Wynwood Walls – Miami’s Outdoor Gallery

Since its launch in 2009, Wynwood Walls has evolved from a neighbourhood project – revitalising derelict spaces – into a world renowned outdoor gallery which is up there on the city’s ‘must do‘ list alongside Miami Beach and Little Havana.

This old inner city neighbourhood was established as a massive warehouse area in the 1920’s – its garment district at one point being second only to NYC in importance. As economic demands changed with the decades, businesses gradually moved out and, while many immigrants remained in the area, families moved away if possible and those left behind were subject to an increasingly desolate and crime-ridden neighbourhood.

The downward spiral however, proved reversible and things began to turn in the 90’s. In 1993, a fine art gallery opened in the neighbourhood and others followed suit – moving into the vacant warehouse spaces. Local street artists were already showcasing their own talents – the abandoned buildings offering an abundance of blank canvases. By the turn of the millennium, Miami’s reputation was blossoming as a vibrant street art centre.

Property developer Tony Goldman had been involved in the transformation of Miami Beach and was one of the first to see the potential of Wynwood. He bought his first building there in 2004, investing in several more abandoned properties in subsequent years.

He already has his product – the graffiti that surrounded him. In an effort to increase the area’s pedestrian traffic, and to give the street artists some recognition for their work, Goldman set aside a cluster of small buildings around a gravel parking lot and invited international street artists to paint murals on the walls. Wynwood Walls was born!

Today, the site is curated by his daughter Jessica. She typically retires 10 artists and invites 10 new artists each year, the rotating murals remaining for a few years and featuring both established as well as up-and-coming artists.

The success of Wynwood Walls undoubtedly acted as a catalyst for the transformation of the greater Wynwood neighbourhood. The district evolved from a decaying eyesore into a thriving centre for art, fashion, eateries and bars. It has become a haven for investors and developers as warehouses are repurposed as residential and office use alongside new building projects.

The critical acclaim and global attention of Wynwood Walls has not halted individual artists and crews from applying their work to every surface they can find – be it gigantic multi-storey murals or tiny footpath tags. The result is a glorious riot of colour in a massive open air gallery.

While the project has provided a massive boost to the economy and tourist footfall in the city, it’s not without its share of critics

The rapid gentrification of the neighbourhood has not been to everyone’s liking and many doubt an equal partnership between the local community and investors. Firstly, land values – as typical in urban redevelopment – have rocketed. In 2007, Goldman paid $3,900,000 for the initial Wynwood Walls site – that’s $42 per sq ft. In 2019, developers were paying $660 per sq foot!!!! Many of the original inhabitants and small businesses have been forced to move away due to rising rents.

Alongside gentrification, there is a fear that increased commercialization, characterised by the number of advertisement murals appearing on the walls, will damage the neighbourhood’s reputation.

Meanwhile, some of the street artists and crews dislike the impact of traffic and crowds on the area and have moved on to other districts in the city.

The Verdict?

When in Rome….. of course you’re going to see it if you’re visiting the city. I enjoyed the museum itself but personally found it to be a bit – well – a bit too groomed maybe. I think there’s far more pleasure outside the gates – I loved inspecting the splashes of colour along the pavements, peeping through the fences into vacant parking lots and all the while being dwarfed by the massive works of art on the surrounding towers…

If you do get there one day, make sure to allow plenty of time to just wander the streets. Of course, you won’t have them to yourself – the neighbourhood welcomed a staggering 15 million visitors in 2023. That’s a LOT of selfies!!

Small Stuff

Getting There: The museum is easily accessed by public bus from the city centre. The Hop-On-Hop-Off also stops outside.

Admission: Daily 10a.m. – 7 p.m. /8p.m (Fri, Sat). Adult $12, students $5, children under 12 are free.

Tours: You can join an official guided tour of the museum. There are also several walking and golf cart tours of the neighbouring streets on offer.