11-11 is already considered a very lucky number for many. But, November 11, 2023 will forever be a day to remember for Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). On that pleasant Saturday, the beloved Miami institution hosted the tenth annual Art of the Party presented by Tiffany & Co., welcoming Miami’s community of artists, philanthropists, civic leaders, and arts supporters for PAMM’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
The evening celebrated longtime supporters Darlene and Jorge Pérez for their dedication to the arts and the Miami community and was co-chaired by Aaron and Dorothy Podhurst, Craig Robins and Jackie Soffer, and Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm.
In total, the event raised over $2 million for PAMM’s robust arts education program, as well as PAMM’s broader mission, to be a leader in the presentation, study, interpretation, and care of international modern and contemporary art, while representing and cherishing the unique diversity of Miami-Dade.
At its core, PAMM promotes artistic expression and the exchange of ideas, advancing public knowledge and appreciation of art, architecture, and design, and reflecting the diverse community of its pivotal geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas.
The facility is a state-of-the-art model for sustainable museum design and progressive programming and features 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor program space with flexible galleries; shaded outdoor verandas; a waterfront restaurant and bar; a museum shop; and an education center with a library, media lab and classroom spaces.
The November 11 evening included two major announcements: a $25 million donation to the museum from Jorge M. Pérez and the Pérez family, and the 2023 Pérez Prize recipient, which was awarded to Christopher Cozier. The $25 million gift builds on investments the prominent family has contributed to the museum and Miami through the years.
“Art of the Party is a moment to express our gratitude for the civic, philanthropic and cultural community that supports PAMM and makes possible our shared belief in the transformative power of the arts,” says PAMM director Franklin Sirmans. “We are so grateful for Jorge and Darlene’s generosity towards PAMM throughout the years—including this monumental gift—and for their dedication to Miami’s creative community as a whole. Their support elevates the institution in every way and positions PAMM for continued success in utilizing art as a catalyst for genuine human interaction, communication, and exchange. We are also thrilled to honor artist Christopher Cozier with the Pérez Prize, an artist who advocates for the power of art to be a tool of connection.”
At the event, Christopher Cozier was presented with the Pérez Prize, an unrestricted award of $50,000 which applauds artistic achievement, funded by a gift from Jorge and Darlene Pérez. Taking on a myriad of mediums including drawing, printmaking, installation, and sound, Trinidad-based artist Christopher Cozier’s work investigates how the relationship between contemporary Caribbean moments and the region’s colonial past can inform understanding of the wider contemporary world.
Cozier’s practice sits in line with PAMM’s unique position at the crossroads of the Americas, and the museum’s dedication to fostering knowledge of Caribbean art, as seen in the museum’s Caribbean Cultural Institute: a curatorial and research platform that promotes the art of the Caribbean and its diasporas through scholarship, exhibitions, fellowships, public programs and collection development.
“I’ve always believed that no city is truly great without a world-class art museum,” says Jorge M. Pérez, founder of the Pérez Family Foundation and one of Miami’s influential people. “That belief led to our family’s initial gift a decade ago and remains the driving factor in this latest contribution. Our entire family is in awe of how far this incredible institution has come, and we are proud to be in a position to help it fuel its mission of deepening South Florida’s artistic and cultural offerings.”
Chef’s table guests celebrated Cozier and enjoyed performances by jazz musician Claudio Spiewak while dining on a menu designed by Constellation Culinary Green. Following Chef’s Table, PAMM’s waterfront terrace transformed into the “Remix” afterparty, featuring music by Florida-based DJ Madrid, dancing, cocktails, bites, and desserts under the stars—there was clearly so much to deservingly celebrate.
