For Its 14th Anniversary, Yo Miami Looks Back at a Disappearing Miami

Along a small slice of NE 62 Street in Little River stand a few warehouse spaces that have not yet been replaced by bougie storefronts. Next to an auto repair shop is a nondescript stainless steel door. To the right of it is a sign, spray-painted on a slab of rock, reading, "Yo Space Yo Miami."

Inside, there's a large manifesto framed on the wall. Although it's a remnant of an old Yo Miami art show, its words still resonate and hold true for the arts organization and its mission. An excerpt reads, "We embrace and showcase to the rest of the world every inch of the variety that permeates the fabric of Miami culture. Forget the stereotypes, forget the hype; we bring you the reality, the appreciation, and the community."

Founded and operated by Yuval Ofir, a New Times contributor, Yo Space is the home of Yo Miami and a studio space for working artists. Oh, and it's a makeshift gallery space, too.

This year, the organization celebrates 14 years of fostering a space and community for local artists. To mark the occasion, Ofir is hosting a two-part party. Part one, from 6 to 9 p.m., is a photography exhibit titled "Unframed & Unhinged: Yo Miami's Underground Origins." Part two, starting directly afterward, is an afterparty at Magic 13 Brewing, featuring music by the Yo Fam Band.

Ofir has been reminiscing on Yo Miami's role in the city's ever-changing arts landscape long before this anniversary.

"I've been very much in this kind of nostalgic era in the last year or two, where I kind of miss those early days of Yo Miami," he says. "This is now 14 years that I've been doing this, and I've also been pursuing my own creative practices in the last two years, which include photography and storytelling, so the idea of doing a retrospective photography exhibition allows me to integrate all of these mediums."

The photography exhibit features images captured between 2010 and 2015, the organization's foundational years and an indelible era for Ofir. Expect to see photos of venues no longer with us, like the Vagabond, the Stage, and even the OG Wood Tavern.
In addition to showcasing some of his own images, Ofir has invited local photographers to participate in the group exhibition, including contributing New Times photographer Monica McGivern, Arnaud Pagès, and one of Yo Space's resident artists, Lex Barberio.

Ofir likens the celebration to a gathering of old friends flipping through worn photo albums. "I want the celebration to be an opportunity for the creative community that sort of came up together in the early 2010s to come together again," he says.

He founded Yo Miami in 2011 for purely selfish reasons: He wanted to curate events and happenings around town that interested him, and to house them all in one place. Instead of texting 20 or so of his closest friends every weekend, Ofir started a dedicated Facebook page to disseminate details on the events. The page grew organically, building a steady and loyal following.

"It was basically an outlet for me to pursue things that I was passionate about," says Ofir with a boyish grin.
As he became more involved in the local arts scene, Ofir found himself drawn to event production. Through Yo Miami, he organized events from the Average Joe Art Sales to the Last Call Comedy Show. He stopped producing events shortly after 2021 to dedicate himself full-time to the growth of the organization at large.

Looking around at his office, with its stacked boxes and papers in not-so-neat piles, Ofir crosses his legs and leans back into his chair. "In the last five years," he says, "I've realized that my greatest strength is building networks and creating connections. The role I play now is really to help grow, nurture, and foster the ecosystem for creatives and aspiring creative professionals within the South Florida area."

While Yo Space continues to offer private studios for local artists, Yo Miami is stepping into a new era. Ofir describes it as a consulting and creative agency with product design and production capabilities.

Still, at its core, is the same foundational appreciation for the local arts community. "I really want to bring my expertise and experience to clients that range from individual artists to businesses to organizations or even established institutions," he says. "Whether it be painting a mural on the side of a building or programming more art featuring local artists, Yo Miami can help."

Yo Miami 14th Anniversary Celebration. 6 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Yo Space Gallery & Studio, 294 NE 62nd St., Miami, yo-miami.com. Admission is free.