Bakehouse Art Complex celebrates 40th birthday with plans for its future
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Bakehouse is planning for the next 40 years. Photo: Silvia Ros, courtesy of Bakehouse Art Complex.
Over the last century, Wynwood has transformed from a community dominated by garment warehouses and bakeries to one known for skyscrapers, tech companies and high-end restaurants.
- But through all that change, the building that houses Bakehouse Art Complex has remained, constantly reinvented to meet the community's demands.
Why it matters: Now, as Bakehouse celebrates its 40th birthday and the 100th anniversary of its building, its leaders are planning the future for the historic structure.
- The vision: a space that not only encapsulates Miami's history and culture, but also serves as a cornerstone of the city's creative community, integrating affordable housing, studios and public spaces.
The latest: Last week, Bakehouse kicked off its yearlong 40th birthday celebrations with a party and a new exhibit.
- "Bakehouse at Forty: Past, Present, Future," which honors those who've contributed to the space over the years, will be on display through 2026.
Zoom in: The installation's Past and Present, curated by Philip Lique and Krys Ortega, weaves together the building's history from its origins as the American Bakeries Company in 1926.
- After sitting vacant for years, a group of artists purchased it for $10 in the mid-1980s, transforming the abandoned space into the affordable studios and exhibition rooms used today.
- The Future, curated by Michael Maltzan and Michael Maltzan Architecture, depicts a vision for "artist- and community-centered development."
- It features renderings and models that map out 350 units of affordable housing, renovated and new studios, and shared green spaces.
What they're saying: The plan "for the next 40 years is to secure and expand our permanent cultural infrastructure," said Cathy Leff, Bakehouse's executive director.
- "The ultimate mission is to ensure Miami remains a place where artists can live, work, play and thrive [and] reinforce the idea that artists are essential to Miami's (or any city's) civic future."
What's next: Over the next year, those at Bakehouse's helm hope to build on the momentum of its anniversary year to galvanize both private and public fundraising support to bring the vision — and its mission — to life.