From planes to trains: MIA showcases public art from Metrorail’s Underline

Miami International Airport travelers can now get a glimpse of 13 large-scale public art installations spaced out under five miles of Miami-Dade County’s Metrorail system without leaving the airport, thanks to The Underline: A Canvas for the Community – the airport’s latest art exhibition. On November 4, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, The Underline CEO Eulois Cleckley, and Friends of The Underline Public Art Curator Rina Gitlin joined MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié for a reception to celebrate the exhibition’s opening.

On display through May 2, 2027, at MIA’s Connecting Communities Wall, near door 11 on the arrivals level, the exhibition offers a preview of The Underline’s growing public art program.  Incorporating both historic commissions and newer temporary works, the 13 public art installations bring together local, national, and international artists at different stages of their careers. The Underline has reimagined Miami-Dade County’s underutilized land beneath the Metrorail into a vibrant 10-mile linear park, urban train, and public space where art, nature, and community come together, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works and the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Art in Public Places program.

"The Underline's public art program celebrates the diversity, innovation, and cultural vibrancy of Miami-Dade County," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "More than a collection of artwork, the program transforms everyday journeys into opportunities to experience art, bringing neighborhoods, cultures and communities together across our county. I am delighted that visitors from around the world will now get a glimpse of these stunning works while traveling through MIA."

Permanent artworks on The Underline are part of the collection of the Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places program, made possible with the support of the Art in Public Places Trust, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Artists featured in the mural include Alexandre Arrechea; Pablo Atchugarry; Jennifer Basile; April Bey; Cara Despain; Jeppe Hein; Edny Jean Josep; Bony Ramirez; Gio Swaby; Athena Tacha; Hank Willis Thomas; Typoe and Estudio LAAVA; and We are Nice’n Easy.

“As one of the nation’s leading international airports, Miami International Airport offers an extraordinary platform to showcase The Underline’s vibrant arts and cultural experience to travelers from around the world,” said Eulois Cleckley, CEO of The Underline. “This installation celebrates the work of local and international artists featured along our 10-mile corridor, giving visitors and Miamians a chance to learn about what awaits them at The Underline. We are grateful for MIA’s partnership in bringing this vision to life and inspiring more people to explore The Underline as a cultural destination.”

Friends of The Underline is the nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, activation, and stewardship of The Underline, a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and living art destination transforming the land beneath Miami’s Metrorail into a world-class public space. The Underline connects communities through nature, music, art, wellness, and year-round events and activations. With more than 200 free programs annually, The Underline has become a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors alike, spanning from the Miami River in Brickell to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station in Kendall. The Underline is a public-private partnership partly funded by Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, the City of Coral Gables, and the City of South Miami. Learn more at www.theunderline.org.

MIA Galleries, established in 1996, is managed by the MIA's Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs Division. Its mission is to enhance the travel environment by presenting exhibitions and showcasing works that celebrate the rich culture, diverse landscape, and artistic resources of the local community. MIA Galleries aims to elevate the passenger experience by curating a visually stimulating atmosphere that is contemporary, thought-provoking, and reflective of the cultural depth and creativity of the South Florida region.

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