Mera Rubell
Co-Founder
Miami Connection
Mera Rubell spearheaded Miami's emergence as an international art capital by helping establish Art Basel Miami Beach and pioneering Wynwood as a leading art district through the original Rubell Family Collection. Her efforts revitalized neighborhoods like South Beach, Wynwood, and Allapattah, fostering cultural growth and attracting global attention to South Florida's visual arts scene. The Rubell Museum continues to exhibit Miami-based artists prominently, sharing one of the world's largest private collections with the public and supporting community access to contemporary art.
About
Mera Rubell began collecting contemporary art in 1965 with Don while living in New York City, using her teaching salary to fund purchases during his medical school years. The couple moved to Miami in 1992, where they developed hotels and opened the Rubell Family Collection in Wynwood in 1993, one of the first private contemporary art museums in the US. Mera played a pivotal role in bringing Art Basel Miami Beach to South Florida, organizing trips for city officials and building hype for Miami as an art destination. They relocated and expanded to a new 36,000-square-foot Rubell Museum in Allapattah in 2019, housing over 7,700 works by more than 1,000 artists. Today, Mera co-leads the Rubell Museum in Miami with Don and their son Jason, continuing to champion emerging and local artists.