Institute of Contemporary Art opens just in time for Art Basel

MIAMI – Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, or ICA Miami, opened the doors to their three-story building Friday at the heart of Miami's Design District just in time for the Art Basel Miami Beach crowd.  

The idea for the museum at 61 NE 41 St., was born after the board of the North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art, or MOCA, split about three years ago. 

Real estate developer Craig Robins donated the land and Irma Braman, the founder and co-chairman of the board, helped to raise $75 million in cash to make it happen. Her husband, an auto dealership magnate and philanthropist, has also been supportive. 

"We wanted to prove that a museum could be built privately, a museum could be supported privately," said Norman Braman, whose Forbes' estimated net worth is at $2.5 billion.  

The Bramans included two works by Roy Lichtenstein and Yves Klein from their personal collection in one of the opening exhibitions. Ellen Salpeter, ICA Miami's director, said the museum's goal is "to provide the most innovative and experimental art of our time through dialogue and discourse."

The special exhibit, "The Everywhere Studio," will be open until Feb. 26. The ground floor has artwork by Edward and Nancy Kienholz, Senga Nengudi, Helio Oticica, Tomm El-Saieh, Robert Gober and Chris Ofili. 

Admission to the museum is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance on ICAMiami.org. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. For more information, call 305-901-5272.