Who said Miami is only about beaches and nightlife? The city also offers notable museums, and The Bass Museum of Art (commonly known as The Bass) is definitely an interesting stop for those seeking a cultural attraction among the many points of interest in Miami. Let’s discover together how to visit it!
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What is The Bass Museum of Art?
The Bass Museum of Art in Miami welcomes its visitors in a 1930s Art Deco building that was once the Miami Beach Public Library. The museum was inaugurated in April 1964 to house the private art collection of John Bass and Johanna Riedlich. The couple, originally from Vienna, lived in Miami Beach and had amassed over 500 artworks of various genres and eras over the years. John Bass, in addition to being the president of the Fajardo Sugar Company in Puerto Rico, considered himself a journalist, composer, and artist. Thanks to the donation of his collection to the city and his multifaceted personality, he was appointed the director of The Bass Museum and remained in that position until his death in 1978.
Less than 10 years after its inauguration, in 1973, the Miami Beach City Council closed the museum following negative evaluations by the Art Dealers Association regarding the authenticity of many works at The Bass. However, the museum was eventually reopened, and in 1980, the new executive director, Diane Camber, worked on various fronts to restore the credibility and importance of the museum as a cultural and educational space in the city.
In 2001, significant renovation works were carried out on the museum, which also involved its expansion with an additional space through the project by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. Between 2015 and 2017, The Bass was closed again for further renovations and nearly doubled in size with the addition of four new galleries designed by David Gauld. In 2022, the museum received additional funding to open a new exhibition wing in the future. These continuous expansions over the years testify to the significance that the museum holds today for Miami and its residents.
How to Get There and Tips for Parking
The Bass Museum of Art is located at 2100 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
If you are driving, you can park at the Collins Park Parking Garage at 340 23rd Street, which is not far from the museum, or find paid parking spots around Collins Park. The museum does not have its own parking lot and recommends using public transportation.
If you decide to reach the museum by public transportation, you can take:
- Buses 120, 150, L, S, T and get off at the Collins/21st Street or Collins/22nd Street stop.
- The Miami Trolley Middle Beach Loop and Collins Express and get off at the Collins Park stop.
The Bass Museum Tickets and Hours
The ticket prices for entry to The Bass Museum of Art in Miami are as follows:
- $15 for adults
- $8 for students, seniors (65+), and youths aged 7-18.
Children under 6 years old enter for free.
You can visit The Bass museum for free on the last Sunday of every month, known as Family Day, and every third Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, thanks to the Miami Beach Culture Crawl initiative.
There is no need to book tickets in advance.
The museum is open:
- Wednesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- The third Thursday of the month: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
The Bass Museum of Art Collection
If you love contemporary art and you’re in Miami, The Bass is a must-visit during your stay in the city. With artistic programs that encompass important sectors such as design, architecture, fashion, and visual arts, the works at The Bass Museum will amaze you with their variety and uniqueness. The museum also has the merit of being the first to organize and host solo exhibitions of artists who later became internationally renowned, such as Erwin Wurm and Ugo Rondinone. Other famous artists who have exhibited at the museum include El Anatsui, Isaac Julien, Eve Sussman, and Piotr Uklanski.
Today, the museum houses over 3,000 works, including a collection of paintings by European artists of the caliber of Rubens, Ghirlandaio, and Botticelli.
The following works are particularly interesting from an artistic standpoint and are part of the museum’s permanent collections:
- “Welcome Wall” by Pascale Marthine Tayou, consisting of 75 LED signs.
- “Eternity Now” by Sylvie Fleury.
- “Chess Table” by Jim Drain.
- “Miami Mountain” by Ugo Rondinone.
- “Sacred Geometries” by William Cordova.
- “Paisaje Desmantelado” by Jorge Méndez Blake.
The Art Outside project is also particularly stimulating, as it offers tourists and residents the opportunity to admire contemporary artworks scattered throughout the streets of Miami Beach. From sculptures to neon signs, murals, sounds, and artistic works by multiple authors, this exhibition was created during the Covid period to continue spreading art despite the restrictions.
Inside The Bass, numerous temporary collections are also curated, providing space not only for established artists but also for emerging ones.
Places to Stay
The Bass is located in the most famous and visited neighborhood of Miami: Miami Beach. Thanks to its beautiful South Beach, numerous nightlife options, and a wide range of hotels, it is one of the best and most sought-after neighborhoods to stay in, especially if it’s your first time visiting Miami. Of course, being so popular, the neighborhood can be quite expensive, but there is a vast selection of hotels and apartments to choose from, so you won’t have difficulty finding the best accommodation option for your needs.
If you’ve decided to stay in Miami Beach but are unsure whether to choose the vibrant South Beach or the quieter Miami Central Beach or North Beach, reading our article on the best places to stay in Miami will provide you with clearer ideas and additional advice on these and other potential areas for accommodation in the city.
