Bernice Steinbaum is back!

by Neil De La Flor | Miami New Times – The legendary gallerist, who opened her eponymous gallery on a semiquiet corner of NW 36th Street in the quasi-industrial and working-class community of Wynwood 15 years ago, helped turn the former warehouse district into a bustling arts haven. Ten years later, she closed her space, saying it was “time to pass the gauntlet.” Read the entire New Times article. Our Threads of Connection Catalog is available for purchase. Please contact us for more information. You may also download the Threads of Connection Catalog (35 mgs).

Women Who Stole The Spotlight at Miami Art Week 2016

Bernice Steinbaum of Bernice Steinbaum Gallery is undoubtedly one of Miami’s most celebrated gallerists, closing her New York gallery in 2000 to plant new roots in what was then hailed the rather ‘seedy’ Wynwood district. Steinbaum is a pioneer in many respects, with an unwavering mission that refused a ‘separate but equal’ model of representation. Amongst the artists she represents and showcases, half are women, 40 percent are artists of color. At this year’s Miami Art Week, Steinbaum looked for artists whose work used found or repurposed materials and spawned environmental discourse.

Art Carnival with treasures worth the hype.

And if the tyrant pictured by Longo moved us intimately, the irreverent installation of the Cuban fiber artist Aurora Molina at Bernice Steinbaum Gallery was a snapshot of our times: five leaders depicted as scarecrows, each with the head of his country’s national bird atop his body, all caught in easily identifiable attitudes, while a sixth scarecrow, Pope Francis, as the dove of peace, absolved them all.

One of OnPets.com favorite animal-loving gallerists is Bernice Steinbaum

who was as stylish as ever in her favorite slippers.

When Ms. Steinbaum moved her well-established art gallery from New York City to Miami in 2000, she “was impressed by the fact that the city competed with nature for the public’s attention.” As she states on her gallery website, her “attention turned to the future of the natural world, and the many threats to it that human endeavors pose.” Ms. Steinbaum changed the focus of her gallery and “sought out artists engaged with environmental schemes and working with found or repurposed materials.” In choosing artists to showcase at Art Miami, Ms. Steinbaum was guided by “the role of technology and globalization in both causing and countering environmental issues.”

Some of those artists include Enrique Gomez de Molina, Patrick Jacobs, Aurora Molina, and Troy Abbott, all of whom use nature and animal imagery, video and sculptures to explore the relationship between humans and the rest of the natural world

Excerpt from Adrien Brody Steals Spotlight at Art New York

Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, of Coconut Grove, Florida offered a fun and whimsical booth with an animal theme (flamingos for Florida and pigeons for New York, explained owner Bernice Steinbaum to us). Alongside a fantastic-looking lion and iridescent wall-mounted walrus by Enrique Gomez de Molina, were large black and white drawing/installations of towering skyscrapers and pigeons by Jennifer Basile, and computer renderings of various “digital” i.e on screen birds in real cages, by Troy Abbot.

Cuban artist Pavel Acosta’s near-identical replication of a Frida Kahlo self portrait, made entirely with paint chips “stolen” (as the artist describes it) from crumbling structures throughout Havana, holds a commanding position on the outside of the Steinbaum booth.

An Art Documentary On The Pioneer For Women In Art

As a pioneer in art dealing, Bernice Steinbaum has been a fervent advocate for artists of minority. She made a fissure in the art market of the ’70s and ’80s that bore ripples in standards of a “traditional artist” today. Her role was a deeply formative one for many artists.

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Art Miami Kicked Off its 26th Year with a VIP Cocktail Reception.

To kick off its 26th edition, Art Miami, America’s foremost contemporary art fair, hosted a private cocktail reception and screening of the award-winning film “Bernice” at JW Marriott Marquis. Presented by Art Miami and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, the event honored Bernice Steinbaum, who is celebrating her 10th year exhibiting at Art Miami.

Carola Bravo in the Wall Street Journal

On January 2, 2016 Carola Bravo was featured in an article titled “Migrants Reach the Art World”

Art Miami Opens

Artist Enrique Gomez de Molina, left, talk among friends underneath his piece “Showgirl” with Rick Mattaway, center, and his wife Lisa, during his exhibition inside Bernice Steinbaum Gallery at Art Miami as it opened its doors in Midtown. See page 7 of the complete slideshow from the Miami Herald.

Art Miami, entering its 27th edition, remains the most established art fair in Miami. It expanded its scope with Art New York, and this year, with the inaugural Palm Beach Modern & Contemporary Fair.  As Miami’s premier anchor fair, Art Miami attracts thousands of collectors, dealers, curators, and artists from all over the world. With a showcase of more than 125 international art galleries, this fair shines a spotlight on every gallery and artist who are involved. Here, a couple of Miami’s top galleries and a couple of their artists share their views on Art Miami.

Bernice Steinbaum, after a successful run of more than 20 years in New York City, moved her gallery — which was the first commercial gallery in the still-undeveloped area of Wynwood — to Miami.  A former crack house, her gallery became a cornerstone for the now thriving Wynwood Arts District. The gallery closed in 2014, but Bernice, a formidable presence in the local and national arts scene, emphasizes the importance of fairs like Art Miami. Home recuperating from pneumonia, Steinbaum became more energized the more she spoke about art: “When a fair boasts 82,000 attendees, that means 164,000 eyes have looked at your booth. You want as many people to share your vision as possible.”

Bernice Steinbaum Gallery has a long history of exhibiting at Art Miami, and the fair has been very good to her and her artists. Kicking off its 26th edition, Art Miami hosted a private cocktail reception and screening of the award-winning film “Bernice” — the story of art pioneer Bernice Steinbaum’s lifelong efforts to assist artists of color and female artists in achieving the recognition they deserve. The event also celebrated her gallery’s 10th year as an exhibitor at Art Miami.

Her energy grows as she speaks about art, and her excitement builds as she shares what she has in store for this year’s Art Miami. In the past, she has featured a variety of nature themes. “I try to create an atmosphere in my booths, like in my gallery. I firmly believe that coming to a gallery should be a religious experience.” The theme this year will be “Give Them the Bird?” — a tongue-in-cheek theme that will promote her undying love for nature and animals. Her booth will undoubtedly be filled with birds like the ones displayed in beautiful cages by Troy Abbott, one of her artists. “Everyone is looking to nature today,” adds Bernice when describing artists that catch her eye. “I’m interested in recycled material. It’s exciting to me.” Bernice prefers talking about her artists, rather than herself, and even throws out an invitation: “You must come visit when I’m feeling better; I’ll make great coffee, and you can see the art.” While waiting for her new gallery — which will be connected to her home in Coral Gables — to be completed, her artists’ work is displayed, along with her own work. “Of course, much of my art is work by my artists. Clients visit and always want the work that’s not for sale.”

Looking forward to another great year at Art Miami, Bernice sings its praise. “It’s a very accessible fair with prices that are very doable. There’s a wide spectrum of art, and everyone can find something they like. Art Miami is also the oldest fairs in Miami and gives back to the community. I like that.”