From Overtown to Opa-locka, these Art Week events celebrate Black art, culture
As the art world flocks to Miami Beach for Art Basel, Miamians looking to celebrate and appreciate Black artists during Miami Art Week have a myriad of events where they can view their work.
This year, Soul Basel will return to Overtown on Nov. 29 with an environmental justice summit at Dunn’s Overtown Farm and continue throughout the week with the Sepia Vernacular exhibition at the Lawson E. Thomas Building and The Digital Archive: Reviving the Past through Historic Newspapers Black Archives exhibit at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theatre will also showcase exhibits throughout the week.
The Hampton Art Lovers will host its annual Point Comfort Art Fair + Show with the theme “Life & Times of Frederick Douglass,” honoring Douglass’ belief in the role art could play in the Black experience, a lounge series and their lively late-night soirées.
Art revelers can also celebrate the richness of African art at Opa-locka’s The Art of Transformation, which will feature six exhibits, including At the Edge of Entanglement: African American Contemporary Art, which explores identity, resistance and renewal.
From Overtown to Opa-locka, here are some exhibits and events to check out during Miami Art Week if you’re having trouble deciding where to go:
Monday, Dec. 1
The Power of Her Hands: Black Washerwomen in Early Miami
Miami historian Nadege Green created a new installation, The Power of Her Hands: Black Washerwomen in Early Miami, that reassembles historical records and pulls from her personal collection of Black Miami artifacts spanning the period between 1896 and 1940. The installation allows viewers to see through the lens of Black women who labored in the Jim Crow South under the Miami heat, sustaining white households and the city’s tourism economy while also nurturing their own families. The exhibit will be on display at YoungArts Gallery at 2100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami during Miami Art Week.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora
The Miami MoCAAD will host its 10th anniversary celebration, highlighting its decade-long work while looking ahead to its future at the intersection of art and technology. One key component of the celebration is the launch of its newest Virtual Reality innovation, showcasing museum galleries presenting art exhibitions in virtual reality that will be accessible on Miami MoCAAD’s website. Visitors will also be treated to an evening filled with live performances, local bites, and community connection. The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, 819 NW Second Ave.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
The Art of Transformation kickoff
Opa-Locka-based nonprofit Ten North Group’s 13th annual The Art of Transformation kicks off with the unveiling of commissioned work “African Diaspora Memory in Motion.” Commissioned by artist Philippe Dodard, the exhibition consists of three 20-foot containers symbolizing the journey from Africa to the Americas. The evening continues with an opening reception, evening lounge experience, and live jazz. The unveiling begins at 5 p.m. at 757 Ali Baba Ave. with an opening reception at 6 p.m. at The ARC at 675 Ali Baba Avenue.
Marcus Blake “In Art We Trust”
Jamaican-born, Miami-based multimedia artist Marcus Black is offering an artistic experience that combines his use of visual and performance art. The multidisciplinary exhibition “In Art We Trust” will feature his original artwork, a fashion presentation unveiling new pieces from his wearable art collection and live performances. The exhibition will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Urban at 1000 NW Second Ave.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Art at the Edge of Entanglement panel
Hosted by Ten North Group, the panel discussion features artists Lamerol Gatewood, Reginald Jackson, Amy Arujo, Charisse Watson, and Mr. StarCity, who will discuss the Black creative voice as a necessity to exploring complex connections between art and current issues. The panel will be held at The ARC at 675 Ali Baba Ave., Miami from noon to 1 p.m. Later that evening, from 6-9 p.m., The Arc will host Jamaica On Our Minds: A Charity Event in Partnership with Captain Barrington Irving and Experience Aviation.
Art Beat Miami: Opening Reception + Mural Unveiling
Typically held in Little Haiti, Art Beat Miami will showcase the work of international, emerging and local artists at Brightline Miami Central station this year. The free opening reception will start at 5 p.m. and include live art, murals and performances by singer-songwriter Dyna Edyne and other guests at 600 NW First Ave.
LOUD Roots & Revival
If you’re looking for a quick detour from Miami Art Week events in Overtown and Opa-locka, head to Miami Gardens for the LOUD Roots & Revival for immersive art exhibits, soulful spoken word, delicious food, signature cocktails, and live music. Hosted by co-working space Co-Space at Miami Gardens City Hall, 18605 NW 27th Ave., tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at loudurbandesign.com. During Miami Art Week, Miami Gardens hosts LOUD week, which features immersive art installations and live painting to fashion shows, panel discussions, and networking mixers.
Point Comfort Art Fair + Show opening night
With sounds curated by Six Millz, the Hampton Art Lovers’ Point Comfort Art Fair and Show opening reception Black Party kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Ward Rooming House, 249 NW Ninth St., where visitors will be welcomed by the fair’s theme Life & Times of Frederick Douglass.
Friday, Dec. 5
Flash Point: Issues in Black Women Photography
Black women take center stage in Angèle Etoundi Essamba’s exhibit “Articulations in Black: The Photography of Angèle Etoundi Essamba,” which celebrates African women. On Friday, Essamba will be in conversation with Cornell University professor Carole Boyce-Davies to discuss Black women in photography and exploring themes of identity, representation, memory and resistance. The panel will be held at 11 a.m. at The ARC, 675 Ali Baba Ave.
Harlem of the South Flash Mob: A Main Street Renaissance
For two days, performers dressed in 1920s-inspired attire will move throughout historic and iconic landmarks throughout Overtown, honoring its moniker the Harlem of the South Flash. The immersive performance art combines dance, live jazz, and vintage fashion to transform Overtown into a live stage. The event lasts from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The OVRTWN Corner, 1117 NW Third Ave.
9th Annual Basel B.A.E. Black Art Experience
If you’re looking for something to do on a late night, Basel Black Art Experience (B.A.E.) returns to the Urban, 1000 NW Second Ave., for its ninth year featuring live painting, an eclectic DJ lineup, a Maker’s Mark cocktail experience and complimentary headshot and portrait sessions. The fête starts at 8 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Art Beat Miami: Chefs of the Caribbean Celebrity Brunch
Held at the Brightline Miami Central Station, 600 NW First St., from noon to 2 p.m., the free brunch will include light bites from Caribbean chiefs and Overtown eateries. Entertainment and of course art will serve as the cultural backdrop along with live performances.
Sunday, Dec 7
Gary Tyler book signing
If you’re looking for something to do besides brunch on a Sunday, author Gary Tyler is holding a book signing and discussion at the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse Museum, 480 NW 11th St., at 1:30 p.m. Tyler, an artist and activist, authored his memoir “Stitching Freedom: A True Story of Injustice, Defiance and Hope in Angola Prison,” chronicling his wrongful conviction and release. Tafa Mi Soleil performs in Little Haiti
As Miami Art Week comes to a close, Lakou in Little Haiti is hosting a soulful, intimate jazz experience featuring Tafa Mi Soleil, a Haitian artist who uses her music to celebrate heritage and resistance. The show starts at 7 p.m. at 207 NE 59th St. Other events throughout the week in Little Haiti can be found at eventbrite.com.
For more information and a full listing of the week’s events, visit The Art of Transformation, Soul Basel, and the LOUD Week.
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM.