The Best Art Shows to See in Miami, September 2025

It appears that rumors of the Miami art scene's death have been greatly exaggerated — for now. Thanks in part to fierce opposition from the community, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava opted to restore most of the arts funding she'd cut from her initially proposed budget. The news is perfectly timed to coincide with the ramping up of art shows and gatherings ahead of Miami Art Week in December. The Bass in Miami Beach and the NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale are both unveiling several new exhibitions, galleries are coming back to life after the slow summer season, and art centers like Locust Projects are putting on challenging immersive work. Here are the best art shows to see in Miami this September.

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

Immersive Exhibitions at Locust Projects

Locust Projects debuted two new immersive projects recently. In the art center's Main Gallery, William Cordova's algo•ritmos (2 tienes santo pero no eres babalo) reconstructs the sets of two vintage '70s sitcoms, Good Times and Que Pasa, U.S.A.?, probing the nature of personal and collective memory. In the Project Room, Drawn Breath, Exhaled Frequencies sees Michael Webster construct a series of sound mirrors that play poetry recordings by Arsimmer McCoy and Selina Nwulu. On display through Saturday, October 25, at Locust Projects, 297 NE 67th St., Miami; 305-576-8570; locustprojects.org.

Isaac Julien and Others at the Bass

The Bass has inaugurated its fall season with three new presentations, all of which opened on August 20. The highlight is British artist Isaac Julien's video installation Vagabondia, which explores the legacy of colonialism through a ghostly tour of a London museum. A new rehang of works in the museum's collection and a show of bronze sculptures by Sarah Crowner in conversation with the museum's Etel Adnan mural have also been added. Additionally, a "Miami Years" retrospective on Jack Pierson, including a new monumental artwork by the artist, will debut on Wednesday, September 24. These shows will all remain open through next year. On display at the Bass, 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7530; thebass.org. Tickets cost $15.

"Memory Stick" at Queue Gallery

Newly opened in downtown Miami is Queue Gallery, the brainchild of curator Catherine Camargo. The gallery's inaugural show, "Memory Stick," boldly smashes together artworks in a presentation that seeks to push against "the notion that (Miami) audiences are incapable of engaging with complexity," according to a statement from Queue. The artist lineup includes South Florida natives Danka Latorre and Diego Gabaldon, as well as Sherry Kerlin, Naomi Hawksley, Alberto Cavalieri, and Stan Buglass. Expect photo collages of football shirts, blurry grayscale portraiture, and other idiosyncratic objects. Through Friday, September 26, at Queue Gallery, 212 N. Miami Ave., Miami; queuegallery.net.

"À Mon Seul Désir" at Laundromat Art Space

Curated by Sophia Ballesteros, this show at the community arts space Laundromat in Little Haiti centers around the fantastic theme of the unicorn. Taking its title from the famous medieval tapestry The Lady and the Unicorn, the show reinterprets the mythological beast through a modern artistic lens via work by Hannah Banciella, Jessy Nite, Juan Pablo Bohórquez, and Rattapoom Piwpantamit. Opens Saturday, August 30, and runs through Saturday, September 27, at Laundromat Art Space, 185 NE 59th St., Miami; laundromatartspace.com.

Three New Shows at Nina Johnson

Nina Johnson Gallery inaugurates a new trio of shows on Thursday, September 4. "Lace" features photorealistic paintings by Rob Davis depicting scenes from lower middle-class American life, shown in conversation with abstract ceramics by Deborah Handler. Christy Gast sculpts with Levi's jeans, meanwhile, while Elsa Hansen Oldham creates quilts that reflect her interest in dance, pop culture, memory, and other themes. All three shows run through November 15.
Opens Thursday, September 4, at Nina Johnson, 6315 NW Second Ave., Miami; 305-571-2288; ninajohnson.com.

Purvis Young at KDR

Purvis Young requires little introduction. After a presentation of work by the late Miami artist at Pan American Art Projects earlier this year, KDR is putting on its own show of Young, who created thousands of paintings, murals, and other artworks during his lifetime. The show opens on Thursday, September 4, and runs through Saturday, October 11; a parallel show opening on Friday, September 12 at sister space KDR305 will feature work by local painter Stephen Patterson. Opens Thursday, September 4, at KDR, 790 NW 22nd St., Miami; 305-392-0416; kdr305.com.

Reniel Del Rosario at Primary.

Filipino-American artist Reniel Del Rosario will take over Primary. in Little River with a show inspired by the famous fresh fruit stand Robert is Here in Homestead, a beloved local pit stop for Miami day trippers. "Reniel is Here" assembles a fresh pile of tropical and exotic fruits reminiscent of the original stand, only these are made of clay — not exactly edible, but hopefully fun to look at and thoughtfully crafted to question the commercial forces threatening places like Robert is Here. Opens Saturday, September 6, and runs through Saturday, October 4, at Primary., 7410 NW Miami Ct., Miami; 954-296-1675; thisisprimary.com.

"Harmony of Nature and Art" at Frost Art Museum

Did you know Florida has a sister-state relationship with Wakayama Prefecture in Japan? In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Sunshine State's sisterhood with this rural region south of Osaka, the Frost Art Museum is putting on an art exhibit showing off the best of both places. "Harmony of Nature and Art" will display Noh theater masks and netsuke figurines alongside paintings by the Florida Highwaymen and other artworks from the Frost Art Museum collection, the Morikami Museum in Delray, and other institutions and collectors. The show opens on Saturday, September 13, and runs through Sunday, November 16. Opens Saturday, September 13, at the Philip and Patricia Frost Art Museum, 10975 SW 17th St., Miami; 305-348-2890; frost.fiu.edu. 

"Reciprocity" at Ascaso Gallery

Ascaso Gallery in Downtown Miami will present an exhibition dedicated to Cuban exile artist Julio Larraz, most famous as a political cartoonist featured in Esquire, the New York Times, and Time magazine, among others. Staged with collaboration from the Julio Larraz Foundation, "Reciprocity" features work by Larraz from 11 artists, including Reynier Ferrer, Leticia Sánchez Toledo, Cooper Dragonette, and Maia Larraz. Ascaso Gallery, 1325 NE First Ave., Miami; 305-517-9410; ascasogallery.com.

Three New Shows at NSU Art Museum

Broward County's largest art museum kicks off its fall season with three new shows opening on Sunday, September 21. The main event is an exhibition of newly-acquired masterpieces from the Pearl and Stanley Goodman Latin American Art Collection, including pieces by Frida Kahlo, Remedios Varo, Wifredo Lam, Leonora Carrington, Diego Rivera, and others. A show of graphic works by CoBrA artist Asger Jorn and the solo museum debut of local ceramicist Addison Wolff complete the trio. Opens Sunday, September 21, at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, 1 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-525-5500; nsuartmuseum.org. Admission costs $16 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for military, and $5 for students. Admission is free for members, NSU students, faculty and staff, and children under 12. Admission is free every first Thursday of the month.