What is the Rubell Family Collection?

August 2, 2016

When you’re learning to live like a local in Miami, one stop on your list must be the Rubell Family Collection. This is essentially a private museum with one of the best collections of contemporary art in the country which includes everything from paintings to sculptures. It’s owned by a sibling duo over on North 29th Street between North Miami Avenue and NW 2nd Avenue in the Wynwood Art District.

You’ve probably already visited the popular art district but if you’ve never stopped into the Rubell Family Collection, you’ll want to make a special trip. It’s a top attraction in Miami’s art and cultural scene and it’s partially because of its uniqueness. Take a look at what it’s like to visit this local Miami collection of contemporary art.

About the collection

The story behind this art collection starts with the founders Donald and Mera Rubell being married back in 1964. The collection known as the RFC was established at that time and then became known as one of the world’s largest, privately owned collections of contemporary art.

It has been exhibited in Miami since the 90’s in a former Drug Enforcement Agency’s facility of confiscated goods which runs about 45,000 square feet in size. Despite this unique location, the facility is publicly accessible and is currently owned by the Rubell’s son and daughter, Jason and Jennifer.

Visiting the museum

You can visit this exciting collection over at 95 NW 29th Street in Miami at the cross street of NW 1st Avenue. It’s open between 10am-5:30pm on Wednesday through Saturday for a small admission fee of $10. Seniors and students will get a discount of only a $5 admission and there is no charge for children or military. Just take the drive over or hop on Bus 2, 9, or 10 to access the facility. Be sure to stop in at 3pm if you want to take advantage of the free daily guided tour.

What to expect

Your visit to the Rubell Family Collection will include a chance to experience the various exhibits, a stop in the bookstore, and you can even plan a special event. While exhibits are regularly changing, you’ll get to experience a new collection each time you visit. There are also traveling exhibits that pass through as well.

Currently the museum has been featuring No Man’s Land to feature the women artists of the Rubell Collection. It’s only lasting until July 30th before something new will be offered to guests. In the past, the museum has featured exhibits like Alone Together to display work from artists that were isolated in their studios, Oscar Murillo: work to display Oscar Murillo’s first solo exhibition in the US, and 28 Chinese, a collection from the Rubell family’s six research trips to the country visiting hundreds of artists’ studios.

The Rubell Family’s collections also travel around the US, with No Man’s Land making its way to Washington DC, a collection called 30 Americans at Tacoma Art Museum headed to Washington, and

Made in Germany: Contemporary Art from the Rubell Family Colleciton at McNay Art Museum will be in San Antonio.

Don’t forget a visit to the bookstore while you’re visiting. This is the place to grab a special item to remember your visit. The exhibition catalogues for publications like Red Eye, Life After Death: New Leipzig Paintings from the Rubell Family Collection, How Soon Now, and Against All Odds are on sale here. You can also shop online if you’ve forgotten to pick up something on your way out.

Special Experiences

You’ll love seeing some of the artwork on loan that the museum displays, such as this Fall’s “Tempest” from the Tasmanian Museum of Australia. In the past the museum has had artwork on loan from the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo from Turin, Italy and a piece all the way from Hong Kong called “Simon Denny” of Hack Space.

Do you have a private event to plan? The Rubell Family Collection’s location may be the perfect spot for a unique venue. You’ll not only enjoy a special setting, but you’ll be supporting the Contemporary Arts Foundation. They host major events on occasion such as the events for Vogue, Lexus, and Deutsche Bank. Since they can accommodate up to 600 guests, it’s often the perfect spot for weddings and reunions.

Related: 7 Top Miami Museums

Overall, a visit to the Rubell Family Collection is something truly Miami natives are proud to have done. If you love seeing assortments of avant-garde work such as photography, sculptures, paintings, and conceptual art, pay a visit to this favorite stop in the Art District. You’ll find that not only is it the world’s top private collection of contemporary art, but that it’s in an exciting facility and features works of big names you’ll know like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. Check it out this weekend!