Wynwood Art District, Miami: The Mecca of Graffiti and Street Art
The Wynwood district was previously known as El Barrio. It earned this name because of the numerous Puerto Ricans who emigrated from the islands and found their livelihood here in the 1950’s. Soon, Puerto Rican restaurants, cafes and shops opened and the district found its new look.
Abandoned factories and empty warehouses heading for luxury makeovers
In 2005, the development of certain parts of Miami was initiated, drawing renewed attention to the Wynwood district. Artists starting making use of the formerly closed warehouses, creating stylish cafes and restaurants and breathing life back into the unused premises. All of a sudden, there were original stylish stores, antique shops and venues for various performances. Art and fashion found a home in this creative environment.
The artistic part of the quartier is aptly called the Wynwood Art District and is a part of greater Wynwood. One of the main streets is 36th Street with a vast array of art studios and galleries. On the second Saturday of every month, there is an Art Walk when the galleries and studios open their doors to the public.
Wynwood Walls: graffiti has found its district
Developer and visionary artist Tony Goldman assisted in the district’s growth by supporting street art. Wynwood gradually became the Mecca of graffiti. About 30 artists from around the world came over to create what is now called the Wynwood Walls – one of the largest luxury open-air galleries in the world, presenting works by the world’s leading street artists. Additionally, you can see hundreds of various forms of street art and graffiti throughout the area.
Wynwood Arts District Association
WADA has been operating since 2009 with the aim of supporting the Wynwood district as the epicentre of artistic and creative enterprises in greater Miami and one of the largest and most important creative communities in the United States.
With the introduction of Saturday Art Walks and the arrival of the Art Basel luxury art fair in 2002, the Wynwood district has seen unexpected growth in a relatively short time. Very soon after its transformation, it garnered the attention of locals and gradually became the place to go for a more alternatively and slightly different nightlife in Miami.
