Rubell Museum Opens in Miami's Allapattah with 300+ Works

The Rubell Museum, a private collection turned public institution, opened in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood during Miami Art Week in December 2019. Housed in six former industrial buildings renovated by Selldorf Architects, the 7,000-square-meter space features 40 galleries displaying over 300 works by around 100 artists. The collection, started by Mera and Don Rubell in 1964, now comprises 7,200 works by 1,000 artists, including Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Richard Prince, and Cindy Sherman. The inaugural exhibition spans American and Asian art, with galleries dedicated to 1980s New York appropriationists and Chinese artists like Ai Weiwei. The museum includes a library, garden, and residency space for artist Amoako Boafo. The Rubells began collecting while Don was a medical student and Mera a teacher, investing monthly in emerging artists. The new location in Allapattah joins El Espacio 23, another private museum opened by collector Jorge Pérez, signaling ongoing gentrification.