‘Our art is for people who walk into our doors, but also for people who don’t intend to: they can bump into it on their way to the supermarket.’– Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Director and Chief Curator of The Bass

In 1964, John and Johanna Bass bequeathed their art collection to the city of Miami Beach, effectively creating one of the city’s most beloved cultural institutions. Housed in an arresting Art Deco building a stone’s throw from the beach, The Bass offers audiences an ambitious program that has included exhibitions by the likes of Ugo Rondinone, Mika Rottenberg, and Isaac Julien. It also regularly commissions artists to conceive impactful, site-specific works, such as Sylvie Fleury’s neon Eternity Now (2015) and Pascale Marthine Tayou’s installation Welcome Wall (2015).

During this year’s edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, three exhibitions will be on view at the museum: a survey of works by the designers-cum-artists extraordinaire the Haas Brothers; a solo show by Paola Pivi, shedding light on the Italian artist’s playful brand of conceptualism; and a presentation of works by LA-based painter and sculptor Aaron Curry, which blend art historical influences with pop nostalgia.

Miami Beach: All about The Bass

The city’s only contemporary art museum is a favorite with locals and visitors alike