Institute of Contemporary Art (Miami) facts for kids
Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, also known as ICA Miami, is a cool art museum in the Miami Design District in Miami, Florida, United States. It's a place where you can see modern art from many different artists.
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What is ICA Miami?
ICA Miami is a museum that focuses on contemporary art. This means they show art made in our time, often by artists who are still working today. The museum wants to share new ideas and art with everyone.
History of the Museum
The museum first opened its doors in 1996. Back then, it was part of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Later, in 2014, the museum decided to move to a new spot. This led to the creation of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, which opened in its current building in 2017.
In 2024, ICA Miami grew even bigger! It bought the building next door, which used to be the De la Cruz Collection. This added a lot more space for art, about 30,000 square feet. Many people helped pay for this expansion, showing how much they support the museum.
The Museum's Cool Building
The building itself is a work of art! It was designed in 2017 to look like a "Magic Box." It has bright colors and interesting shapes. The building is 37,500 square feet in total and has three floors. Inside, there are 20,000 square feet just for showing art.
The back of the museum has lots of windows. These windows let sunshine in and let visitors see the beautiful sculpture garden outside. This garden is 15,000 square feet and features amazing sculptures by artists like Mark Handforth and Pedro Reyes. The building was designed to attract people, almost like a magnet, with its unique look.
Art You Can See: The Permanent Collection
ICA Miami has a special collection of art that it owns, called its permanent collection. This collection aims to show off both new, rising artists and famous ones. You can find works by many different artists here, including Louise Bourgeois, Mark Handforth, and James Turrell. The museum is always looking for exciting new art to add to this collection.
Exciting Art Exhibitions
Since it opened in 2017, ICA Miami has hosted many amazing art shows. When it first opened, it was a big part of Miami Art Basel, a huge art event in the city. One of the most talked-about shows at the opening was "The Everywhere Studio." This exhibition featured over 100 artworks from more than fifty artists, covering five decades of art! It was special because it mixed well-known artists like Pablo Picasso and Roy Lichtenstein with lesser-known artists from Miami.
The museum continues to bring new and interesting exhibitions. For example, in 2018, it showed paintings by Donald Judd and works by Francis Alÿs. It also featured the first solo show for artist Diamond Stingily, which was very popular. Another exhibition, "Terry Adkins: Infinity Is Always Less Than One," showed more than 50 works by artist Terry Adkins. ICA Miami always has something new to explore!
Fun Programs and Events
Beyond just looking at art, ICA Miami offers many programs for visitors.
- ICA Ideas offers classes, talks, and performances that connect to the art on display. For example, artist Charles Gaines once performed a "Visual Recital" here.
- ICA Speaks invites artists to give talks or lead discussions about the art in the museum. This helps people understand the artworks better.
- ICA Performs brings dance, theater, and other live performances to the museum. They have worked with famous performers like Trisha Brown.
- ICA Residents is a program that helps local musicians in Miami. It pairs them with artists from other places for unique performances.
Who Runs the Museum?
The museum is managed by a team of art experts. Alex Gartenfeld became the artistic director in 2018. He helps decide what art the museum shows and how it connects with the public. Tommy Ralph Pace is the deputy director, helping with the day-to-day operations.
