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Exhibitions at the Library
Art Services & Exhibitions Division
About
The Library System has a long history of cultural and educational exhibitions, and makes a special call to artists on a rolling basis for temporary exhibitions that correspond to selected annual themes and/or that highlight the library’s permanent art collection and services.
Additionally, the Vasari Project is an archive that documents the development of the visual arts in Miami‑Dade County since 1945.
For more information about the art collection, exhibition programs, call 305‑375‑5599 or e‑mail art@mdpls.org.
Art at the Library
Permanent Art Collection
A collection of over 7,000 works with focus on African American, Latino, and Miami artists. The Vasari Project
Dedicated to documenting, collecting and preserving Miami‑Dade County's art history from 1945 to the present. Virtual Art Exhibitions
Virtual exhibitions highlighting works from the library's art collection. Each exhibit features high-resolution scans of the artwork and is searchable.
A collection of over 7,000 works with focus on African American, Latino, and Miami artists. The Vasari Project
Dedicated to documenting, collecting and preserving Miami‑Dade County's art history from 1945 to the present. Virtual Art Exhibitions
Virtual exhibitions highlighting works from the library's art collection. Each exhibit features high-resolution scans of the artwork and is searchable.
A Visual Narrative
Miami-Dade Public Library System's Permanent Art Collection and Exhibitions
A Closer Look at the Artwork of Emilio Sanchez
Library Artist-in-Residence Program
Interview with Jacob Brillhart, Rocco Ceo, Victor Deupi
Library Exhibitions
Pedestrian 1985 & 2015
Street Photography In Downtown with Liam Crotty and David Spitzer
Current Exhibitions & Programs
MDPLS Author Series
Lunchtime Poetry & Jazz @ the Library
First Thursday of Every Month,
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Join us for an interactive poetry and jazz program featuring local poets who will read their works while accompanied by live music performed by the Diego Melgar Jazz Trio.
Hosted by Miami-Dade County Poetry Ambassador Nicole Tallman and Library Curator and Poet Oscar Fuentes.
All ages.
A Century of Girl Scouting in Miami and the Keys
Centennial Exhibition
September 1 - December 1, 2023
A Century of Girl Scouting in Miami and the Keys explores the history of the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida from Alligator Troop 1 in 1923 through today. The exhibition features ten panels in Spanish and English, showcasing the activities, attire and impact of the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida across each decade.
Girl Scouts of all levels can earn the Your Library: A Portal To Paradise patch by participating in a number of library-related activities for their grade level, such as reading, doing research, creating art, signing up for a library card and more.
Visit www.mdpls.org/girl-scouts-patch for details.
Graffiti
Selected Photographs by David Spitzer
From the Miami-Dade Public Library System Permanent Art Collection
August 4 - December 29, 2023
Discover the captivating world of graffiti through the lens of David Spitzer in this thought-provoking photography exhibition whose concept transcends the boundaries of individual artists and captures the collaborative spirit and raw expression found on walls adorned with a diverse tapestry of graffiti.
Click here to view more of David Spitzer's graffiti photographs in the Library's Digital Collections.
"Shelter Island Pucker," by John DeFaro
Spectrum: Exploring Diversity in Art
July 21 – September 21, 2023
The Miami-Dade Public Library System is proud to present this group exhibition featuring paintings, drawings, mixed media art and photographs by a diverse group of artists, including John DeFaro, Inna Malostovker, Oscar Esteban Martinez, Galal Ramadan, Jose Ramon Tonarely, Mario Loprete, Maria S. Perry, Margaret Hart and M.O. Thirunarayanan, who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to their art. They include local and international artists, emerging and established talents and artists of different ages, genders and ethnicities. Together, they create a rich and diverse tapestry of art that celebrates the power and beauty of diversity.
The exhibition features a colorful assortment of art, including vibrant and expressive abstract paintings, intricate and delicate drawings and innovative and thought-provoking mixed media pieces and photographs. Works are presented in a variety of sizes and formats, creating an immersive and engaging experience for viewers, while showcasing a range of styles, techniques and themes that reflect the vibrant and dynamic art scene in Miami.
"Mercy/Piedad," 2013, by Raimundo Travieso
Contemplatives in Action
By Raimundo Travieso
July 14 – September 14, 2023
Contemplatives in Action is a mesmerizing art exhibition featuring the works of Raimundo Travieso, a self-taught artist who was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1946. Travieso's artistic journey began as a form of meditation and prayer, with him drawing almost every day of his life. His drawings eventually evolved into prints, woven tapestries and other multiples, each piece bearing the essence of his contemplative spirit.
The exhibition showcases a diverse collection of Travieso's artworks, each carrying a unique blend of spirituality, mysticism and everyday life. His works draw inspiration from his personal experiences, observations and reflections, and are a testament to his poetic vision of the world.
Upcoming Exhibitions & Programs
Making Impressions
Archives, Printmaking and Robert Blackburn
September 15, 2023 – February 29, 2024
Opening Reception
Saturday, September 16, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
This exhibition explores the legacy of a master printer through artwork, archives and documentation featuring internationally known artists who studied in Robert Blackburn's Printmaking Workshop and influenced Miami’s art history. The works featured in this exhibit are from the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop and the Miami-Dade Public Library System's Permanent Art Collection and Vasari Project archive.
Made possible by the James L. Knight Foundation and Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.
Pandemics: Illustrations of a Survivor
By Edwin Villasmil
October 6 – December 14, 2023
Experience the impacts of pandemics on humanity through the unique perspective of Edwin Villasmil, a 73-year-old Venezuelan-American artist and survivor of the 2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. Influenced by the outbreak’s magnitude, Villasmil depicts the emotions and stories of humanity as they were affected by the pandemic. This exhibition invites you to view worldwide illness through a unique lens that connects the visual arts to literature.
Each work of art in the exhibition is composed of paper drawings using ink and text. The titles of each work serve as tribute to different writers quoted in the pieces.