The Bass Museum of Art to Open The Rotunda in Miami Beach
Updated: Mar 20
The Bass Museum of Art is set to open its new satellite gallery, The Rotunda at The Bass Museum of Art, in Collins Park on March 28, 2026. Following a $5.79 million comprehensive renovation by the City of Miami Beach, the space will offer free admission year-round and serve as an extension of the museum's campus.
Originally designed in 1962 by architect Herbert A. Mathes, the circular structure previously served as an assembly room for the old Miami Beach Public Library. The building's exterior features a preserved sand-cast concrete mural titled The Story of Man by American sculptor Albert Vrana. The recent renovations included an 895-square-foot entryway addition, modernized restrooms, new exterior glazing, and accessible concrete walkways with LED lighting in Collins Park. The Bass Museum of Art was officially awarded stewardship of the space in 2025.
The Rotunda's inaugural exhibition will be Pascale Marthine Tayou: Welcome Wall (2015-2026), which continues the site's historical legacy as a communal space for encounter and exchange. The venue will celebrate its grand opening during the museum's Art Outside Annual Picnic on Saturday, March 28, 2026, which is free and open to the community.