Bass Museum

Special exhibitions supplement the museum's wide collection of international contemporary art, which was designed by Russell Pancoast and built completely of Florida limestone in the 1930s (a material with a coral base). A 12-million-dollar addition constructed in 2017 by acclaimed architects Arata Isozaki and David Gauld boosted interior space by nearly half and included four new galleries. The bulk of exhibitions is transitory, although permanent pieces on display include Jim Drain's chess tables and Ugo Rondinone's Miami Mountain. Visit on weekends at 2 p.m. for free docent-led tours of the temporary exhibitions.

The Bass Museum of Art opened in 1964 through the donation of a private collection by John and Johanna Bass to the City of Miami Beach. The museum opened in what was formerly the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, a 1930s Art Deco building designed by Russell Pancoast, grandson of Miami Beach pioneer John Collins. The building itself already had a rich history in Miami Beach as the first public exhibition space for art in South Florida and was placed on the National Register in 1978. The Bass, Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum, creates connections between international contemporary art and the museum’s diverse audiences. The Bass shares the power of contemporary art through experiences that excite, challenge, and educate. This is one of the art deco in Miami and South Beach's most beautiful buildings.

Google rating: 4.0/5

Phone: +1 305-673-7530

Address: 2100 Collins Avenue
Architect: Russel Pancoast