Opened in 2013, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, which locals simply refer to as PAMM, is a unique, high-concept art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international contemporary art. Launched by the generosity and spirit of art collector and museum trustee Jorge Pérez, an Argentine born to Cuban parents who emigrated to Miami, it has a distinct Latin American flavor, and special exhibits often highlight some of the premier Hispanic artists in the world. Architecture-wise, the Herzog & de Meuron building, which borders Biscayne Bay, is also one-of-a-kind. Built with teak, Brazilian green heart and oak woods, the $131 million structure's temperature and humidity levels are constantly monitored, given its proximity to water, by "ticking boxes" called hygrothermalgraphs.
How to get to Pérez Art Museum Miami
PAMM is located at the far east side of Museum Park, which is itself centrally located downtown. The museum is stationed next to Biscayne Bay and a construction site that will, in 2016, open as a state-of-the-art science museum. Self-parking at the PAMM lot is $2 per hour during regular hours, but space can be limited. An outdoor Museum Park lot also may have availability, but it is not affiliated with the museum. There's also self-parking at the nearby Omni garage (1645 Biscayne Blvd.) for $8 for 2 hours or $15 for 4 hours with proof of PAMM admission. If you self-park at the Omni, simply walk south four blocks, then east on 11th St.
Eight bicycle racks are located in the on-site PAMM garage, and six more have been installed by the promenade and stairs; motorcycles and scooters, however, are not permitted in the PAMM garage, but may be parked in the outdoor Museum Park lot. If you prefer public transportation, the Metromover makes a stop at Museum Park Station (and also does a loop from the Omni to PAMM), depositing you mere steps from the museum entrance. The Miami Trolley makes a stop just north of NE 10th St., whereupon you'd walk one block north and then head east on 11th St. If taking the Metrorail, connect to Metrobus 113 Route M at the Civic Center station. The 113 also connects to the Omni Metromover Station.
Best and worst times to go to Pérez Art Museum Miami
PAMM is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The best times to go are usually first thing in the morning, so that you can tour the exhibits for about two hours and then become hungry for lunch. The on-site restaurant, Verde, is run by celebrity chef Stephen Starr, and offers such delicacies as squash blossom pizza and grilled fresh local fish, complemented by artisanal cocktails and specially chosen wines. The worst times to go are during rush hour, which in Miami can begin as early as 3 or 4 p.m., especially on Thursdays and Fridays. You'll have a hard time navigating the streets, a difficult time parking, and you'll wind up frustrated when you can't see as much of the art as you expected. The museum is closed Monday, mostly so the site can accommodate school tours, and has extended hours on Thursday. It's also closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas but open for all other federal holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day and Fourth of July. These are often the nicest days to visit, when everybody else is on a boat or at a picnic. If you can, also plan to see the exhibits on a Thursday evening, when there's live music, the restaurant stays open and there's usually a lively crowd of locals enjoying the proximity to the Bay.
Admission to Pérez Art Museum Miami
Adult tickets are $16. Seniors (62+), students with ID, and youth (ages 7-18) cost $12. Children under 6 years old are free, as are members of the military and members of PAMM. All Florida K-12 educators with ID and all Miami-Dade County-based, professional artists who can show proof of address are also granted free admission. Every second Saturday of the month, admission is free for everybody, which makes this the perfect time to bring the family to explore and take advantage of the various activities, which include tours and art-making activities with guest artists. For families with very young children (3-5 year olds), every fourth Saturday of the month at 1 p.m. is PAMM Art Storytime, with a reading followed by an art-making activity. Note: Space is limited, so pre-registration is required for this.
Must see/do at Pérez Art Museum Miami
The "Project Galleries" have rotating exhibitions, and they are always fascinating no matter who is showing. The works range from current collections of paintings and photographs to large-scale historical installations. The "Sculpture Garden," which also features rotating exhibits, is equally absorbing. The "Hanging Garden," installed by Patrick Blanc to withstand hurricane 5-force winds, is a permanent stand-out element, as are the 66 additional gardens on site, which incorporate 54,700 plants (77 different species).
Other places to visit near Pérez Art Museum Miami
PAMM is sandwiched between The Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts of Miami-Dade (to the north) and Bayside Market Place and American Airlines Arena (to the south). In 2016, the neighboring Patricia and Philip Frost Museum of Science will open.
Insider tips for visitors at Pérez Art Museum Miami
PAMM is seriously chilly inside, so even if the temperature outside is in the 90s, bring a sweater or jacket. The moist Miami climate must be kept at bay to protect the art, and air conditioning is the only way to do that. Also, while photography is encouraged in some areas of the museum, it's not allowed in others. Some of the art is only on loan, and copyright laws prohibit reproducing images of these pieces. Security is pretty serious about this, so don't try to get around it, or you might find yourself on the sidewalk.
Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been writing about Miami since she moved there in 1992. The author of 12 books, most recently the cookbook Mango (University Press of Florida), she lives in Miami Shores with her husband, their two teenagers, three dogs, three cats and fourteen mango trees.