Her Majesty Queen Sofía to Travel to Miami to Present Prestigious Sophia Awards for Excellence in Gala at Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

Her Majesty Queen Sofía

 Her Majesty Queen Sofía will be traveling from Spain to Miami to present the Sophia Awards for Excellence during a major international Gala on January 28, 2026, at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). Honoring Jorge M. & Darlene Pérez and Frank & Haydée Rainieri. Collectors, art aficionados, and leaders from the cultural, philanthropic, civic, and business communities are invited to RSVP HERE to attend the Sophia Award for Excellence Gala.

Her Majesty Queen Sofía

Organized by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, the Sophia Awards for Excellence (formerly the Gold Medal) is one of the most distinguished honors linking the Spanish-speaking world and the United States. As the highest distinction bestowed by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, it has recognized some of the most influential figures in global arts, culture, diplomacy, science, and public life, including President Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Plácido Domingo, Penélope Cruz, Norman Foster, Alicia de Larrocha, Carolina Herrera, Mario Vargas Llosa, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Carlos Slim, Chef José Andrés, and Gustavo Dudamel, underscoring the award’s exceptional prestige.

In 2026, the Sophia Awards for Excellence will be presented to two distinguished couples whose leadership and vision have shaped communities across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean: Jorge M. & Darlene Pérez and Frank & Haydée Rainieri.

Jorge M. & Darlene Pérez

As the nation approaches its semiquincentennial (1776–2026), the 2026 Sophia Award for Excellence Gala marks the beginning of the 2026 commemorations honoring 250 years of shared history and friendship between Spain and the United States. As part of this milestone, for the first time the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute is bringing the America&Spain250 initiative to Florida. The initiative aims to highlight Spain’s and the Spanish speaking world’s crucial contributions to the American Revolution and to the development of the United States and to inform today’s Hispanics and Latinos about the foundational role their ancestors played in the establishment of the United States, a message that is particularly important today.

Frank & Haydée Rainieri

To host the Gala in Miami, a city that connects the United States with Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean, underscores the region’s pivotal role in this shared history and its growing prominence as an international center of culture and history. The Gala offers guests the opportunity to join leaders from the cultural, philanthropic, civic, and business sectors for an evening of international significance. Table sponsorships and individual tickets are available at multiple levels, including premier seating and private greetings with distinguished guests. Proceeds support the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute and its educational and cultural initiatives, which promote the visibility of the contributions of Spanish-speaking communities to the history and development of the United States.

The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI) is a New York-based nonprofit corporation founded in 1954 by a group of American Hispanophiles who sought to stimulate American interest in the art, culture, customs, language, literature and history of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. The QSSI keeps this vision current by striving to share the contributions of the Spanish-speakers to the history and culture of the United States and by showcasing the excellence of the Spanish-speaking world in numerous fields so that lasting ties of friendship may be formed, mutual understanding promoted, and bonds of peace strengthened. The Sophia Award for Excellence, named after the Greek word for wisdom “Sophia,” is presented to a person or organization that has actively contributed to the international appreciation of Spain and the Americas through a donation of time, expertise, and an innate wisdom in the areas of sciences, arts, or humanities. RSVP to attend the Sophia Award for Excellence Gala HERE.

For further information visit: www.queensofiaspanishinstitute.org
Follow Queen Sofía Spanish Institute on Instagram @qssi_ny

Sarabella Ornaments: More than just Decoration, a Work of Art!

 

Timeless Elegance, every Sarabella Ornament is more than decoration - it's a work of art. Hand-made with intricate detail and finished with a touch of luxury, each piece brings beauty, tradition, and artistry to your holiday season. 

One-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, and unforgettable. Peruse the store, there are many styles, seasons, and designs to choose from. Purchase for yourself or as gifts for your loved ones - magnificent, memorable, fine art decorations. You will be amazed at the level of beauty and creativity, please enter the world of Natalie Sarabella: www.nataliesarabella.com

About Natalie Sarabella

Sarabella Creations started in 1994 and has become Natalie Sarabella, LLC. World renowned for excellence and quality. For 30 years Sarabella has been sold in the finest department stores, major hotels and boutiques around the world. Custom creations, private commission, worked within the Movie, TV, Music and Sport industries as exclusive corporate gift ornaments (The Grinch, Disney's Fantasia, the 3 former Presidents of the United States).

Sanctioned by The Swarovski® Brand, the gifts and ornaments now have the official Swarovski® tag with Sarabella's own sanction number. Continually developing and creating new and innovative designs and products for the wholesale and retail gift industry. 

NSU Art Museum presents FREE Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Day

 

Sunday, December 28th from 12 – 5pm enjoy NSU Art Museum‘s FREE Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Day. Every LAST Sunday of every month, Fort Lauderdale residents receive FREE admission to NSU Art Museum as part of Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Days. RSVP HERE.

Fort Lauderdale Residents Receive:

• 2-for-1 Wine in the Museum Café
• FREE admission, residents must show a photo ID, driver’s license, or residential utility bill with proof of Fort Lauderdale address.
• Visit the Museum Cafe & Store and receive 10% off books published by NSU Art Museum.
  Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Day is made possible by the City of Fort Lauderdale.

 

The Shop at The Bass: Art Pop-Up
Presented by Studio AF | Now Thru December 28th 

The Shop at The Bass has transformed into its biggest and most ambitious edition yet!

Visit the Art Pop-Up at The Shop, extended by popular demand, now through December 28! Featuring works by over 30 artists alongside a curated selection of one-of-a-kind gifts, design objects, and books.

More than a shop, this exciting concept shop is an inspiring space to discover art up close, connecting with objects that carry meaning and stories. Every detail is curated to turn the simple act of buying into an experience, blending creativity, culture, and conversation.

Click HERE to plan your visit!

Generous support provided by Rehaus and Topo Chico. 

Renowned Contemporary Glass Artist Abby Modell’s “Rainbow Galaxy” Installation at the Medici Museum of Art

Contemporary glass artist Abby Modell, has unveiled her newest large-scale sculpture installation, Rainbow Galaxy, at the prestigious Medici Museum of Art in Warren, Ohio. Measuring an impressive 19 feet wide by 13 feet high, the hand-blown glass wall sculpture is a luminous constellation of ombré color transitions, mirrored and matte finishes, and sculptural glass assemblages that evoke cosmic movement and celestial wonder. Through Rainbow Galaxy, Abby continues to push the boundaries of material, technique, and sculptural expression—offering audiences a radiant and immersive experience.

Abby Modell Contemporary Art Glass is proud to be a Swarovski Ingredient Brand Partner. Swarovski recognizes the quality and importance of Modell’s artistic work. Modell is proud to partner with a zero-waste certified sustainable glass finishing studio committed to reducing environmental impact on our planet. By recirculating applied glass into many of Modell’s pieces during their creation, the studio honors and preserves the earth and our resources.

Abby Modell is a widely collected and acclaimed glass artist. She is currently exhibiting her work at the Medici Museum of Art with the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation, Zodiac: Mysterious Power of the Creative, Warren, OH. Modell’s collection was most recently featured at Hamptons Fine Art Fair 2025 and Art Palm Beach 2025. She has exhibited her Candy Wonderlandscape installation in the iconic Bloomingdale’s 2023 Holiday Windows flagship NYC. The collection has been exhibited at numerous fine art fairs and galleries including Salon Art + Design, Collectible NY, Scope Miami, Art New York, SOFA Chicago, and the Architectural Digest Design Show, NYC.

Modell’s work has been exhibited at private homes, corporate collections and museums, including the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the world headquarters of Morgan Stanley in New York City, the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, the Wit Gallery installation at the Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA, the First International Biennale of Santorini, Greece and the 1st Heclectik Art Glass International Biennial in Braga, Portugal. Commissioned collections include collaborations with Bloomingdales in 2016 and 2013, Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas luxury cruise ship, and the Faberge Big Egg Hunt in New York City.

Fine art collectors and design aficionados are invited to explore the unparalleled work of contemporary glass artist Abby Modell. Please contact the artist for custom installations, and to view Modell’s current collections please view her website. Upcoming show Art Palm Beach 2026.

For further information: www.abbymodell.com
Follow Abby Modell on Instagram: @AbbyModell
Email: abbymodelldesign@gmail.com
Phone: 646-330-0022

NSU Art Museum presents Public Tours at 2pm on the Holiday Weekends!

HOLIDAY WEEKEND PUBLIC TOURS

Join NSU Art Museum on the holiday weekend of December 27-28 for an informative conversational tour through NSU Art Museum’s current exhibitions. Share what you know, learn from each other, and see works in a new light as guests explore different themes, techniques, and histories across the varying artworks in the museum's galleries. Bring your friends, family, or come solo to join in on these dynamic tour conversations! Public Tours are included with museum admission; registration is not required. All are welcome.  Date of event: 12/27, 12/28 Time: 2 – 3 pm Pricing: Included with Museum Admission Location: NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

NSU Art Museum: Art Talk with Ximena Caminos, founder, REEFLINE, and Katherine Fleming

 

IMAGINE: ART IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Sunday, December 14, 2025 2:30 - 3:30 pm Included with museum admission Can you imagine surrounding eleven islands with pink fabric in Biscayne Bay, or submerging a monumental art installation that doubles as a hybrid reef off of Miami Beach? Join us for two astonishing presentations by guest speakers Katherine Fleming and Ximena Caminos to illuminate the new frontier of public art. Presented in association with the inaugural exhibition, Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Surrounded Islands, currently on view. RSVP NOW

Featured in the New York Times and WLRN

READ IN NYT

READ IN WLRN

Katherine Fleming Katherine Fleming is the founder and director of Bridge Initiative, a nonprofit that unites art and science to create public art for environmental advocacy. Established in 2015 following Fleming’s transformative explorations in Antarctica—where she witnessed the stark impacts of climate change firsthand—Bridge Initiative operates at the intersection of creativity and conservation to inspire public engagement and action. Under Fleming’s leadership, Bridge has collaborated with artists, scientists, and change makers to develop immersive educational campaigns addressing environmental issues both locally and globally. Her current work includes supporting the establishment of the Biscayne Bay National Heritage Area, advancing cultural and ecological preservation in South Florida.  Fleming serves on the Board of Directors for the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation and as an advisor for The ReefLine, an underwater public art park and artificial reef. Her advocacy has fostered partnerships with leading artists and organizations including Michele Oka Doner, Carlos Betancourt, Coral Morphologic, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Miami, Mission Blue, the Alaska Whale Foundation, Path of the Panther, and The Cultural Landscape Foundation, among others.

Ximena Caminos Ximena Caminos is a biocultural placemaker and systems artist who pioneers cultural–ecological models where art, science, and climate innovation meet. Her practice spans governance, collaboration, scientific alliances, ecological performance, community engagement, storytelling, and urban–ocean coexistence. She is the creator of REEFLINE, a new typology where art becomes habitat and cities learn to coexist with their oceans. Aside from being Founder and Artistic Director of REEFLINE, she is also President of BlueLab Preservation Society, and Chief Creative Officer of HoneyLab Creative, advancing culture as civic infrastructure. For two decades, Caminos has chaired major arts and design cultural masterplans across the Americas. She was Artistic Visionary Planner for The Underline, founder and Chair of Faena Art (Buenos Aires and Miami), Global Executive Creative Director and partner of the Faena Group, Chief Curator of the Faena Arts Center, and Founder of the Faena Prize for the Arts. She has served on the New Museum Leadership Council, is a founding member of the Guggenheim’s Latin American Circle, Advisor to Art Basel Cities, and is an XPrize Ambassador, recipient of the Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Award and the Arts Champion Award.

Become a member today and enjoy special access.

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