Kendall Art Cultural Center

BEYOND THE PLATE

MURALS AND OTHER CERAMICS FROM THE KENDALL ART CULTURAL CENTER

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In 2020 when art collector Leonardo Rodríguez, owner of the Kendal Art Cultural Center, founded the Fine Arts Ceramic Center he had no idea that what began as a creative collaboration would soon turn into a second permanent collection and endeavor to highlight the artistry of ceramics. Originally inaugurated as Fine Arts on the Plate, this exhibition represents the expansion of the original project, where Rodríguez invited a group of 50 artists and asked them to forgo the usual blank canvas, and instead, translate their style and subject matter onto white bisque plates, 10 each. The result was 500 original works of art, each reflecting the originality of each individual artist. Although each plate is unlike any of the others, the fact that Rodríguez and FACC art director Ivonne Ferrer chose the same plate - size, shape and color - for all the artists, allows for a consistency and focus in the project; putting them all on the same level, regardless of background or notoriety. 

 

Since then, the idea to create a line of work entirely composed of ceramic artworks  has only grown. Beyond the Plate thus represents the second phase of the Fine Arts Ceramic Center, as it introduces the production of ceramic sculptures, installations and murals. Beyond the Plate features the work of over 70 artists , 140 ceramic plates from the collection, 9 murals and 4 sculptures and installations. Although the plates continue to function as a strong foundation for te collection, this exhibition at MOAS (the museums' first ever all-ceramic exhibition), represents the new initiative of the Kendall Art Cultural Center and the FACC: pushing the boundaries of ceramics with the design and production of murals, sculptures and interactive installations. By constantly inviting new and emerging artists, Beyond the Plate celebrates, champions and breathes new life into this understudied and under appreciated art form. The Rodríguez Ceramics Collection features over 450 works of ceramic art by over 70 artists, making it one of the largest ceramic collections in Florida, and possibly the Unites States. 

 

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About the Kendall Art Cultural Center - The KACC is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of contemporary art and artists, and to the exchange of art and ideas throughout Miami, and the South Florida region, as well as abroad. Through an energetic calendar of exhibitions, programs, and its collections, KACC provides an international platform for the work of established and emerging artists, advancing public appreciation and understanding of contemporary art. The Kendall Art Cultural Center’s (KACC) vision is to be an active participant in the art community of South Florida, while providing education, preservation and awareness of the visual arts. The Kendall Art Cultural Center's (KACC) mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the arts by exhibiting, researching, and preserving the collection for current and future generations. Our work includes authentication, research into artists' methods and materials, preventive care of the collections, loans, exhibitions and innovation in conservation treatment.

 

About the Museum of Arts & Sciences - The Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) is the primary art, science and history museum in Central Florida. The area's largest museum, MOAS is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate. Located on a 90-acre Florida nature preserve, the 100,000 square foot facility is host to over 30,000 objects including the Dow Gallery of American Art, one of the finest collections of American art in the Southeast, the Schulte Gallery of Chinese Art, the Bouchelle Collection and Gallery of Decorative Arts, the largest and most comprehensive collection in the South, the Gillespy Gallery of Sub-Saharan African artifacts, the Cuban Foundation Museum showcasing one of the most significant collections of Cuban paintings in the United States, the Prehistory of Florida gallery featuring Florida’s Giant Ground Sloth skeleton and the Root Family Museum displaying restored railroad cars, antique automobiles and the largest collection of Coca -Cola® memorabilia in Florida. The Helene B. Roberson Visible Storage Building exhibits thousands of objects from many donors which are owned by the Museum, while the Linda and Williams Children’s Museum presents an interactive experience for children. A new state-of-the-art planetarium and the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art showcasing the largest collection of Florida-based art in the world, rounds out areas to explore inside the Museum of Arts & Sciences.

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