COURTESY ICA, MIAMI
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded a $5 million gift to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, with the aim of supporting “the development and presentation of experimental exhibitions of contemporary art by emerging and under-represented artists in perpetuity,” as a press release states. (It’s worth mentioning here that ICA offers free admission year-round.)
Irma Braman and Ray Ellen Yarkin, who funded the museum’s construction and serve as co-chairs of ICA’s board of trustees, said in a statement, “Knight Foundation’s gift demonstrates the enthusiastic reception for ICA, Miami’s plans and programs among the region’s leading cultural supporters.” This good news follows a settlement last year between the ICA and North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art, which granted the ICA many significant works. The museum plans to start building its permanent 37,000-square-foot location, designed by Spanish firm Aranguren & Gallegos Arquitectos, in Miami’s Design District later this year.
Deputy director and chief curator (and one of two former claimants to the title of director of MOCA in last year’s battle of Miami museums) Alex Gartenfeld, mentioned that the gift will specifically aid in the exhibition of works by Shannon Ebner and John Miller. Last December, ICA opened temporary galleries in Miami’s historic Moore Building to show two solo exhibitions featuring work by Pedro Reyes and Andra Ursuta, and will shortly unveil painter Ryan Sullivan’s first solo museum exhibition on April 16. Soon after, the museum will open a show dedicated to Miami-based art collective Guccivuitton.