Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Miami Beach

"In Biscayne Bay, you’ll find the PAMM – the Pérez Art Museum Miami (pictured above), spearheaded by the billionaire real estate developer and collector Jorge M. Pérez – in an impressive 2013 building designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron. Originally launched in 1984, the PAMM has always focused on contemporary art, but in the last three decades it has increasingly featured Latin American art, and it holds one of the largest collections of contemporary Cuban art in the USA. Besides its permanent collection, there’s an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, which have included artists such as Steve McQueen, Haroon Mirza and Hew Locke."

"Pérez Art Museum Miami is a modern and contemporary art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art of the 20th and 21st centuries. They offer many programs for families including an art camp, art day for kids and after school programs. 1103 Biscayne Blvd.Miami, FLOnline: pamm.org"

"To witness some eye-goggling mural arts in the lap of Miami, the one and only destination are Wynwood walls, a mosaic of colors and vibrancy created under the guidance of Tony Goldman. Started as an initiative in the early 2000s to support and encourage artists, now the Wynwood Walls, a popular open-air art gallery in Miami, stands out in the history of wall art, around the world. You can see artworks displayed at all corners and buildings of the neighborhood represent a grand fusion of wall murals."

"One of the most photographed locations in Miami, Wynwood Walls is a collection of murals and paintings laid out over an open courtyard. Artist-led tours are available, but it’s free to simply explore on your own. What invariably bowls people over is the sheer exuberant colors and commanding presence of the murals, which only tend to be around for less than a year before they are painted over."

"These are just some of the artists whose work can be found in the impressive collection at the Institute of Contemporary Art–"a space committed to the advancement of 20th and 21st-century art in Miami and beyond. The ICA three-story building features numerous rotating exhibitions, complete with an outdoor sculpture garden. But what sets the ICA apart (aside from their free admission, which is huge for a Miami museum to offer) are their public programs–"which are also free to the community. From lectures to symposiums, panel discussions to film screenings, plus multiple educational youth programs, the ICA truly is a space where all artistic thought is welcomed and nurtured. Recommended for Free Things to Do because: Free museum tours are held on Sundays and are the perfect way to spend an afternoon learning about history and architecture."

"Miami’s ICA(pictured above) is housed in a sparkling 37,500-square-foot building in the city’s Design District. The opening of the ambitious venue, a striking design by the Spanish firm Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos, was delivered a year later than originally expected, which only added to the sense of anticipation. As well as housing a must-visit permanent collection with works by Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin and more, it now includes a sculpture garden."

"This museum in Miami's Design District offers free admission and lots of art that the kids will love exploring. Large scale sculptures, a 15,000-square-foot garden and interesting works of art by local artists are particularly interesting for kids. 61 NE 41st StMiami, FLOnline: icamiami.org"

"We visited the MOCA Museum Miami. At the time, the exhibit was SYNERGISM: Ekaterina and Victor Khromin. A story of how death took the life of Victor and how his wife, Ekaterina, continues his work through the process known as “Synergism.”"

"The Rubells, comfortably sitting at the summit of Miami’s collecting elite, are able to propel young artists to the top of the art world by grace of purchasing their work at the right time (see the case of Oscar Murillo). Their Rubell Museum includes pieces by contemporary art giants including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Cindy Sherman and Kara Walker. Originally established in 1964 in New York, Mera and Don Rubell now exhibit to the Miami public in a 100,000-square-foot space in the Allapattah area of Miami, designed by the buzzed-about Selldorf Architects."

"WynwoodThe Rubell family, whose name has been synonymous with art and philanthropy in Miami for decades, has renovated a 100,000-square-foot industrial space west of Wynwood to showcase its massive collection. The family prides itself on finding great artists early in their careers, and visiting the museum you’ll find stuff from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Rashid Johnson, and others from long before the world knew their names. The private collection is beyond impressive, with 7,200 works from more than 1,000 artists."

"Originally established in New York City in 1964, this Miami art museum was moved to a former DEA confiscation center by Jason and Jennifer Rubell in 1993. One of the world’s largest privation collections, the Rubell Family Collection features works from Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Kara Walker, and Jean-Michel Basquiat."

"The building opened in 1925 and became a US National Historic Landmark in 2008.* It’s an impressive landmark. It first started as headquarters for the newspaper Miami News. It now is a contemporary art museum."

"The privately funded luxury collection of Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz finally got a name as the de la Cruz Collection in Miami, designed by John Marquette. The de la Cruz art museum, established in 2009, has been the home of the art-lovers for more than three decades, and now they have opened it for the public to encourage the free flow of artistic thoughts in the neighborhood. Covering an area of 30,000 square feet, the gallery is stuffed with contemporary art exhibits and also organizes lectures, summer workshops, and scholarships for students at DASH and NWSA."

"The Miami Selfie Museum, located in Wynwood has many colorful art installations for a variety of fun backdrops. It’s a super Instagrammable museum and one of the fun places to take pictures in Miami. From interactive rooms, donut walls, a bathtub with plastic bubbles, and much more it will make your Instagram feed super unique."

"Inspired by the four ‘T’ cities — Tel Aviv, Thong Sala, Tokyo, and Tulum — the Upper Buena Vista outdoor mall is full of photo opportunities. With many hidden spots boasting beautiful Instagram backgrounds, you’ll have to explore the entire premises to discover them all. We won’t keep you guessing too much, though — here are some of our favorites:"

"You also have the Dolphin Mall relatively close to you. However, if you can’t spare too many hours, there are some interesting things to do in Miami airport, as well. The food is great, and you can try many Cuban specialties to get a taste of what it’s like around here, but the airport also boasts a yoga room, art exhibits and even a spa."

"Merrick Park is an upscale shopping mall in the Coral Gables area of Miami. What makes the mall unique is that it is primarily an outdoor mall so on those nice and hot Miami days you can still catch some sun while doing a little bit of shopping. Merrick Park features many known high-end brands and is a great place to hang out."

"This club is where you need to be if you want to spice up your night with Latin Dance Music. Formerly known as the Sidebar Space, La Otra features cool chandeliers, fairy lights, candles, velvet couches, an outdoor patio, tropical plants, and disco balls hanging from the ceiling. Nightclubs in Miami are getting more and more competitive, and this club is a tough competitor."

"A modern approach to seafood and a nautical-chic vibe draws a crowd to Lure's Fishbar, which is located inside the Loews Miami Beach Hotel's historic St Moritz Tower. On offer are creative appetisers (try the devilled eggs with caviar, or crispy rice cakes with spicy tuna), sushi rolls and salads meant for sharing, and entrée-sized seafood and steak dishes. The bucatini pasta with butter-poached lobster is a sumptuous option and they've got an award-winning burger for those not in the mood for fish."

"Inside the Lowes Hotel, the Lure Fishbar is constantly ranked highly for its impressive seafood selection. The style is nautical glam with indoor and outdoor seating made for a meal of fresh fish. You cannot miss the raw bar with a selection of oysters, nigiri & sashimi and more delightful shellfish options."

"No trip to Miami Beach is complete without sushi, and Lure Fishbar is a great choice. The restaurant itself is lovely and luxurious, and the staff is famous for their kid-friendly attitude. You’re certain to find a high chair or a booster seat, and DVD players are even available to keep kids entertained."