231-2108
► Avery Art & Fine Framing
764 Miami Cir., Ste. 120
266-8880
► Bobby Dodd Antiques
695 Miami Cir.
231-0580
► H. Moog Antique Porcelains
2300 Peachtree Rd.
351-2200
► Interiors Market
55 Bennett St.
352-0055
► Jacqueline Adams Antiques
2300 Peachtree Rd., Ste. 110.
French, Italian furniture, etc.
355-8123
► Jane J. Marsden Antiques & Interiors
2300 Peachtree Rd., Ste. A-102
355-1288
► J. Tribble Antiques
764 Miami Cir., Ste. 122
19th- and 20th-century European fine, decorative and impressionist art.
846-1156
► Joseph Konrad Antiques
693 Miami Cir.
261-3224
► Parc Monceau Ltd.
45-D Bennett St.
355-3766
► Regen-Leigh Antiques
3140 E. Shadowlawn Ave.
Fine 18th- and 19th-century English and European antiques.
262-9303
► The Gables Antiques
711 Miami Cir.
French furniture, Oriental accessories and porcelain.
231-0734
► The Stalls
116 Bennett St.
352-4430
► Travis Antiques
12 Kings Circle.
18th- and 19th-century French antiques, accessories.
233-7207
► Vista Gallery
2840 LaVista Rd., Decatur
Antique prints, French accessories.
633-0982
► Walker McIntyre Antiques
2300 Peachtree Rd.
18th- and 19th-century English and French furniture; English, Japanese and Chinese porcelain.
352-3722
► William Word Fine Antiques
707–709 Miami Cir.
233-6890
► Yamin’s Oriental Rugs
3252 Peachtree Rd.
231-1727
ART GALLERIES
► Aliya Gallery
1402 N. Highland Ave.
892-2835
► Avery Art & Fine Framing
Bennett Street Gallery
22-F Bennett St.
352-8775
► Fay Gold Gallery
764 Miami Cir.
233-3843
► Galerie Timothy Tew
130 and 309 E. Paces Ferry Rd.
869-0511
► Gallerie Dorita!
3224 Peachtree Rd.
869-0041
► Kiang Gallery
1923 Peachtree Rd.
351-5477
► Lagerquist Gallery
3235 Paces Ferry Pl.
261-8273
► Macon & Co. Fine Art
1198 Howell Mill Rd., Ste. 109
603-9122
► Marcia Wood Gallery
1831 Peachtree Rd.
351-3930
► The Allen Gallery at the Bennett Street Stalls
116 Bennett St.
352-9646
► The Lowe Gallery A-2 TULA
75 Bennett St.
352-8114
► Thomas Deans & Co. British Fine Art K-2, TULA
75 Bennett St.
352-3778
► Trinity Gallery
315 E. Paces Ferry
237-0370
► Vaknin Schwartz
1831 Peachtree Rd.
351-0035
► Vespermann Gallery
309 E. Paces Ferry
266-0102
LODGING
► Ansley Inn
253 15th St.
$99–159/night
872-9000 or (800) 446-5416
► Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
75 14th St.
$165–350/night
881-9898
► Ritz-Carlton
Buckhead, 3434 Peachtree Rd.
$195– 245/night
237-2700
► Swissôtel Atlanta
3391 Peachtree Rd.
$139–600/night
Extensive collection of fine art, second-largest contemporary art collection in the Southeast.
Featured art for sale in the lobby.
365-0065
DINING
► Atlanta Fish Market
265 Pharr Rd. NE.
Seafood fresh daily. $16.50–32.95
262-3165
► Bacchanalia
1198 Howell Mill Rd.
Contemporary American cuisine four-course prix fixe, $55; three-course, $35.
365-0410
► Palm Restaurant (in Swissôtel)
3391 Peachtree Rd. NE.
$16–34. Steaks and lobster.
814-1955
► Veni Vidi Vici
41 14th St. NE.
Authentic Italian cuisine. $11.95–25.95
875-8424
EXCURSIONS
► Callaway Gardens
Pine Mountain, Ga.
$114/ night (rate through December 31)
14,000-acre horticulture display garden, tropical conservatory and more.
(800) 225-5292
► High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree St.
733-4400