The Best Art Exhibitions to See in Miami in January

One might expect Miami’s art scene to slow down after Miami Art Week. This month, however, it seems we’ve all gotten over our collective post-Basel holiday hangover. Plenty of exciting openings, most from up-and-coming artists based right here in South Florida, are in store for January. We’re also introducing a few new art spaces that have never been featured in this column. Here are the best art shows to see in Miami in January 2026.

All presentations are listed in the order in which they opened. Unless otherwise noted, events are free to attend and open to the public.

David LaChapelle at VISU Contemporary

Celebrity photographer and photographer of celebrities David LaChapelle opened a show at Miami Beach’s VISU Contemporary just before Miami Art Week that (unbelievably, considering his flamboyant style) might have fallen under some folks’ radar amid the hustle and bustle of Basel. The exhibition is still up until Sunday, February 1, and includes highlights from his career alongside a handful of never-before-seen pieces. VISU Contemporary Gallery, 2160 Park Ave., Miami Beach; 305-496-5180; visugallery.com. 

“Transit Memory” at Baker-Hall

Baker-Hall Gallery is teaming with Oolite Arts for a group show titled “Transit Memory,” with artists drawn from the Miami Beach arts center’s 2025 studio residents. Ana Mosquera, Diana Larrea, Sepideh Kalani, and Zonia Zena will present work across multiple mediums in an exhibition themed around “self-construction and realization across time and space.” Co-curated by Baker-Hall and Gabi Di Giammarco, the show will open on Saturday, January 10, and run through Sunday, February 22. Baker-Hall, 1294 NW 29th St., Miami; 914-787-9270; bakerhall.art.

Zoe Schweiger at Mindy Solomon

Mindy Solomon Gallery will show new paintings from Miami-based artist and Bakehouse resident Zoe Schweiger. Reinventing herself as a nightlife chronicler, the painter directs her passionate palette of hazy oranges, reds, and other warm colors toward scenes from the city’s most beloved bars and venues, such as Mac’s Club Deuce, Twist, Over Under, and even now-shuttered establishments such as Willy’s and Gramps. The show opens Saturday, January 17, and runs through Saturday, February 28. Mindy Solomon Gallery, 848 NW 22nd St., Miami; 786-953-6917; mindysolomon.com. 

Andrew Arocho at Quiet Hours

Recently opened in Overtown, Quiet Hours will present a solo show from Miami-based artist and Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami staffer Andrew Arocho, in collaboration with North Miami’s CAMP Gallery. Having previously shown nautically-inspired abstract painting with local galleries such as Homework, Arocho’s latest body of work, titled “The Odyssey,” takes inspiration from the idea of journeying; in addition to new paintings, there’s also sculpture using maritime materials such as wood and sailcloth. We can neither confirm nor deny any connection to the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie of the same name. “The Odyssey” opens Thursday, January 15. Quiet Hours, 212 NW 11th St., Miami; 305-200-0223; quiethours.space. 

Alberto Checa at Tunnel

Tunnel Projects’ latest presentation comes from Miami-based artist Alberto Checa, whose work frequently invokes themes of labor and utilitarian materials. His 2023 presentation at Oolite Arts involved crafting a reggaetón sound system out of pool supplies, inspired by his work at a local marina; Nick León performed at the opening. Little information has been released about this show, titled “Supportance,” but given the inventiveness of his last exhibition, this one is worth checking out, too. The show opens Friday, January 16; Tunnel will also hold open studios the following afternoon, on Saturday, January 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. Tunnel Projects, 316 SW 12th Ave., Miami; tunnelprojects.com.

“There, Inside The Garden” at Central Fine

Following a recent relocation to Little Haiti from their longtime home in Normandy Shores, artist-run Central Fine is starting the year off with a group show. Inspired by Shakespeare, PJ Harvey, and natural themes, “There, Inside The Garden” features longtime artists from the gallery’s roster, including Loriel Beltrán and Georgia Sagri, as well as newcomers such as Takuro Kuwata and Azadeh Elmizadeh. The show opens Sunday, January 18, and runs through Tuesday, February 10. Central Fine, 36 NE 54th St., Miami; 786-899-0977; centralfine.com.

Mark Thomas Gibson at KDR

Miami-born, Philadelphia-based artist Mark Thomas Gibson will stage a homecoming show at KDR, opening Saturday, January 17. Describing himself as a “history painter,” Gibson’s work often comments on American culture and political iconography; his show “Forthcoming” integrates local imagery (chickens, the Florida state flag) into paintings depicting a sinking ship — nuff said. The show runs through Friday, February 23. KDR, 790 NW 22nd St., Miami; 305-392-0416; kdr305.com. 

Roxana Barba at Under the Bridge Art Space

Miami-based artist and choreographer Roxana Barba will debut a new solo multimedia exhibition at Under the Bridge Art Space in North Miami. Exploring animist themes, Loop to Zero, a large-scale site-specific installation that also incorporates a film component, uses copper and aluminum pipes to redefine the gallery space. Barba will activate the space with performances throughout the show, which opens on Sunday, January 18, and runs through Wednesday, March 4. Under the Bridge Art Space, 12425 NE 13th Ave., North Miami; underthebridgeartspace.com.

Japanese Prints at the Norton Museum

Although the most famous Japanese woodblock prints — like Hokusai’s The Great Wave — are landscapes, the ukiyo-e artists who flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries took on a variety of different subject matter. In particular, they painted much of the “floating world” of nightlife and hedonism from which the genre gets its name, and this segment of ukiyo-e is the focus of the Norton Museum’s latest exhibition. “That’s Entertainment: Japanese Prints and the Art of Leisure” brings together 28 woodblock prints from the Edo period, the majority by master figurative artist Utagawa Kunisada, depicting kabuki theater performers and plays. The show opens on Saturday, January 24, and runs through July 5. Norton Museum of Art, 1450 W. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach; 561-832-5196; norton.org. Admission costs $18, $15 for seniors, and $5 for students with ID. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under.