Work by black artists abounds this year during Art Week Miami. Here’s where to find it

Each year, Miami Art Week expands with more satellite fairs and into more neighborhoods. The beauty is that it has cultivated the presence of Black artists in heritage neighborhoods like Overtown and Little Haiti who otherwise don’t always get mainstream attention. Much of the credit goes to the grassroots cultural movement by black art entrepreneurs in these neighborhoods and the Art of Black initiative spearheaded by the multicultural department at the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This year’s guide includes an expanded list of satellite art fairs representing Black, Caribbean, African, and Afro-Latin artists. Not only do these fairs help to support diversity in art, but it also stimulates the local economy in these heritage neighborhoods with many undergoing transformation and revitalization. The list also includes the mainstream art fairs where Black artists are being exhibited.

OVERTOWN

Now in its ninth year, the Historic Overtown community has taken the lead in diversifying the Miami Art Week lineup. This year’s Soul Basel has tripled in size as more cultural assets and businesses continue to create a presence in Overtown. Between Art Africa Miami, which spearheaded Overtown’s art revival, to The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum, Historic Ward Rooming House, and The Copper Door B&B, all of Historic Overtown is participating with Art Week activations. For a full lineup, visit www.ExperienceOvertown/SoulBasel

Soul Basel Highlights include:

Art Africa Miami Arts Fair, 919 NW 2nd Ave., Dec. 4-7.

This year’s fair includes the VIP first look Art + Champagne brunch, The Black Party, engaging talks and more. For tickets and event lineup, visit artafricamiamifair.com

Point Comfort Art Fair + Show, Historic Ward Rooming House, 920 NW 2nd Ave., Dec. 5-9

Presented by Hampton Art Lovers in a year-long rotating exhibit at the Historic Ward Rooming House, the Point Comfort Art Fair + Show celebrates the remnants that survived from the place in colonial Virginia where the first captives from the West African Kingdom of Ndongo (Angola) arrived in late August of 1619. The fair provides a platform for Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) museums to showcase their collection of the African-American masters of American fine art at the largest art exposition in North America. A host of who’s who in Black America are participating in the fair, including Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Essence Magazine, and Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. For information: pointcomfortart.com

The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, 819 NW 2nd Ave.

The “ICONS” Fine Art Exhibit is being presented to include a lecture series featuring Dr. David C. Driskell and Professor Curlee R. Holton on Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Copper Door Bed & Breakfast, 439 NW 4th Ave., Dec. 2-8.

The Black-owned hotel features a photo exhibit on pinup and glamour photographer Bunny Yeager’s work with African-American and Caribbean models of color. The main event is an art talk on Dec. 7 from 1pm - 3pm.

Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum, 480 NW 11th St., Dec. 3-7

Presented by the City of Miami, “The First Five: Pioneers in Community Policing Colored-Negro District” exhibit is a showcase of oral stories, written letters, artifacts, and images that help to present a different narrative on community policing.

LITTLE HAITI

Little Haiti has always had its own art flair, and that continues to expand with more gallery openings, Art Beat Miami, Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (MUCE), and exhibits at Black-owned galleries.

Art Beat Miami Art Fair, Caribbean Marketplace, 5925 NE 2nd Ave.

Now in its sixth year, Art Beat is activating the Caribbean Marketplace with a series of events, including a daily art fair featuring the works of more than 40 emerging artists from the Caribbean and around the world, a Little Haiti mural project, and Grammy-award winning Anthony Hamilton at the Spice It Up food pop up. Visit artbeatmiami.com for more information.

Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (MUCE), 246 NW 54th St.

MUCE’s Ode to Hip Hop showcases 10 multicultural visual artists who pays homage to the genre’s influence on culture, art, politics, and literature. muce305.org.

N’Namdi Contemporary, 6506 NE 2nd Ave., Dec. 1 - Jan. 4, 2020

Now in its new Little Haiti home after relocating from Wynwood, N’Namdi showcases the works of Robert Colescott’s show: “Odalisque Charcoal Nudes.” The exhibition focuses on more than ten erotic drawings created by the artist during the 1980s and is a humbled ovation to African-American women. For more information, visit nnamdicontemporary.com

DOWNTOWN

PRIZM Art Fair, Alfred I. DuPont Building, 169 E Flagler St, Dec. 2 – 8

PRIZM returns with its seventh edition presenting the work of 39 artists within a curated exhibition entitled “Love in the Time of Hysteria” curated and organized by William Cordova, Ryan Dennis, Naiomy Guerrero, Oshun Layne, and Mikhaile Solomon. The exhibit illustrates how love, compassion, and respect endure in a time of divisive political rhetoric, unprovoked inflammatory attacks on members of marginalized communities, and broad societal malaise as a result of economic inequity. The fair kicks off with their signature cocktail event followed by performance art and several panels. For more information, visit prizmartfair.com

MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT

Haitian Heritage Museum, 4141 NE 2nd Ave.

Haiti A La Mode is the theme at the Haitian Heritage Museum. The group exhibition frames the conversation on the role that Black contemporary artists play in propelling culture that shapes our communities and impacts society. Featured artists include Morel Doucet, Natacha Thys, Phillip Attie, and Vanessa Craan. Haiti A La Mode is on exhibit through April 30, 2020 and opens up with a reception on December 4 recognizing the featured artists. www.haitianheritagemuseum.org

ELSEWHERE

In addition to the satellite fairs in Miami’s heritage neighborhoods, here’s a list of where you can find additional black art on display throughout the week.

Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach; 305-674-1292 or artbasel.com.

This year’s flagship fair include work by several artists from the diaspora: South African photographers David Goldblatt and Ernest Cole; Ghanian artist Amoako Boafo; Haitian artist Tomm El-Saieh; Zimbabwean artist Gareth Nyandoro; Cameroonian artist Barthélémy Toguo’s piece on notions of exile, identity, and displacement; Kavi Gupta’s project on post-Apartheid South Africa; Aaron Fowler’s mixed media work on identity issues, Black experiences, and hip hop; Theaster Gates’ ‘Dance of Malaga’ video about the still-uninhabited island off the coast of Maine whose inhabitants (of African or partial African descent) were forced to leave the relatively isolated enclave in 1912.

Art Miami, Art Miami Pavilion, One Herald Plaza at NE 14th Street, Downtown Miami, on Biscayne Bay between the Venetian & MacArthur Causeways, Miami; 800-376-5850 or artmiami.com. Day pass, $55; seniors and students, $35.

Included during Art Miami are the works of the following Black artists: Nigerian-born sculptor and painter Abiola Akintola, Guyanese artist Gavin Benjamin, Haitian artist Andy Beauchamp, Jamaican artist Zoya Taylor, African-American artist Lauren Clayton, and husband and wife duo of the Gray Johnson Collective in Chicago.

Art Plug Power House, The Citadel, 8300 NE 2nd Ave., Little River; //theartplugpowerhouse.com

Now in its second year, The Art Plug Power House includes live installations and interactive environments featuring 27 artists from around the world, including Nigeria-based hyperrealist artist Ken Nwiadogbu and Haitian artist Olivier Ganthier.

‪The Bass, 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; thebass.org

Through Sept. 27, The Bass is featuring a year-long installation “Mickalene Thomas: BetterNights” that re-imagines a black radical aesthetic and incorporates both work by the artist and a selection of work by emerging and prominent black artists curated by Thomas. Exhibiting artists include: painting and photography by Nina Chanel Abney, Derrick Adams, David Antonio Cruz, Lyle Ashton Harris, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Xaviera Simmons, John Edmonds, Alexandria Smith, Adrienne Raquel, Arielle Bobb-Willis, Micaiah Carter; and video work by Christie Neptune, Devin Morris, Brontez Purnell; and a video work by Ja’Tovia Gary selected by Jasmine Wahi from Project for Empty Space. The artist has also created a program of live performances and appearances: Meshell Ndegeocello (Dec 3), Jody Watley (Dec 4), QUIÑ (Dec 5), CHIKA (Dec 6), Georgia Anne Muldrow (Dec 7), and additional artists, including Mashonda Tifrere and Devin Tracy as well as live DJ sets by Derrick Adams, YSL, Mel, Val, Dimples, Wavy Fox, and Papi Juice, among others.

Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College, Freedom Tower, 600 Biscayne Blvd., downtown Miami; www.mdcmoad.org

Through Jan. 12, MOAD’s Where the Oceans Meet includes some of the most prominent African-American artists, including Glenn Ligón, Jack Whitten, Melvin Edwards and Theaster Gates. Black Power Naps/Siestas Negras is an interactive installation reflecting on inequality and exploitation, and Juana Valdes’ Terrestrial Bodies investigates the legacy of colonization in global trade.

Perez Art Museum Miami, 1103 Biscayne Blvd., downtown Miami; pamm.org

PAMM’s current show, “The Other Side of Now: Foresight in Contemporary Caribbean Art,” explores the future of the Caribbean. The group show features 14 artists representing the English, French, Dutch, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean: Deborah Anzinger, Charles Campbell, Andrea Chung, Hulda Guzman, Deborah Jack, Louisa Marajo, Manuel Mathieu, Alicia Milne, Lavar Munroe, Angel Otero, Sheena Rose, Jamilah Sabur, Nyugen Smith, and Cristina Tufiño.

PULSE Art Fair, 4601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; www.pulseartfair.com

PULSE is exhibiting work by both Black artists and galleries, including Prince Gysai where most of his images were created in his hometown of Accra, Ghana; Elizabeth Catlett exploring themes relating to race and feminism in her range of sculpture, paintings, and prints; photographer Jamel Shabazz; Afro-Latin artist F. Lennox Campello and Alexi Torres.

SCOPE Art Show, 801 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach.; scope-art.com

The work of nine black artists will be exhibited at the fair, including Ronald Jackson, ‪Tawny Chatmon, Wesley Clark, Alfred Conteh, Kayla Mahaffey, ‪Max Sansing, Sophia Dawson, ‪Zeph Farmby and Ronald Draper.