The Bass is a Contemporary Art Museum in Miami, FL. We came here during one of my prev. birthday trips. Everytime we come to Miami, there are new places we find as well as favorites to revisit. Finding cool art spaces is so enjoyable. Miami City Ballet School is across the street & Miami Beach Regional Library is in close proximity to The Bass. Once you arrive onto the property, you see Ugo Rondinone's "Miami Mountain", a unique & beautiful public sculpture. It is definitely a treat walking towards the entrance to the museum. When we arrived inside, we were welcomed by lovely Greeters at the Admission Area. The Bass is a quaint, intimate-enough smart space. Highlights included "Selections From the Permanent Collection" & Artist Tavares Strachan's "We Belong Here". Nam June Paik: The Miami Years Exhibit displayed the South Korean Artist's creations via use of mixed media, electronic/ digital objects & images. There was also a Nam June Paik "Action Music" Exhibit. thebass.org @thebasdmoa The Bass is open Wed. - Sun. - Noon - 5pm. General Admission is $15 ^ Youth 7-18 / Students & Seniors are $8. Free Admission for Miami Beach Residents, Military Personnel/EBT Cardholders, Children under 6 yrs. of age, etc. Free Admission every 3rd Thursday from 6pm - 9pm. Family Day - Free Admission every last Sunday of the month. One can go onto the website to get information including on current exhibitions & upcoming events. read more

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Miami-Dade County residents can get free museum passes through the library. My partner was able to get a free pass and surprised me with a date here. The museum has two floors, a small selection of exhibits, a gift shop, and a community space. Outside is a large grassy area with plenty of trees and shade that's great for going on a walk. The current exhibit wasn't kid-friendly, in my opinion, as much of the artwork featured mature themes. Overall, I'm glad we visited, but I probably wouldn't return read more

The Bass - Outside of museum - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

The current exhibitions being shown in this museum are lovely. I love that they have a studio for arts and crafts. We made some paper flowers after walking the entire museum. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon well spent. The art is abundant and very interesting read more

The Bass - Entrance - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

I haven't went to a museum in a while so I decided to come here one week day. The museum is quite small and they have a cafe that serves food and beverages. To our surprise, one of the rooms was very bright and punk like with vulgar art--very captivating to the eyes lol. Another exhibit showed real life people captured in Miami decades ago, very nostalgic. I definitely wish the museum was bigger, I also didn't remember about the Rotunda outside and we weren't told about it upon entry either so that was our bad. Overall, good experience. We even got an almond croissant from the cafe before starting our tour--pretty good. I'd recommend as entry here is also free! :) read more

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It's a very limited art museum. It has a lovely neo-classical building, but there's nothing, or almost nothing, inside that is not edgy contemporary. If you're gay, it might appeal to you since a lot of the artists are gay. But if you're not, lots of photos and paintings of muscle-boys showing their best might not do so much for you. Also the cafe is so limited that I didn't eat lunch there. Which is ok, since Lincoln Rd is 5 minutes away. 10 minutes away is the Wolfsonian museum. That is also a small museum, but I found it more interesting since it has a bunch of art from the earlier decades of the 20th century. I would come back to the Wolfsonian, but not the Bass. read more

I can always count on The Bass Museum for a day of art submersion. Not only is the museum lovely but the park it's on is so shady filled with beautiful old banyans and other art installations. Inside the museum you will always find great art and photography exhibits. The last few times I've been have been artist that have spent time in Miami and have documented "their Miami years" through art and photos. Miami is such an inspiration and I'm happy to call this place my home. I can see why it leaves an indelible mark on others and the Bass showcases their work here. Come on the last Sunday of every month and it's free entrance and family day with activities for the kiddos. read more

The Bass - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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An excellent small museum with great displays of contemporary art. Staffers are friendly but hours are somewhat limited (12-6 We-Su) Last time I was here was long ago before the renovation and new addition. It's slick and feels bigger than it is The displays are mostly emerging artists. For me the big attraction was the Art Deco building itself, and the smoothly integrated modern edition. It's relatively easy to park and cost, especially for a congested area of Miami Beach. read more

The Bass - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

I recently signed up for the Miami Public Library Card which has a nice perk, free admission to several museums throughout town. The Bass is one of them. The museum is well-organized. They allow taking pictures, so take advantage of it because there are beautiful pieces, rooms and a lot of colors here. For photography lovers, this is a nice spot to frame artworks with colorful backdrops. The museum itself is not big and can be covered in 30-45 min easily, even taking your time, looking at the pieces adetails, taking pictures, etc. They have a cafe inside, in a beautiful room by the check-in desk, but it is kind of ghosted, no one was there. I would have personally loved to have a good coffee there. You can combine a visit to the Museum with the Collins Park as well as the colorful Basel stones sculpture which are right in front of the museum. All in all, recommended and even more recommended if you visit it for free through the Miami Public Library Museum Pass. read more

The Bass - The Bass - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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This museum was so fun! A great way to spend a couple of hours. A unique feature was that the cafe lounge put you inside of an exhibit. Another room through mirrors placed you into the art work itself. All the staff were very friendly and as a Miami Beach resident, admission was complimentary. read more

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It was hard to find the entrance, it's facing the park. Admission to the museum is $15, it's reduced for students, children and seniors. Admission is free on the 3rd Thursday for Miami Beach Culture Crawl from 6 - 9PM and on the last Sunday of every month for Family Day. John Bass & Johanna Redlich were Jewish-immigrants from Vienna, Austria who resided in Miami Beach. John was the President of the Fajardo Sugar Company of Puerto Rico, an amateur journalist, artist & music composer. In 1963, the couple bequeathed a collection of over 500 works, including Old Master paintings, textiles & sculptures to Miami Beach. The city agreed that the Bass Museum of Art would remain open to the public in perpetuity. The museum opened in 1964 and was the only municipally operated art gallery in South Florida. The city renovated the old Miami Beach Public Library & Bass directed the museum from its founding until he died in 1978. Last year the Bass received over $20 million in city-issued bond that is being used to add a new wing to the museum's building for additional exhibition space. We enjoyed the exhibit about phrases & words. There were walls & walls of words, some were very profound. The permanent exhibit contains sculptures, paintings & modern piece's filling 2 rooms. Staff in each room was knowledgeable & shared interesting info in each gallery. The gift shop was lovely, cafe small & unisex bathrooms clean. I'm surprised we made it through in :30. read more

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We love going to the Bass! The kids went for the first time today and really enjoyed it. The cafe food was much better than expected! If you're a local you shouldn't miss their exhibits. read more

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I love this place! Their exhibits are always changing, and the inside is always clean and beautiful. I have been here many times over the years, most recently for a figure drawing pop-up with RawFigs club. They really outed themselves, making everything from check-in a breeze. They offered complimentary wine which was a great way to start the night. There were models in two rooms, upstairs and downstairs with a lot of space to set up and choose your spot to draw. The museum was well lit and stayed nice and cool, despite having 100 people sitting very close together. They were super friendly and welcoming to our group. Unfortunately, there was no seating for this event and we were not allowed to lean against the walls so it was a bit difficult to draw while hunched over but we got the job done. I really appreciate them lending the space for this community event and I could not have picked a better location to inspire creativity and community. Although this drawing club is free to participate, leaving a donation is always appreciated and helps perpetuate future events! read more

The Bass - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

We won't be returning to the Bass until they change their egregious "no stroller" policy. This is a publicly funded museum, how dare they.

I had hours to kill before getting on a flight back home. After talking to the concierge and brainstorming for a while, we decided that going to other parts of Miami was not a good idea given the time constraints. That brought me to the Bass museum which was a 15-minute walk from my hotel. I was looking forward to it based on the pictures I saw online but I must say, the actual experience was a letdown. It is pretty small and the exhibits were not that engaging. I also disliked the need to rely on my phone to get more info given that I was looking forward to being off tech while I was here. I actually enjoyed the Open Crate section the most but they did not have any info on the art and it required going online again. The staff on the other hand were SUPER nice and I enjoyed talking to them a lot more than the actual museum. read more

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Too much money for what we got. We paid half because the museum was half closed...but there was so little to see that it took us literally 10-15 minutes to see everything...and we're not the kind of people who rush through museums! I'm an artist and wanted to really dig in, but there was barely anything to immerse ourselves in. It felt like it was set up for people to get shots for social media and that's it. I was sad and disappointed. I recommend you walk around outside. The exterior is gorgeous, there are some massive trees, cool sculptures and monuments...plus, it's free! read more

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What a surprise and impressive experience at The Bass! The Bass is a smaller art space on Collins Park with couple convenient parking garages nearby. The museum current has two or three complimentary parking spots, I would strongly recommend to verify before park in the that lot. The Art Week highlights are 1) Naama Tsabar- musical and dance presentation and 2) Alex Israel x Snapchat - utilize AR and snapchat app to view Alex's artwork and storytelling. Alex happened to be at The Bass and able to share with couple guests about his experience and take quick photos! The museum staff are welcoming and organized with everyone trying to make the presentation as it is limited capacity; they are also knowledgeable with each exhibitions. The museum has a pop up gift shop for the Art Week and a small coffee snack shop with modern decors. The exterior area also have some artwork display. I would love to visit again and bring family and friends who are interested! read more

The Bass - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

I highly recommend!! The bass museum is such a great experience! Each exhibit was very different from each other. My favorite was the moving brushes!! It was amazing!! The museum is a slightly smaller size, but is very nice. There is street parking and a very small lot behind the museum. It would be convenient not to drive.But if you do drive it's not too much of a hassle there's plenty of parking near the museum. read more

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An art museum in Miami Beach. I finally got to pay a visit to this museum during it's re-opening to the public during COVID. There's a small lot for parking and I believe also street parking all around. Upon entering, they follow all safety guidelines & check your temp. There weren't many people, especially for a Sunday afternoon. This museum is a bit on the smaller side but has great exhibits! I love museums that encourage taking photos because I love snapping some here & there when I visit museums. The staff was very friendly & even will tell you a bit about the exhibit if you ask. I usually like to grab a souvenir from museums but their gift shop was on the smaller side. It shares a nook with their little cafe. The food is grab and go if you decide to grab a bite. I'm excited to pop back in the next time I'm in the area to see what's new. read more

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What a great find! I did not know about this museum! It is the perfect size for an afternoon of wandering through art! I am thrilled to discover The Bass. While there I saw exhibits by Nam June Paik, Hernan Bas, Anne Duk Hee Jordan, Ethel Adnan, Tavares Strachan, Jorge Méndez Blake, Igo Rondinone, Sylvie Fleury, Emmett Moore, and Haegue Yang, I feel privileged to have seen Hernan Bas' exhibit, "The Conceptualists" because he is new to me and the exhibit closes on 5 May. Some of the paintings made me chuckle. Some were dark. I had not heard of Hernan Bas before this exhibit, nor had I known of any of these other artists. It was a wonderful afternoon of discovery, awe, and feeling impressed! The staff at The Bass are all kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. I mentioned that I am a student but did not have my ID. Gabrielle Peters, Senior Guest Services Associate was so wonderful! She asked if I could show other proof. I asked if logging into the student portal and showing her that I am active would be enough and she agreed it would! There is also so much art outdoors surrounding the museum! I love how The Bass has a lifelong learning program for all ages! The Bass has an education initiative called IDEAS which partners with local school systems to engage children by integrating arts education into the curriculum. This is important!. The cost of admittance is well worth the value of being exposed to so many new to me artists! I highly recommend The Bass! read more

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This museum is reasonably large but there isn't a lot to see in my opinion. Most of the installations are large in scale so they take up large portions of the rooms they occupy. There is an interesting mix of art in the museum as well as around the main lawn. The people that work there are very knowledgeable though and help to fully explain the thoughts behind certain exhibits. I did like one exhibit they had that blended the sentiment of a woman that lived in either Korea or Japan and the people who live in the city Miami regarding natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis that affected both areas. There were images that lined the walls as you walked up the stairs as well as a whole wall of images that blended the emotions and devastation that people felt as a result of the natural disasters. One other piece I liked, which I forgot the name of the artist and the name of the piece, was simply five car wash machine roller brushes against a metal wall that turned on and off at different intervals swirling around like whirling dervish. I stood really close the bristles and the cool air it produced was a unique part of the experience as well as watching how the bristles danced together between the different colors. The gentle sound of the bristles hitting the wall behind the rollers and the sound of the motor that drove the rollers was all just so cool to me. I know it may just seem like five rollers on the wall to anyone else though. I just thought the whole experience was calming. There isn't a huge amount outside but some of the sculptures drew a lot of attention from people trying to get social media photos. They have gender neutral bathrooms if you need them and the museum was overall immaculately clean. I got my ticket discounted through a third party retailer and I guess it was worth the price. I was happy that I could park my car in their lot even if it was metered because it was easy to get out of and I could avoid the traffic of all the Spring Break people being there. read more

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Ive attended many outdoor events at The Bass, i think it's a beautiful, spacious and very well maintained facility. The MISO used to host performances outside before the pandemic, i hope they schedule something at The Bass in the near future! I had the opportunity during Art Basel 2022 to actually see the interior and I was definitely impressed with the space, but not the exhibits. It just feels like such a large beautiful place deserves better. My tickets were complimentary, and im not quite sure I would be able to justify paying full price to enter. read more

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I try coming by to the Bass every couple of months and I was happy to come by this past weekend for two new exhibitions I had not seen. The staff was really kind and informative this visit. They have also opened their cafe which is nice as they have a seating area. It's quite a small museum but it has a lot to offer in it's small space. Definitely come visit the Bass while you're in the Miami Beach area! read more

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My review is just on the art - situated out front. Everyone must have seen it by now! Basically five colourful huge boulders on top of each other.. Here is some information I found out about it. https://thebass.org/art/miami-mountain/ Ugo Rondinone's Miami Mountain follows his iconic mountain series, recognizable for their brightly colored, fluorescent contrasting palates. Miami Mountain is the latest in the series and has been acquired by The Bass. The work, towering 42 feet tall, is permanently installed in Collins Park, on the corner of 21st Street and Collins Avenue. It is the first of its kind to be acquired by a museum and signifies the launch of The Bass' new acquisitions initiative, a ten year program to acquire contemporary works into the permanent collection. read more

The Bass - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

*** I was highly disappointed in this place when I went.*** First off, the staff upon entering was extremely rude and not helpful at all. They were acting all uppity to the wrong people. We just kind of giggled and went about the tour after paying. The building and grounds are beautiful but the art and friendliness of the staff is very limited to say the least. I'd expect more for the price they charge but you live and learn. I hope at the least the money they charge to get in goes to a good cause in the surrounding area. Also, the day we went a couple areas were closed for some reason yet they still charged us the normal price and didn't even tell us about that until after we tried to enter them. Not acceptable! If they would have just told us that upon entering the building and then said, we will discount you for this, we would have still paid the full price because we enjoy museums that much. I am glad I gave them a chance, but I'll never go back for any reason. It's small, it's not fascinating in any facet and there isn't much worth looking at to see here. I love art and I love museums in all regards but I would NEVER recommended this place to anyone I know and that is just me being honest, as always. Good Luck! read more

The Bass - I want to jump into these so bad - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

A nice museum and can easily spend time really fully checking out every piece or walk through in about an hour. It's $15 for admission though there are a lot of ways you can get in for free like being a Miami resident. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There was strict masking procedures and very clean. They there was a very thoughtful presentation of the art and the artist. read more

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I visited this museum years ago when it was a very different museum than it is now. I remember a young man who worked here said Miami has no art culture. It was the days before Art Basel and Wynwood and all the public displays of private collections. Times have changed and so has this museum. While I'm still not sure how I feel about The Bass -- I haven't been there enough times to figure it out -- the works on display were great fun. Even Ugo Rondinone's simplistic 'Miami Mountain,' the brightly-painted stone totem outside, is joyfully fitting for the little park that hugs this museum. read more

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Every city that I visit, I always plan to visit a museum. This museum was really cool, small and quaint. I decided to take the bus here, so I am unsure of the parking situation. The staff were extremely nice and courteous. They did require a mask during covid and took temps upon entering. read more

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Such a fun and beautiful location and the front desk girl was soooo sweet ! I will definitely come again! read more

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Came here on a rainy day since there isn't much to do in the Miami Beach area when it rains but found the whole experience to be underwhelming. Parking is metered for about $4/ hour and if you try to pay at the booth you'll encounter tons of errors (evidently, I was told that was a common issue when I asked the Museum employee at the ticketing booth). Just download the ParkMobile app and save yourself some time. If you're debating how much time you should add to the meter, I'd say an hour should be sufficient. It's a rather small museum...my friend and I still had over 40 min left on our meter and we walked though all 3 exhibits. I've been to plenty of museums across the globe and as sad as it might seem, unless you have free admission to The Bass, its not worth paying money to see. read more

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Building and grounds are beautiful. Docents and security are pleasant and easygoing. Current art exhibits are largely....disturbing. Almost all of them. Nothing positive; no rejoice of the human spirit. Almost a satanic feel to the place within the current offerings. God isn't here. read more

Art Not a lot to see and there were some unique pieces. Most left us confused and with more questions from the information provided. Price Only worth it because we got half off through Groupon Parking We quickly found parking because we went early, but there is a lot of areas to park in Restrooms One person restrooms down stairs, clean but no way to dry hands Staff Super friendly and positively upbeat Duration Took only about 30 minutes to look at everything I would recommend only if there is completely nothing else to do. If there were more art displays, I believe it could pull more people in. read more

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We went on the guided highlight tour with Katia today who has a special, wonderful enthusiasm for Hernan Bas. I will probably now always visit The Bass when coming to Miami. Due to tropical storm-like weather, they let us exit through the courtyard where a very adorable lady appeared with two plastic bags and scissors to cut out a hole for our heads. It was as great a museum visit as I've had, and there have been a few. read more

The Bass - Conceptual artist #19 Hernan Bas - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Miami Beach, Florida

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Outstanding small museum! Had three special exhibitions which were very interactive, we loved the Music and movement. Location in small park is ideal for a break from the beach. Staff at front desk were very helpful. Simple snack bar very reasonably priced. Highly recommended! read more

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Pros: The museum has been nicely renovated. There are a handful of ancient art pieces, and a lot of contemporary art, including performance art, which is fun to watch. Great for kids, they have a specific area for play. The museum takes about an hour to explore, which could be considered a plus if you are looking for a quick art fix. Cons: Its tiny, tiny, tiny. This may be an unfair assessment because I was at the Art Institute of Chicago last week and indulged with 8 hours at the museum. I wish my home town had larger museum. read more

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we had a fabulous visit! highly recommend. a great samplings of different artists and mediums.

You would think I would have learned my lesson to check the website before heading to the museum based on my less than stellar visit to the NSU Museum of Art in Ft. Lauderdale. The same exact thing happened again to me here. I came in between installations so there wasn't very much to see. I had planned on using my Bank of America card for a free visit the first weekend of the month but it wasn't necessary because the museum was free that day anyway. The contemporary art museum museum was opened in 1964 after a private art donation from John and Johanna Bass was given to the City of Miami Beach. The museum is housed in a 1930's Art Deco building that used to be the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center and it was put on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1978. In 2001 the building was renovated adding a wing and a museum shop. In 2017 another renovation was made which made 50 percent more space inside the building which added four new galleries, a museum shop, and a small cafe. In addition to the art in the museum there is a colorful 42 foot stacked stone sculpture outside the museum called Miami Mountain. The visit to the museum would have been a wash if I hadn't met Melody who was working security. I usually try to steer clear of security at art museums because they tend to be a cranky lot. Somehow I ended up expressing my disappointment to Melody and she began to explain the art that was in the room. She clearly knew what she was talking about and I began to understand the purpose behind what had previously looked like random objects in the room. She told me that she makes it a point to learn about all of the exhibits. I wish I had her as a guide at every art museum. On the way out I caught a glimpse of the new exhibit being set up, Paola Pivi, Art With a View. I saw a very colorful polar bear made out of pink feathers being unpacked and Melody assured me the new installation would be worth a visit. On Melody's advice I will be back, The new exhibit opens this weekend. I just recommend paying the website a visit to make sure they have a current exhibit before you pay a visit. read more

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A portal, a unique perspective, an escape route lined with with surreal yellow blossoms to twist perceptions and paint expressions of new realities. Ideas, thoughts, colors, energies electrified and on display presented as a feast for the eyes. Freely explore as a Miami Beach resident. The cafe and shop are just cherry! read more

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an amazing experience, quiet, small, intimate and always great expositions. the last one with the reimagined worlds are truly something to see. a must on the Miami Beach tour this summer, especially to escape the heat and cool down and see art not found anywhere else. read more

What a museum right in the middle of South Beach. Features art by contemporary artists and others Tonight was Sheila Hicks . Enjoy and go visit read more

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We drove to the museum for 1.5 hours. We came with a small child. A child who is 2 weeks old is in a stroller, of course. if you take him out, he wakes up and cries. The museum staff asked to take the infant out of the stroller and carry it in your arms. Which is of course impossible. We had to turn around and leave... it's a shame that the museum treats visitors with children this way... it turns out that if you have physical limitations, the museum does not welcome such clients. it's a pity. I do not recommend visiting the museum. read more