The whole history of the region is on display at the Frost Art Museum, one of Southern Florida’s largest academic art museums. Founded in the late 1970s but recently moved into a striking 46,000-square-foot (4,300-square-meter) space at the heart of Florida International University’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus, it is an artistic center for the university and the city of Miami.
Make the trip to western Miami to see not only a strong collection of work from recent American artists but also artifacts testifying to how the culture of the Miami area reaches back thousands of years.
Linger outside the museum, whose lakeside setting makes it peaceful even on the busiest of school days at one of Florida’s biggest universities. Wander through the outdoor sculpture collection, which provides visual connections between the museum and other buildings along the Avenue of the Arts. In the three-story atrium, notice how natural light streams through the huge windows, making good use of one of South Florida’s greatest natural resources.
Walk up the suspended staircase to the second and third floors, which house the three galleries of the permanent collection and the six displaying a series of innovative temporary exhibits. Browse pre-Columbian artifacts and a large collection of examples of mid-20th-century American printmaking. Contemporary art here highlights the lively Haitian and Cuban communities of Miami.
Save time for the special exhibits, which explore both themes and specific artists that embody the museum and the city’s artistic vision.
Frost Art Museum is in the center of FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus in western Miami. Drive here from the airport or Little Havana in about 25 minutes or from Miami Beach in 50 minutes. Make sure to park in the metered garages reserved for art museum visitors. One of these garages is located directly behind the building.
The museum is open from mid-morning to early evening from Tuesday to Saturday, and again from midday to early evening on Sunday. There is no admission fee.
