Must-See Miami Art Exhibits in January
Miami’s art galleries still have a post-Art Basel glow, with exhibits by celebrity photographer David LaChapelle, local artist and illustrator Gabe Alcala, and much more.
Appearances can be deceiving, especially in Miami. The brand-new Benz that sideswiped you on I-95 is a lease. The woman wearing designer clothes put it all on credit, and the dude with the Rolex bragging about his South Beach pad rents an efficiency in Doral.
The same can’t be said of the art scene, fortunately. Even after the glitz and glamor of Miami Art Week has passed, there’s still plenty of substantial, interesting art to be seen throughout the city all year. That’s why New Times is launching a new column dedicated to monthly missives about what’s going on and coming up in the art world in Miami, telling you where to go and what to see — and maybe, on occasion, what to avoid.
January is the perfect starting place for those looking to investigate the art scene. The city is still in the hazy afterglow of Art Basel, so the volume of exhibitions is neither too light nor excessive.
“Madeline Donahue: Present Tense” at Nina Johnson
Nina Johnson’s latest exhibition features drawings from New York-based artist Madeline Donahue, who responds to her experiences with childcare, family, and the female body in the wake of motherhood in a series of graceful drawings and paintings. Vibrant colors recur throughout the show, especially the pinks of flesh and the reds of Donahue’s home. She even offers a take on Matisse’s famous “Red Studio,” but unlike the French artist’s artwork-filled space, Donahue’s features the artist at work alongside her children and pets. On view Thursday, January 18, through Saturday, February 17, at Nina Johnson, 6315 NW Second Ave., Miami; 305-571-2288; ninajohnson.com.
“Gabe Alcala: Look Out of Any Window” at Dále Zine
A true Florida Man, Gabe Alcala, is inaugurating the new space for bookstore/art gallery Dále Zine in the Design District. Among other projects for clients like Element Skateboards and the indie rock musician Angel Olsen, the artist’s clever, ’70s-inspired, matte-outline illustrations earned him a job designing A24’s guidebook Florida!, a compendium of local culture, legends, and lore about the Sunshine State. Look for similarly irreverent subject matter at his latest show. Opening 6 p.m. Thursday, January 25, at Dále Zine 50 NE 40th St., Miami; dalezineshop.com.
