For the art-obsessed, the annual Art Basel has put Miami on the international map for visual arts, but for those seeking the up and coming contemporary artists, take the streets of the Wynwood Arts District and be prepared for a unbelievable discovery of hundreds of murals and graffiti.
This district is championed by WADA, a local association that highlights all things happening in this area, which is bordered on the edge of the Design District and Miami Beach, between Highway 95 and Biscayne Boulevard, from 37th Street NW to 20th Street NW.
An area once known best as the home of the police impound yard, wholesale fashion warehouses and autobody shops has become the go-to for local urban artists, many of which are only known by their style, tag or in rare circumstances, by name.
Unlike many cities that want to avoid graffiti or don’t have the space for dedicated areas, the Wynwood area has welcomed the urban artists, with many buildings encouraging the creative expressions once relegated to abandoned buildings and train yards.
Slap on the walking shoes, pick an intersection and start wandering – from the traditional neon scripts and tags to political statements about poverty and housing to the bold interpretations of people and pop culture icons, the murals reflect the changes in the urban areas of this city as well as a sense of humour and observations of daily life.
During the day, don’t be shy to wander down side streets to see graffiti on loading dock doors, on the side of warehouses and in the nooks and crannies between buildings. In the fashion wholesale warehouse area of Wynwood, there are murals lining North Miami Avenue, with graffiti found on the side streets.
One of the unique participants to this district is Primary Flight, a mural creation company, who host 250 international artists every year during Art Basel to create collaborative murals on the streets of the Wynwood Arts District. These murals are part of the reason this neighbourhood has become a go-to for anyone wanting to see visual arts in the outdoors.
So forget a pilgrimage to New York City or Los Angeles, the Wynwood Arts District, with a growing collection of cool restaurants and contemporary galleries, is the best place to see contemporary murals and graffiti art right now.