Miami's Worldcenter Unveils $5 Million USD Art Initiative
Tapping Nina Chanel Abney as the first to create work for the space.
Worldcenter is a new sprawling multi-use complex in the heart of Miami that seeks to revitalize the downtown area through a range of shopping, dining and hotel attractions. Today, the group unveiled a $5m USD public art initiative that will bring world-class creatives to the burgeoning destination.
As the first artist to be enlisted, Nina Chanel Abney painted several murals that were inspired by the historically Black neighborhood of Overtown. “I created pictorial language to tell an imagined narrative that investigates community renewals and removals,” Abney said in a statement, adding, “The mural location, a tunnel formed by the dark passageway under the building, inspired me to consider the legacy of preserving sacred spaces with story. I hope to spark a dialogue around gentrification and encourage a curiosity amongst viewers to engage with and learn about the previous and adjacent neighborhoods.”
Located just across the street from the FTX Arena, the project was curated by gallerist Jeffrey Deitch and Miami-based art collective, Primary, the latter of which has produced a range of public projects with the likes of Hunter Potter and Derrick Adams, amongst many. “We believe the most successful public art must be visually engaging and dialogue with the immediate environment,” said Primary’s founding partner, Books Bischof, in an interview with ARTnews.
Worldcenter is currently under construction and is expected to open to the public later this year.
