Miami Art Week brings spectacular cultural moments

Miami Art Week 2025 transforms the Design District and surrounding neighborhoods into a sprawling gallery of installations, exhibitions and cultural programming running through Dec. 7. The celebration marks 10 years of Faena Art in Miami Beach while showcasing everything from large-scale public sculptures to intimate gallery presentations across multiple venues.

The Miami Design District combines luxury shopping with galleries, museums, design stores and restaurants within architecturally significant spaces. This year’s programming spans visual art, performance, dining experiences and nightlife events that position Miami as a major player on the global cultural stage.

Cartier’s immersive panther experience

Cartier presents Panthère Into the Wild, an immersive exhibition exploring the inseparable connection between the luxury house and its iconic panther symbol. The experience guides visitors through dedicated spaces showcasing every facet of the panther’s legacy, from its first debut on a wristwatch to the woman who realized the strength of the feline’s form.

The exhibition features stories of craftsmanship alongside exceptional flora and fauna creations, plus a privileged selection of historic and archival pieces from the Cartier Collection. Located at 23 NE 41st Street, the show runs Dec. 5 through 7 from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with appointments available online. Cartier also recently opened its newly expanded flagship in the Design District, designed by architect Liz Diller with a wraparound façade featuring undulating fluted glass.

Rashid Johnson curates transitional moment

The Prelude, curated by Rashid Johnson, marks a moment of anticipation between what has been imagined and what is yet to unfold. The exhibition centers on Untitled No. 9 (Surrender Painting) from Johnson’s celebrated Surrender series, anchoring dialogue with pieces from the Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation collection by Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti, John McCracken and Cy Twombly.

Natural elements weave through the gallery space at 151 NE 41st St., Suite 133, reflecting Johnson’s enduring interest in organic forms and foreshadowing the works’ future home at Longleaf Art Park. Open Dec. 2 through early 2026 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the installation invites viewers into meditation on space, surrender and the beginnings of a larger vision taking shape.

LVMH The Studio showcases diverse artists

LVMH The Studio Miami, formerly LVMH Culture House, lands in the Design District for five days of artistic immersion running Dec. 3 through 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now in its fifth year, this art gallery pop-up continues its tradition of showcasing expressions from artists of all backgrounds while hosting panels where innovators, entrepreneurs and LVMH leaders share their vision.

The third-floor space at 140 NE 39th St. creates an environment where art, culture and luxury fuse to create experiences embodying the excellence LVMH represents. The programming connects creativity with commerce during one of Miami’s most culturally dense weeks.

New dining destinations debut

Le Specialità brings authentic Milanese cuisine to the Design District, reimagining the Milan institution that has operated since 1977. Designed by the Rockwell Group with radical retro-chic interiors where Milan meets Miami, the restaurant features curated art from founder Andre Sakhai’s personal archives, including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince.

AVA MediterrAegean opened in Coconut Grove as Riviera Dining Group’s latest concept, reimagining Mediterranean dining as a multi-sensory journey balancing Cycladic tradition with modern interpretation. Two new restaurants, Karyu and Yasu, will open in December in the Design District, both from Spicy Hospitality Group.