The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation Celebrates First Decade of Impact at Inaugural Grantee Summit and Names 2025 CreARTE Winners

 

All-day gathering hosted grantees, foundation stakeholders and guest speakers to discuss Florida's philanthropic landscape and celebrate over $80 million gifted to date

The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation just celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of philanthropic investment dedicated to building a thriving, engaged South Florida that serves as a model for major cities worldwide. Over the past ten years, the foundation has awarded more than $80 million in grants to advance sustainable, inclusive, and equitable communities, supporting over 160 local nonprofits in arts and culture, health and well-being, education, the environment and economic development.

The milestone was recognized at the foundation's inaugural Pérez Grantee Partners Summit & 10th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. The invite-only event convened past and present grantees, community stakeholders and civic leaders, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. 

"Private philanthropy is indispensable, particularly as county budgets can fluctuate from year to year. Sustained, strategic support ensures that arts, education, and other vital community programs not only survive, but thrive," said Jorge M. Pérez, internationally recognized philanthropist and founder of The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. "This summit was an important opportunity to reflect on the role that private giving plays in strengthening our community, highlighting how targeted philanthropic stewardship is a critical lifeline that enables our grantees to navigate uncertainty and continue delivering meaningful impact."

The foundation also announced the 2025 Pérez CreARTE grant recipients in conjunction with the summit. Established in 2019, the CreARTE program, made possible through a partnership with The Miami Foundation, has cultivated Miami's arts ecosystem by awarding more than $16 million in grants to date in the focus areas of Arts Access, Arts Education and Artist Residencies & Fellowships across South Florida. This new cycle of CreARTE grants will distribute over $5 million across 43 innovative projects over the next two years, advancing visual and performing arts, experimental programming and educational initiatives throughout Miami-Dade County.

Standout 2025 recipients, receiving grants up to $200,000 include Teeny Violini, an organization that delivers music education to early childhood learning centers; Karen Peterson and Dancers, whose in-school residency program, Everyone Dances, serves teens with special needs; and Brevo Theatre, which supports the development and community of underrepresented voices through innovative performances and storytelling. 

"Ten years of bold giving, and they're not slowing down!" said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, President and CEO of The Miami Foundation. "We're incredibly proud to partner so closely with the Pérez family as they live out their commitment to the Giving Pledge through bold investments in arts access, education, and artist opportunities. Their generosity has been and continues to be game-changing for Miami and beyond."

Closed to the public, the all-day summit brought together this year's CreARTE grantees in addition to nonprofits that have benefited from the Pérez Family Foundation's ongoing support over time, such as Americans for the Arts, Guitars Over Guns, Young Musicians Unite, Miami Music Project, The Motivational Edge, Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami Light Project, Fountainhead Arts, Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, The Education Fund, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and Florida International University.

The gathering provided a platform for these groups to engage in meaningful discussions on Florida's nonprofit challenges and opportunities, sparking critical dialogue on fundraising, advocacy and the future of the arts ecosystem. Programming highlights included:

• Panels and discussions on the vital role of private philanthropy in sustaining Miami's cultural community, including sessions like 'State of the Nonprofit Sector' and 'Challenges & Opportunities as a Collective.'

• A fireside chat moderated by Anna Kaiser of Bloomberg, featuring Jorge M. Pérez, Kristina Newman-Scott (Knight Foundation) and Dianne Bailey (Bank of America).

• A celebratory reception where attendees joined Pérez Family Foundation stakeholders and friends for cocktails, passed appetizers and live music by Young Musicians Unite.

"It is an honor to highlight the remarkable work of our grantees and invest in the future of Miami's arts ecosystem," said Darlene Pérez, co-founder of the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. "This milestone affirms our mission to empower artists and organizations, and allows us to reflect on what we've accomplished together while guiding our vision for what's ahead."

For more information on the Pérez Family Foundation, and grant opportunities such as the CreARTE program, please visit jmperezfamilyfoundation.org/grant-opportunities. 

About The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation
Founded in 2015, The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation (the Pérez Family Foundation) fulfills the philanthropic vision of Jorge M. Pérez, Founding Executive Chairman of The Related Group, and his family to develop South Florida as an exemplary world-class urban center. Now more than a decade into its work, the Pérez Family Foundation promotes sustainable, inclusive and just communities by supporting programs and organizations focused on arts and culture, education, health and well-being, environment and economic development — with a particular preference for initiatives that can serve as models for other urban centers. In total, the Pérez family has committed over $100 million in support of over 160 non-profit organizations, both personally and through the Pérez Family Foundation. For more information, please visit www.jmperezfamilyfoundation.org.  

About The Miami Foundation   

The Miami Foundation is building a Greater Miami where everyone can thrive. Since 1967, The Foundation has invested over $772M to strengthen our community in partnership with more than 1,000 fundholders and 50,000 donors. By accelerating leadership, generosity, and a sense of belonging across Miami, we inspire people to become changemakers, and we create ways for donors, nonprofits, leaders, and locals to work together on solutions for our community. At The Miami Foundation, everyone has a role they can play in creating a thriving Greater Miami. 

Art Basel returns to Miami Beach from December 5-7, 2025. As a thank you to our community, Art Basel is offering an exclusive 50% discount on day tickets to Miami Beach residents.

 

Art Basel returns to Miami Beach from December 5-7, 2025. As a thank you to our community, Art Basel is offering an exclusive 50% discount on day tickets to Miami Beach residents.

Discounted tickets are available for purchase now through Tuesday, July 22.

Click here to purchase tickets: https://ticket.messe-tickets.ch/MCH_shop/4001-miami-beach/Shop

Experience the most prestigious art show in the North Americas, Art Basel Miami Beach at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Guests will enjoy leading galleries from five continents show significant works by masters of Modern and contemporary art, as well as the new generation of emerging stars. This edition marking its 23rd anniversary will be the largest to date.

Pan American Art Projects presents 'Moving Soon' currently on view | October 5 - November 15, 2025

 

Pan American Art Projects is pleased to present Moving Soon, a collective exhibition marking the gallery’s upcoming relocation this December. Bringing together works by artists from diverse countries and backgrounds, the show includes pieces across multiple mediums, some never before exhibited, others not seen in many years. The participating artists come from varied cultural and creative contexts, yet their works are united by a shared spirit of inquiry. Together, they invite viewers to reflect on memory, visibility, and the lasting relevance of art during times of transition.

Unlike a traditional exhibition, Moving Soon embraces the transitional state of a gallery in the midst of moving. Visitors will encounter an environment that is intentionally unfinished: works may be displayed informally, temporarily stored, or hung in unexpected ways. Racks of artworks might be accessible for browsing, while other pieces could already be packed and ready to leave. Each visit may reveal a different experience, reflecting the fluid nature of the move itself.

This live, evolving exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness a gallery in motion, both literally and conceptually. By highlighting a wide range of artistic voices across generations, mediums, and geographies, Moving Soon captures the spontaneity of change while celebrating the enduring presence of art.

Miami Beach's Famous Lincoln Road Turns Into a Free Open-Air Sculpture Garden for Miami Art Week 2025

Photo: Couch Hero by Gillie & Marc

A Promenade Becomes a Playground: Lincoln Road Transforms During Miami Art Week 2025

Where else could you stumble upon a 20-foot bubblegum-pink inflatable figure, a bronze couch filled with endangered animals, and a mirrored sculpture reflecting your own face? Only on Lincoln Road during Art Basel Miami Beach this December 2025.

The iconic Miami Beach promenade, already a destination for art lovers year-round, is amplifying its cultural impact with 14 large-scale installations by renowned international artists and standout local talent. The result is an open-air sculpture park that invites everyone to pause, explore, and engage with art in the heart of South Beach.

The Rise of Mr. Pink

Leading the visual takeover is French artist Philippe Katerine, whose whimsical installation Mr. Pink Takes Flight introduces a fleet of inflatable pink figures, some reaching up to 20 feet tall, perched on rooftops and scattered along the promenade.

Katerine’s work embodies his playful philosophy of Mignonisme (“Cuteism”), a concept where tenderness becomes a quiet act of rebellion and joy takes center stage. “Mr. Pink was born to surprise and delight,” Katerine notes, and that’s exactly what happens on Lincoln Road, where humor, color, and imagination reshape the everyday.

Reflections in the Crowd

Adding a reflective layer to the experience, Miami-based Colombian artist Oscar Esteban Martínez, winner of Lincoln Road’s inaugural Call to Artists, presents La Herencia Viva (The Living Heritage). The mirrored, puzzle-like sculpture of a human face invites viewers to literally see themselves within the artwork. Martínez explores questions of identity and belonging — a fitting dialogue for a city built on diversity and cultural fusion.

Sculptures of Resilience and Dreams

Brazilian-born artist Rubem Robierb brings two of his signature works, Dream Machine and Empower Flower, both interactive pieces that encourage contemplation and connection. Dream Machine spreads its wings in an ode to aspiration, while Empower Flower symbolizes rebirth and feminine strength. Together, they stand as monuments to resilience and hope, timely reminders of art’s power to inspire change.

Wildlife Takes a Seat

Beloved artist duo Gillie and Marc return with The Wild Couch Party, a monumental 40-foot bronze sculpture featuring twelve endangered animals lounging alongside their iconic characters, Dogman and Rabbitwoman. It’s a whimsical yet powerful statement about conservation and coexistence. Nearby, their Paparazzi Dogs capture moments of humor and reflection, turning passersby into part of the artwork itself.

More Than a Week - A Cultural Destination

Lincoln Road’s art scene extends far beyond Miami Art Week. With nine boutique galleries, monthly art walks, and close neighbors like the New World Symphony and Colony Theatre, the promenade continues to evolve as one of Miami Beach’s most dynamic cultural corridors, where art, design, and community meet year-round.

Why You Should Go

Because it’s free. Because it’s playful. Because in a week overflowing with exclusive fairs and ticketed events, Lincoln Road offers something rare, open-air access to world-class public art.

It’s Miami Art Week at its most inclusive: where seasoned collectors, curious visitors, and local families all share the same view.

So next time you’re on Lincoln Road, look up. That pink figure waving from the roof? He’s a reminder that art, at its best, belongs to everyone.

Renowned Autistic Artist Vito Bonanno's Artwork in the Corporate Collections of AMAZON and Google

 

Renowned Mixed Media Artist Vito Bonanno

Vito Bonanno is an internationally collected artist who lives and works on the Connecticut shoreline. He has exhibited in solo exhibitions at Spectrum Miami during Art Basel in Miami, FL, Umbrella Arts Gallery, NYC and Akus Gallery, Willimantic, CT.

Internationally collected artist Vito Bonanno taps into the daily emotional and social challenges of living with autism, placing his innermost feelings onto canvas. The New England-based artist's work is image and concept-driven and embedded in his personal philosophy. His art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts, and dreams, coupled with objects or topics that "get stuck in his head", including traffic lights, grids, ceiling fans, graffiti, and pop culture. Corporate clients include AMAZON, Google, and The Hartford.

Bonanno taps into the daily emotional and social challenges of living with autism, placing his innermost feelings onto canvas. He is an award-winning, world-famous artist with a career spanning back to his childhood. The artist has participated in numerous art fairs, as well as national and international exhibitions, in addition to many art shows and high profile events during Art Basel Miami Beach - such as a past NIKE pop-up in Wynwood during Miami Art Week, as well as traveling in an art van Truck'N With Vito! at Umbrella Arts Gallery in NYC's lower east side, selling his art and spreading awareness about being an artist with autism.

'Cookin With Greece', 24"W x 24"H x 1.5"D (2018), made with acrylic paint, india ink, paint pens on canvas

He unveiled his first Solo Exhibition, 'Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls', in January 2012 at Akus Gallery at Eastern CT State University which included works on paper, canvas, video pieces, a student-artist interactive mural project, and installations. Akus Gallery Director, Elizabeth Peterson stated, "The characters, objects, and ideas that inhabit Vito Bonanno's work act and interact in striking ways. Caught within the grids and map-like structures he imagines, they are often in a struggle between multiple worlds. He has found a way to tap in the intensity of focus and insight afforded him through autism to unleash a formidable creative power and vision." His winning pieces, ‘Ghost Town on Davenport Avenue’ was exhibited at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and then was part of a traveling exhibition that went on a two year nationwide tour of university and independent galleries. Additionally, a second winning piece titled ‘Southhaven People’, was on exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. before also partaking in the nationwide traveling exhibition that ran through September 2011.

'Daffy Goes To Waterbury with a Ninja Turtle', 2014 from the artist's Obsessions & Meditations series, made with aerosol, acrylic, paint pen, craypas, archival glitter on canvas 41.5 x 41.5 framed.

He is one of only 16 artists in the United States selected for a prestigious exhibition of previous awardees from the VSA Emerging Artists Program in the Kennedy Center Hall of Nations with sponsorship from the Volkswagen Group of America. As part of the celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the ADA and 40th Anniversary of VSA in 2015, the exhibition included the work of select artists who represented the past 13 years of the VSA Emerging Young Artist Program; Curated by Stephanie Moore, she chose Bonanno's 'Daffy Goes to Waterbury with a Ninja Turtle' and 'SECR Toilet' to be part of the exhibition.

Vito is aligned with ArtLifting, which is a non-for-profit art organization that empowers artists living with disabilities through the celebration and sale of their artwork. ArtLifting is about creating opportunity, empowerment, and validation. This collaboration opened many new and exciting opportunities for the artist, which includes his work in Google's corporate collection, with art hanging in their Leesburg, VA offices, as well as Amazon, for one of their corporate buildings in Seattle, Washington.

'Vito's Mind', (2016), spray paint, acrylic paint, oil stick, paint pen on canvas, 40″H x 36″W x 1.5″D, from the artist's "Controversial" collection

Bonanno was diagnosed with PDD/Autism just before his 4th birthday. Because he was language delayed, his parents and teachers developed strategies that tapped into his high visual acuity, utilizing storyboard styles to relay academic and social information. He was also encouraged to draw in storyboard format to express his feelings. The storyboard grid remains prominent in his work and studio preparation today and is a poignant reminder of a boy who was trapped in his own mind.

The New England-based artist's work is image and concept-driven and embedded in his personal philosophy. His art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts, and dreams, coupled with objects or topics that "get stuck in his head", including traffic lights, grids, ceiling fans, graffiti, and pop culture. For more information about this artist, for inquiries, or to commission work contact vito@vitobonanno.com / visit www.vitobonanno.com

Public Art in the Miami Design District | Ad Minoliti: Pink Spatial Microbiota

 A Must-See in the Miami Design District, Ad Minoliti: Pink Spatial Microbiota, by appointment only - located at 3841 NE 2nd Ave. 400, Miami, Florida 33137. This site-specific installation reimagines the space of the stairwell as a digestive tube for the Buick building.  “I was inspired by the digestive system that moves food through the body, and by thinking of these internal spaces as an ecosystem,” Minoliti described. Microbiota refers to the bacteria, viruses and fungi that are crucial for immunologic, hormonal, and metabolic balance of all multicellular organisms. “There are an estimated 100 billion bacteria in the human body. We can't live without them. We contain multitudes.”

Crowned in Creativity: Josh Hy's Bold New Chapter in Contemporary Art

Acclaimed award-winning artist Josh Hy (also known as The Dezinr) is redefining the language of contemporary abstraction, fusing bold innovation with timeless elegance. Drawing inspiration from personal experience and inner vision rather than external influences, Hy’s work blends acrylics, digital techniques, and luxurious materials such as 24kt gold, Swarovski crystals, diamonds, and Bohemian glass. The result is a striking body of work that invites viewers to step “beyond the frame” into a world of limitless imagination.

Recently honored with the Arts Acclaim Award presented by the City of Brampton and a nominee for Canada’s Cutting Edge Black Designer Award, Hy is quickly ascending in the international art scene. Exciting milestones ahead include his solo exhibition during Miami Beach Art Basel Week in December 2025 and his selection for the Tokyo International Art Fair in November 2025—testaments to his global resonance as an artist of vision and originality.

Josh’s journey began at just nine years old, when a simple kitchen-table sketch by his father ignited his lifelong pursuit of art. “I was in awe, confusion, amazement, and excitement,” Hy recalls. “My father handed me the sketch and said, ‘What do you think, Master Joshua?’ I told him, ‘I want to draw as good as you, Dad!’ He replied, ‘No, you can do better.’ That was the ignition to what lay dormant within me.” From that moment forward, Hy spent countless hours sketching portraits, cars, cartoons, and anything that challenged him. The discipline of daily practice became his foundation—a ritual that would evolve into mastery. We recently had the pleasure to chat with the artist to learn more about his work and current projects:


Q – What is the best part about being an artist?

A – The doors that have been opened, the clients and relationships formed. All from practicing being the best me. Waking up and working on myself, art that will inspire millions, create value, and empowering me to use creativity through innovation and conquer the fear of social acceptance. Most of all, being expressive of gratitude through each piece I create, that is authentically me.

Q – Where does your inspiration come from, and how would you describe your work?

A – I use my art as a means of authentic expression and intellectual exploration. Each artwork is a reflection of my personal vision and philosophy of limitless immigration (abundance). I create my work from inspirational purity. I look inwards, feeling the energy coursing through my soul and create what thrills my mind. I am the master of my mind; I create original thoughts born from my experiences. I am the best in the world at what I create, and that’s practicing being the best me; it must be authentic to me.

'Breathless Virgin'

Q – How did you get started as an artist? Tell us about your background, influences, and the path you took to becoming an artist.

A – It started at the young age of nine. My father was sketching a portrait of a little girl around the kitchen table. I was in awe, confusion, amazement, and excitement. He handed me the sketch and asked me, “What do you think, master Joshua?!” I replied, “I want to draw as good as you dad!”. “No, you can do better!” My father replied. That was the ignition to what lay dormant within me. Every day I would spend an hour drawing portraits from magazines, cartoons, cars, and anything that I found to be a challenge.


Q – Which artist or artists (past and/or present) do you admire most and why?

A – I never developed an admiration for an artist. It would taint my creative thoughts on how I preconceive art. Creating an admiration would bleed into my work; in a way, I would be taking what the artist has created, forming a foundation for a vision that is not my own. I became aware of this at a very young age, and used my previous works as my foundation of admiration to create truly what I see in a style established by me.

'The Girl From Lisbon'

Q – What is your creative process like, how do you describe how you create one of your masterpieces?

A – My creative journey is driven by curiosity, how can I create something better than the last, while improving my technique. All my works are formed on the basis of a sketch that transforms into a detailed drawing. Committed to being better than I was yesterday. This dedication to self-improvement ascends the work into the colouring and painting process. Driving me to push boundaries, resins, Swarvoski crystals, 24kt gold are methodically placed throughout the canvas and signed off by me. Now you have a one-of-one masterpiece.



Q – What is your favorite piece you created and why?

A – ‘Entangle Perception’. Creating this art, I was in a period of realization. Uncovering strings pulling at my fingers, moving them in uniqueness voluntarily, obstructing my vision. This piece reflects the beauty of stumbling in the darkness. This piece will is one of the biggest pieces I have created, and among the most expensive pieces to create.

Q – What message or emotion are you trying to convey in your work, are there any recurring themes or motifs?

A – I see art as a playground of endless possibilities—a space where “self” meets innovation, and imagination takes the lead. When you are truly creating in the now, you become dangerous, you’re focused, and that is where value is born. A recurring theme always found in my works is a crown and a stripe under one eye, which is a reminder that this is the best I have accomplished to date.


Art collectors and aficionados are invited to learn more about this fascinating artist, to visit the artist’s website and peruse his available artworks for sale at: www.thedezinr.com. Email the artist to inquire about original works of art, commissioned art pieces, and limited hand-embellished editions available by request: josh.hy@thedezinr.com

For further information visit: www.thedezinr.com
Follow Josh Hy on Instagram @thedezinr

Check out The Shop at The Bass! Visit Miami Beach's Contemporary Art Museum and reserve a limited-edition digital print of 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 #26 by Hernan Bas

EXCLUSIVE HERNAN BAS PRINT AVAILABLE AT THE SHOP 🛍️Now The Shop at The Bass! Visit Miami Beach's Contemporary Art Museum and reserve a limited-edition digital print of 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 #26 (his coveted 'sea-fan-fans' bring a calming ocean breeze to any interior) (2023), signed by Miami-based artist Hernan Bas (b.1978).  🦋In his paintings, drawings and installations, Bas creates intricately detailed scenes that invite viewers to decipher an astounding number of visual references. While his earlier works show male characters linked to specific stories, each painting in his 2023 exhibition at The Bass The Conceptualists depicts a single protagonist deeply engaged in an obsessive, idiosyncratic pastime.  🖌️Bas's detailed paintings substantiate quirky behaviors under the generous categorization of "conceptual art." These visual tales are queer, where queerness refers not necessarily to sexual orientation but to a pillar of conceptual art—an incomprehensible permissiveness and liberating space for a society grounded in conformity. 🔗Reserve your print by contacting The Shop Curator at a Hernan Bas, 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 #26 (his coveted 'sea-fan-fans' bring a calming ocean breeze to any interior), 2023. Dimensions variable. Courtesy of the collection of Jessica Kreps & Adam Rothenberg, New York