As Art Basel approaches this December, the city once again transforms into a living canvas-alive with color, conversation and creativity. Amid the vast displays of art that take over across the city, Art of Black Miami stands out as one of the most vibrant and vital pulses of Basel.

For just over a decade, the platform, sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB)  has elevated the voices, visions and stories of Black and brown artists whose work continues to shape culture, challenge perspective and leave a lasting impact. Influences of Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and beyond are showcased in neighborhoods across Miami, sharing their unique flair with the Basel attendees that visit from all over the world.

This special edition of M•I•A features the piece “Yellow Elder” by artist Asser Saint-Val, the winner of the cover contest held in partnership with the GMCVB. Paying homage to the great African and Bahamian descendants who built Coconut Grove, Saint-Val’s work represents the beauty and culture at the heart of Art of Black Miami.

The magic of Basel comes alive in each page and story of this issue, highlighting the artists, community leaders and programs that make up the Art of Black Miami. Within these pages, you’ll meet artists who reimagine narratives, designing new ways for communities to see themselves in the world of art. Their work challenges expectations, creates important dialogue and offers a blueprint for beauty, freedom and belonging.

From Love of Urban Design in Miami Gardens, where creativity and community intersect, to the visionary digital  explorations presented by Miami MocAAD (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts), these programs reveal the expansiveness of Black creativity. They remind us that art lives in public spaces, in conversations, in gatherings and in the reimagining of what our city can become.

As you explore the many exhibits and events, I welcome you to experience the brilliance behind Black artistry with intention. Let these works move you, teach you and resonate with you. May these pages serve as both invitation and inspiration -to explore, to witness and to honor the creators whose work continues to reshape the cultural horizon.

To say that I am looking forward to Art of Black is an understatement! Soak in the celebration of Black creativity with me and get ready for Art of Black Miami 2025—see you there!

Nikki Svec
M•I•A Magazine | Editor-in-Chief
nikkis@miamediagrp.com