Lincoln Road Announces Trailblazing Public Art Just in Time for Art Week Miami Beach
Lincoln Road, the iconic outdoor shopping, dining and cultural destination in the heart of Miami Beach, is a lot more than a vibrant retail hub; it is a year-round epicenter of art and culture with groundbreaking cultural programming and more galleries than any other neighborhood in the city. This December, as part of Art Week Miami Beach, Lincoln Road is presenting new exhibitions by world-renowned sculptors and artists in nearly every corner of the district, including the instantly recognizable “XO World” sculpture by Daniel Anderson, an Instagrammable moment with visual artist Rubem Robierb’s life-size butterfly wing sculpture, and private showings of Beauty, actor and artist Jordi Mollà’s gallery. Visitors can also stop by any of the 15-plus art galleries dotting Lincoln Road, including permanent and pop-up locations, showcasing distinctive artwork in every medium by regional and international artists.
Lincoln Road’s 2024 Art Week statement piece will be “XO World,” a sculpture inspired by the universal game of jacks by contemporary abstract sculptor and painter Daniel Anderson, in partnership with the City of Miami Beach. The work will be unveiled on Tuesday, November 19, during a press conference on Lincoln Road, marking Anderson’s first Art Week Miami Beach exhibit (and first in Florida). The artwork – spanning over 12 feet high and 24 feet long, made from 20,000 pounds of stainless steel – debuted as the “XO World Project” at One World Trade Center in NYC on the 40th anniversary of World Peace Day (September 21, 2021) with its sister sculpture, “XO Play,” at the Oculus. The “X” of the sculpture, a jack (aka “love jack”) with crossed arms, signifies “love” in sign language and represents the four pillars of equality, unity, peace and love. The “O” is represented by a globe, bringing humanity together as one.
“It is an honor to expand the presence of the ‘XO World’ installation’s interactive experience and movement in the vivacious, diverse, global city of Miami Beach – and to do it alongside the XO World Project Foundation, which not only embodies its values but continues to make a sustainable impact on so many in need,” said Anderson.
The XO World Project Foundation is inspired by the ethos of the sculpture and is focused on making a sustainable impact on global communities. The organization carries out humanitarian projects that address equal access to health care, water, food and economic empowerment for women. By doing this, the foundation hopes to share love and promote peace and unity. The sculpture will be on display on the 400 block through June 30, 2025, and invites people to interact with it via social media and “share their love” (crossing their arms to their chest) across the globe.
Lincoln Road will also present “Dream Machine” by visual artist Rubem Robierb. The 10-by-13-foot larger-than-life butterfly wing sculpture represents the materialization of our innermost wishes. The interactive art invites viewers to place themselves between the sculptural wings and imagine a trip to a place where dreams come true, creating a metaphorical space that speaks to the power of our minds and the law of attraction. Robierb debuted “Dream Machine” onboard the Celebrity Edge cruise ship before displaying it in NYC’s Tribeca Park in partnership with Taglialatella Galleries. The sculpture will also be revealed on Tuesday, November 19, during a press conference on the 900 block of Lincoln Road, where it will remain on display through April 2025.
This is not the first time that Lincoln Road has relocated supersized sculptures with a strong message to the district. In 2023, “R-Evolution™,” a 45-foot-tall, 32,000-pound kinetic sculpture by artist Marco Cochrane, traveled “from Burning Man to Basel” in partnership with the City of Miami Beach.
Through December 31, Lincoln Road will also house Beauty, a pop-up gallery featuring artwork by internationally known actor, director and writer Jordi Mollà (best known for his starring roles in Blow and Bad Boys II). The gallery, located at 1655 Meridian Ave., will showcase a range of Mollà’s works from 2020 to the present, featuring acrylics, charcoal and mixed media. Inspired by Miami’s vibrant culture and classic art traditions, Mollà explores the concept of beauty, celebrating life and nature while reinterpreting classical techniques.
“Lincoln Road has been a lively cultural hub in the City of Miami Beach for over six decades, home to more galleries and artistic offerings than any other pedestrian street in the world,” said Anabel Llopis, executive director of the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District. “As we continue to curate dynamic experiences that celebrate creativity, these activations and installations are essential to amplifying this vision. The BID and the community are committed to preserving Lincoln Road’s legacy as a year-round leader in Miami Beach’s cultural landscape.”
In addition to being a haven for artists, Lincoln Road is also a hub for the performing arts, including the New World Center, home of the New World Symphony, and the Colony Theatre, home to Miami New Drama. It also has more than 15 art and design galleries, including Oolite Arts, FIU Miami Beach Urban Studios, Robert Fontaine Gallery, Romero Britto Gallery, Avant Gallery, Lumas Gallery and Lik Fine Art Gallery.
