The Museum of Sex's Miami outpost, initially slated for a December 1, 2023, opening, has delayed its official launch until late January 2024. This new location in the Allapattah District will feature expanded exhibition space and a range of attractions, including a permanent interactive area and a 40-foot-wide "mermaid tank."
Opening Details and Delays
The Museum of Sex announced on October 10, 2023, that its Miami outpost was scheduled to open on December 1, 2023, ahead of Miami Art Week. However, the museum later experienced delays, preventing a hard opening in time for Art Basel Miami Beach. The museum had initially hoped to welcome guests in November.
Daniel Gluck, executive director and founder of the museum, stated that issues with the utility company Florida Power & Light contributed to the delay. Other inspection procedures also needed completion, and the parking lot was undergoing renovations. The box office was expected to be completed within the week of December 11, 2023.
Despite the delay, the museum conducted a soft opening, briefly showcasing works by Hajime Sorayama. These works have since been placed in storage for protection until construction is complete. The Sorayama show is anticipated to be on view for a year, with the museum having acquired one of the works and the rest coming from loans.
The Miami outpost is now officially scheduled to open its doors in late January 2024. Gluck described the New York institution as "the beta" and the Miami location as "the release."
Exhibitions and Features
Housed in a 32,000-square-foot converted warehouse in the Allapattah District, the Miami museum was designed in collaboration with international design studio Snøhetta. The space will feature three large exhibition galleries, retail space, and a bar. The inaugural exhibitions will include "Hajime Sorayama: Desire Machines" and "Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency."
"Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency," set to open in January 2024, is a collaboration with Maude, a sex toy design company created by Eva Goicochea and Dakota Johnson. This exhibition will present a history of sexual product development, encompassing sex toys and medical devices, and will include more than 500 artifacts tracing the history of sexual health products since the 1920s.
The Miami location will also feature an expanded iteration of the New York museum’s "Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival." This permanent interactive space is inspired by the "decadent carnal origins" of carnivals dating back to Ancient Rome and includes artist-designed takes on classic carnival games. A novel addition to the Miami museum will be a 40-foot-wide "mermaid tank," with "Merlandia" described as an homage to Dalí’s 1939 "Dream of Venus."
Ariel Plotek, chief curator of the Museum of Sex, noted that the Miami expansion more than doubles the museum's exhibition space.
Museum Background and Mission
Founded in 2002, the Museum of Sex has launched over 40 exhibitions dedicated to preserving, presenting, and celebrating the cultural significance of human sexuality. Its exhibitions and programs span genres that reflect the complexity of human sexuality and history, balancing serious and playful themes.
The Museum of Sex aims to bring current scholarship to wide audiences and is committed to encouraging public awareness, discourse, and engagement regarding human sexuality.
Key Facts
- The Museum of Sex Miami outpost is scheduled to open in late January 2024.
- The initial planned opening date was December 1, 2023, ahead of Miami Art Week.
- The museum is located in a 32,000-square-foot converted warehouse in the Allapattah District.
- Inaugural exhibitions include "Hajime Sorayama: Desire Machines" and "Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency."
- The Miami location will feature an expanded "Super Funland" and a 40-foot-wide "mermaid tank."
- Daniel Gluck is the executive director and founder of the Museum of Sex.
