The Bass
Miami
The Bass is the contemporary art museum of Miami Beach. It stands in Collins Park, in a 1930s Art Deco building that has been enlarged twice.
The Collins family
John Collins arrived in the early 1900s and grew fruit on this island. He built a wooden bridge to Miami, opened in 1913. His grandson Russell Pancoast became an architect.
A library in the park
In the 1930s Pancoast designed the city's public library and art center here. The building is Art Deco, with simple shapes and carved decorations. It was the first public space for art exhibitions in South Florida.
The gift of the Bass couple
John and Johanna Bass had come to America from Europe. They loved art and collected pictures, sculptures and antiques. In 1963 they gave their collection to the city, on condition that the museum always stay open to everyone. The museum opened in 1964.
Two expansions
In 2001 the architect Arata Isozaki added a new wing. Between 2015 and 2017 David Gauld enlarged the indoor spaces again, without making the building bigger. Today the museum is simply called The Bass and presents contemporary art exhibitions. Outside, the lawn of Collins Park is a peaceful place to rest in the shade before heading home.
