MIAMI BEACH, FL (April 14, 2026) – The Bass Museum of Art announces award-winning, LA-based architectural firm Johnston Marklee to lead the museum’s planned expansion. Recent projects include the first permanent home for the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Independent Study Program at Roy Lichtenstein Studio in New York’s Greenwich Village; The Menil Drawing Institute, on the campus of the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas; a renovation of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the UCLA Graduate Art Studios campus in Culver City, California.

“We are delighted to partner with Johnston Marklee on this next chapter for The Bass, advancing a campus vision that seamlessly connects architecture, landscape, and contemporary art,” said Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Executive Director of The Bass. “Having just celebrated our 60th year, we are firmly focused on the future, and this expansion is a vital part of that vision, allowing us to deepen our engagement with artists and our community by creating new, flexible spaces to gather, reflect, and experience art in meaningful ways. We cannot wait to unveil it and to welcome visitors from near and far.”

Sharon Johnston, FAIA, founding partner of Johnston Marklee and the project’s lead architect said, “Through careful analysis of light and shadow, space and volume, and the surrounding park and urban context, we are planning a transformative project that will increase public access to the museum’s programs and artworks.”

“We are thrilled to reimagine the southwest corner of Collins Park for The Bass,” added the firm’s founding partner, Mark Lee. “This project continues the storied architectural heritage of the museum, preserving Russell Pancoast’s 1942 Art Deco design while honoring Arata Isozaki’s vision of a porous campus.”

In November 2022, The Bass was awarded $20.1 million from Miami Beach’s General Obligation Bond (G.O. Bond). This bond, which totaled $159 million, supported 16 local cultural facilities including The Bass. Strongly supported by the voting community with approximately 65% approval, the G.O. Bond offered cultural organizations on Miami Beach a once in a lifetime opportunity to implement resiliency measures, address infrastructure enhancements, and expand the impact of the arts on the immediate community.

With the allocation, The Bass will extend Pritzker Prize-winning architect Arata Isozaki’s original 1995 campus concept by adding a new pavilion southwest of the museum. Utilizing approximately 22,000 square feet of available space, the expansion project centers around versatile spaces for engagement and a state-of-the-art gallery for the museum’s growing permanent collection.

The project includes a new elevated exhibition gallery to meet resiliency guidelines. The gallery will incorporate state-of-the-art systems to present contemporary art and experimental media—representative of the forward-looking vision that aligns with the cultural direction of Miami Beach and furthers the museum’s commitment to commission international contemporary artists reflective of the community’s diverse perspectives.

A generous, multipurpose outdoor patio is also planned. With a mix of open and shaded space, The Patio at The Bass will comfortably host community events and programs nestled within vibrant Collins Park. Within The Patio, an intimate outdoor screening space will support nighttime cultural activations such as film screenings, artists’ projections, poetry readings, or small performances under the stars.

The three elements—gallery pavilion, patio, and stage—will be surrounded by greenery and linked by canopy, allowing museum visitors to explore the area with protection from the elements. Outdoor sculptures are envisioned throughout the campus, inviting moments of engagement and contemplation inspired by contemporary art.

“Thanks to the generosity of Miami Beach voters, City Commissioners, and thoughtful guidance by the museum’s Board of Trustees, The Bass is meeting people directly and impactfully at the cross section of contemporary art, green space, and architecture,” said George Lindemann, Chairman of The Bass Board of Trustees.

Look for special events and more throughout the season as The Bass continues its proud tradition of sharing powerful international contemporary art that excites, challenges, and educates audiences, bringing new perspectives to Miami Beach’s diverse cultural context. For general museum information, please visit thebass.org/. Follow us on social media @thebassmoa.

The Bass is generously funded by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and The Bass membership.