If you need art in your life and around where you live, you’re not alone. We get asked a lot from out-of-town clients what are the best Miami neighborhoods for art lovers. Coming from places like New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other major international cities with art scenes big and small, having art as a part of their daily life is often on many people’s must-have lists when searching for a new home and neighborhood. 

The good news is that, ever since Art Basel came to town years ago, Miami, and more broadly South Florida, have become major players in the international art scene. With some of the most cutting-edge artists, museums, alternative art spaces, and a bounty of prominent art collectors and galleries, certain Miami areas are beginning to stand out as favorites amongst art lovers.

Here, you’ll discover Miami’s most artsy neighborhoods, the offerings that make them so desirable, where to buy art in Miami, and the condos you could live in if you wanted to surround yourself with Miami art and culture.

— Downtown and the Arts and Entertainment District Miami

This area is at the heart of the city and although it used to be more business-focused, it has seen a resurgence in the past few years as a luxury residential hub with the inauguration of Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum and a rush new luxury condo developments, including several luxury branded projects under construction, like the Aston Martin Residences or the Waldorf Astoria Residences, as well as non-branded ones like HUB Miami Residences or JEM Private Residences. 

And a lot of this new development is because living in Downtown Miami is a great choice for arts and culture lovers; some of the city’s top cultural venues are just blocks away. So you’re at the center of a bustling international metropolis that’s constantly moving with big events happening at the Kaseya Center, museums, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Miami Worldcenter with its Brightline station connects it to other major business hubs in South Florida, and some of the city’s most legendary nighttime spots are located here. And this concentration of activity and energy also translates to the art world.

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

Downtown Miami for Art Lovers

This central location is where many local artists live and work, and is also home to vastly diverse art spaces, ranging from the intimate FilmGate Interactive Art Gallery to the famed Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which provides not only exquisite exhibitions that change regularly, but also does outreach and educational projects in the community.

On the other hand, there’s the Cisneros Fontanal (CiFo) Art Foundation, an exquisite space dedicated to exhibitions by artists from all over Latin America as well as innovative art education programs serving children and adults. Finally, The Ice Palace is also regularly used to host international art fairs during Miami Art Week, and such dazzling interactive installations as the Van Gogh Immersive Experience.

Starry Sky - Vincent Van Gogh

— The Miami Design District & Buena Vista

As its name suggests, the Design District is one of the most recognized art neighborhoods in Miami, and even the country. Not only does it have many galleries and some museums (which we will get to in a second) but it also has the famed Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), where future luminaries in the arts start their education.

And while there are a handful of exquisite condos in the Design District, the area is more recognized for its luxury shopping and home design stores than anything else. If you were to live here, you’d be close to the most stylish retail in all of Miami, as well as some of the most coveted culinary offerings like Contessa, Cote or Michael’s Genuine. Adjacent to it is the neighborhood of Buena Vista, marked by its tranquil streets, Old Florida bungalows, and single-family homes, where a lot of creative types and artists live.

Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA Miami)

The Design District Breathes Art

Art is everywhere in the Buena Vista/Design District area. Here you can visit international design warehouses and some of the area’s most prestigious contemporary art collections and exhibition spaces such as the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA Miami) and the Moore Space, where exhibits are updated regularly. 

The area is also home to the renowned De la Cruz Collection, with modern and contemporary works by artists such as Salvador Dalí and Ana Mendieta. And don’t miss the Design District’s fabulous Museum Garage, a work of architectural art in which you can park your car!

Museum Garage - Design district

— All About Wynwood, Miami

Since the novel idea of the Wynwood Walls came up in 2009, the neighborhood has transformed from a semi-deserted warehouse district to a hip and cool area with plenty of art, boutiques, eateries, and cafés everywhere you look. Thanks to its colorful surroundings and energetic feel, which make it one of the most aesthetic places in Miami, Wynwood is not only recognized for its nighttime ambiance but has also caught the eye of developers hoping to make a statement with unique pre-construction projects such as Diesel Residences and NoMad Residences. It definitely is one of the best Miami neighborhoods for art lovers.

Wynwood - Miami , FL

Art Beyond the Walls

The entire neighborhood of Wynwood is an open-air art museum with hundreds of murals, galleries, boutiques, and eateries, including the aforementioned Wynwood Walls, where endless street art makes for an immersive outdoor art experience.

Besides this, the new Superblue stands as an immersive alternative art space, transforming the way we perceive it by placing the public inside the piece itself and creating unforgettable interactive experiences, making for some of the most dazzling selfies currently showing up on social media. 

Furthermore, Wynwood and nearby Allapatah are home to prestigious collections such as the Rubell Museum and the impressive Margulies Collection, which are located in vast warehouses that have been converted into exhibition spaces.

Rubell Museum

— South Beach’s Art Experience

One of Miami’s most visited neighborhoods, South Beach exudes charm beyond the tourist traps and poises itself as its own town with everything you could need at your fingertips. Its beachy feeling makes it a relaxed place to live while maintaining an aura of elegance, evident in its many prestigious boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. Luxury residential buildings like Monad Terrace, most of the condos in the exclusive South of Fifth neighborhood, and the pre-construction Five Park round up the offer on this classic Miami Beach locale.

Bass Museum of Art

South Beach’s Museums and Art Fairs

South Beach has always been a center of arts and culture, with many artists making their home in the area over the decades, and the famous Art Basel Miami Beach edition, and its ancillary art fairs taking over the Convention Center and the entire neighborhood during the first week of December every year.

Also, the recently renovated Bass Museum of Art is a small but highly respected museum where Baroque art from the permanent collection meets contemporary experimental work in a meticulously designed setting just blocks from the beach. The Bass also provides artist talks, educational activities, and other community events for the entire family. 

On a more intimate scale, there’s Oolite Arts on Lincoln Road, an alternative art space that houses an array of studios where you can visit artists at work and make purchases directly from them, enjoy art exhibits, and sign up for Miami Beach art classes provided by resident artists. Oolite Arts also enjoys a partnership with local Walgreens stores in the area, providing public art installations in the windows of several of their shops across Miami Beach.

— The Fine Art of Coconut Grove

If you’d like to live in an art neighborhood in Miami with lush and natural surroundings, Coconut Grove offers the perfect setting for a quiet home in an area that is elevated yet welcoming and warm, with a charming little downtown area full of restaurants and cafés. Here, you’ll find tree-covered streets of single-family homes with luxurious and elegantly designed condos closer to the water, like Grove at Grand Bay, Park Grove, or the pre-construction project, Mr. C Residences.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

As an art lover, you’ll feel right at home because Coconut Grove is where many artists live and work, and local galleries and boutiques sell fine art, antiques, and collectibles. It’s also home to the longest running art fair in the U.S., the yearly Coconut Grove Art Festival, which provides opportunities for hundreds of artists from all over the world to exhibit and sell their work directly to the public within a relaxing street fair setting. And be sure to check out the breathtaking indoor/outdoor art, architecture & landscaping experience that awaits you at the lavish Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

— Beyond Miami: Art in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood

The growth of the Miami art market has also extended to Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. A growing art scene has turned these South Florida cities into aspiring art neighborhoods near Miami, and new spaces are opening up regularly. Among the most notable, the Girls’ Club Collection in Fort Lauderdale is a gorgeous artist-run exhibition space focused primarily on women artists with an extensive collection and exhibitions often curated by artists and visiting curators.

There’s also Fort Lauderdale’s FAT Village Arts District, home to many galleries and artist studios, which hosts monthly art walks that showcase local work and street art accompanied by live music and eclectic street vendors. And Flagler Village, located within the Arts District, is an industrial warehouse that was converted into an alternative art complex housing dozens of galleries and studios. 

Finally, the Art and Culture Center in Hollywood and the NSU Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale also feature regularly updated exhibits, as well as artist talks, community events, and educational activities for both adults and children.

FAT Village Arts District

More Art in Your Life: Events, People, and Nonprofits to Look Out for

If you’re an art lover and new to the area, there’s a flourishing Miami art scene, especially for contemporary and performance art. Art Basel and Miami Art Week bring millions of visitors yearly to Miami Beach and Downtown Miami to enjoy an art extravaganza that transforms the city into a buzzing hub of art aficionados, with dozens of fairs exhibiting works by artists from all over the world if you are a collector.

And as South Florida has grown and gained prominence as an art hub, you don’t have to wait for December every year if you are interested in buying art and adding to your collection. Many local art gallerists and dealers have made a mark on the local Miami scene, such as Frederick Snitzer, David Castillo, Spinello Projects, and Panamerican Art Projects, among many others.  

Also, local nonprofits such as the Bakehouse Art Complex, Fountainhead Artists Residency, Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, Locust Projects, and the artist-run Dimensions Variable all contribute to a thriving artistic community marked by diversity and sophisticated experimentation. These groups provide space, resources, and/or networking and touring opportunities, in addition to exhibition support for visiting as well as local artists.

Panamerican Art Projects

Finally, in addition to the better-known museums in the area, smaller museums such as MoCA NoMi in North Miami, the Frost Art Museum at Florida International University, and the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami in Coral Gables all provide exquisitely curated exhibits that round out the local art experience.

— Summing Up: Miami is a Town that Breathes Art

Whether you’re a traditionalist looking to enjoy classic works by the Masters, or you’re into the latest immersive and edgy artistic experience, this city has plenty of art to tickle your fancy. Here, we’ve rounded up the best Miami neighborhoods for art lovers but it doesn’t stop right there. In fact, the lively and ever-expanding cultural scene in South Florida provides yet another reason to choose it as a place to call home.

If you’d like more information on any of these neighborhoods or further recommendations for luxury condo buildings in these areas, call or email us anytime and one of our knowledgeable agents will be happy to guide you in your search.