Free to the Public, the Contemporary Art Space’s Fifth Show Explores the Complexities of the Human Condition Across Generations and Geographies

El Espacio 23 (EE23) — the contemporary art space founded by leading philanthropist, entrepreneur and art collector Jorge M. Pérez in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood — is pleased to debut its highly anticipated fifth show, titled Mirror of the Mind: Figuration in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection. On display from November 7, 2024, to August 16, 2025, the cross-media exhibition examines artists’ use of figuration and portraiture to explore the complexities of the human condition. Co-curated by the Jorge M. Pérez Collection’s Director, Patricia M. Hanna, and Curator, Anelys Alvarez, the show features 150 works from over 120 artists.

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Mirror of the Mind: Figuration in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection, now on display at El Espacio 23. Photo by Pavel Acosta. (Photo: Business Wire)

“As we mark five years since the opening of El Espacio 23, the 2024 arts season stands as a proud moment and an opportunity to reaffirm our vision for the future,” said Pérez. “With mounting financial and societal pressures, it is vital that we strengthen our commitment to the arts community. This latest exhibition offers a safe space where everyone can experience the transformative power of expression and engage in meaningful dialogue about the fundamentals of something that unites us all: the human experience.”

Through photography, painting, sculpture, video and other mediums, artists reference the body as a vessel that experiences, documents, participates and transforms throughout life’s journey. Works highlight the duality of the human form — both its materiality and immateriality — creating a visual territory where dynamics of representation, from communities to individuals, are addressed, illustrating the persistence of figuration in contemporary art.

“Several recent additions to the Pérez Collection, including works by Shirin Neshat, Julio Galan and Anselm Kiefer, sparked the concept for Mirror of the Mind,” says Hanna. “We were inspired by the entangled and inseparable relationship between the body’s physical and emotional aspects, and chose to show a multi-faceted deep dive into the human experience, exploring emotional aspects such as the power of perception, the weight of trauma, healing, introspection and belonging, as well as the impact on the body.”

Mirror of the Mind features six distinct sections:

- Perception features artists such Eduardo Arroyo, River Claure, Liliana Maresca, Meleko Mokgosi, Reginald O’Neal, Larry Rivers and Nancy Spero, who explore the notion of representation throughout history, examining how images shape perceptions of ourselves and others. The artworks in this section use portraiture, fiction and image appropriation to speak to political hierarchies, the construction of history and the tension between idealization, myths and historical facts.

- Trauma features works addressing historical and intergenerational trauma and its effects on physical and emotional aspects of the self. With paintings that embrace expressionist traditions and photographs that recreate haunted atmospheres, artists in this section address themes of grieving, self-inflicted harm, and the confrontation of pain as a path to liberation. Works from A. R. Penck, Ayana V. Jackson, Liliana Maresca, Carlos Martiel, Shirin Neshat, Antonio Tàpies and others are featured.

- Introspection features works portraying the figure in moments of solitude and introspection, prompting reflection on the transience of life. In testing the tension between dream and reality, some artists investigate the possibilities of detaching from one's identity to project alternative versions of the self, while others delve into metaphysics and the vulnerability of the body. Works from Alice Neel, Luis Felipe Noé, La Chola Poblete, Cindy Sherman and others are featured.

- Belonging features paintings and portraits that depict the joy, support and power of community, and speaks to everyday life, tradition and the moments that bring people together. Works from Deana Lawson, Jared McGriff, Larry Rivers and others span a plurality of experiences and temporalities, examining themes such as social and cultural representation, negotiation and performance, and individuality and community.

- Healing expands on the concepts of belonging and empowerment and highlights the resilience of humanity. Works from Yael Bartana, Carrie Mae Weems and others touch upon the different possibilities for mending, reckoning and redemption, namely social agency, calls to action, improvisation, resistance, affection and spirituality.

- Flesh showcases artists, such as Vera Chávez Barcellos and Marta Minujin, whose works focus on the physicality of the body. Each work zeroes in on the skin — with its excretions, scars and visceral gestures — not only as an external shell but also as a surface that maintains a porous connection with the mind and emotions. The visual quality of the works in this group often points to the entanglements of pleasure, desire and their connection with subjectivity, freedom, gender and identity.

To accompany the exhibit, EE23 will publish a catalog titled Mirror of the Mind: Figuration in the Jorge M. Pérez Collection. The fully illustrated book features commissioned essays by arts and cultural scholars Odette Casamayor-Cisneros of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Tatiana Flores of the University of Virginia, along with Frist Art Museum’s Chief Curator, Mark Scala, and Natalia Zuluaga, Co-Director of Miami-based [NAME] Publications.

EE23 will also welcome new artists throughout the duration of Mirror of the Mind as part of its ongoing residency program, including Pamela Castro, Andrea Chung, Jorge Ribalta, Moris, La Chola Poblete and Vinicius Gerheim this fall. Through EE23 and philanthropic initiatives such as the Pérez CreARTE Grants Program, Jorge M. Pérez and his family are committed to supporting South Florida’s creative community by helping expand options for artistic professionals to hone their talents and showcase their work.

Admission to EE23 is free year round and walk-ins are welcome. Hours of operation are Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. To reserve a time, and for more information about guided tours, please visit www.elespacio23.com or email info@elespacio23.com.

A full artist checklist is available for the media upon request.

About El Espacio 23

El Espacio 23 (EE23) is a contemporary art space founded by collector and philanthropist Jorge M. Pérez. Opened in 2019, EE23 is located within a repurposed 28,000-square-foot warehouse in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood, El Espacio 23 serves artists, curators and the general public with regular exhibitions, residencies and a variety of special projects drawn from the world-renowned Jorge M. Pérez Contemporary Art Collection.

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