The Bass

The Bass, at 2100 Collins Ave in Miami Beach, is a contemporary art museum in Collins Park, housed in a 1930 Art Deco building made of local coral rock that originally served as the city library and art center. The museum is named for John and Johanna Bass, who in 1963 donated their collection of European art to the city of Miami Beach. That original collection includes Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, textiles and decorative arts, including Old Master works. In later decades the focus shifted toward contemporary art, with exhibitions of international artists and site-specific commissions. In 2017 an expansion and renovation by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, working with Miami architect Rafael de Cardenas, added gallery space and a new wing connecting the historic building to the park. Curation today is a mix of rotating contemporary exhibitions and displays that draw on the permanent collection, including pieces that show the dialogue between the historic and the modern. The building is an important example of Miami Beach's early architecture, and its details include a carved coral rock facade and reliefs. Conservation is carried out for both the historic structure and the works on display. The museum is close to the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Botanical Garden and the beach, and it is a short trip from the Art Deco district. The Bass also holds public programs, talks and family days, and its sculpture and installation work extends into the surrounding Collins Park, giving visitors outdoor art alongside indoor exhibits. For visitors who care about the historic character of Miami Beach, the building is as interesting as the exhibitions, and the pairing of a 1930 civic building with a contemporary addition is a good summary of how the city has treated its past. Visitors are advised to confirm current opening hours, admission prices and any guided-tour schedules directly with the venue before traveling, since these details change seasonally and with special events in Miami, Florida.