Co-owners Laura Antuña Capestany and Jimmy Capestany of La Victoria Miami Collection (La Victoria), together with City of Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, The Underline, Florida International University and Copperbridge Foundation, today announced the selection of artist Jerónimo Gauna as the winner of a competitive artist selection process, with the mural expected to be completed within the month.
Gauna’s original mural will transform two large exterior walls among the five modern Art Deco buildings located at 1900 SW 25th Terrace. This spectacular mural installation is titled “Rooted in Cuba, Rising in America, Strength in Gratitude” which celebrates the Cuban American journey and legacy. Across the two walls this mural honors the developer’s homeland. Co-Owner Laura Antuña Capestany explained, “This mural is deeply personal to us. It honors the Cuba our families carried with them, the America that gave them the opportunity to rebuild and create a new future, and the people and communities who helped make that journey possible. We are thrilled to be working with Jerónimo Gauna, as he brings his original modern unique style and his signature ‘Dragon Wings’ visual architectural language to the Silver Bluff neighborhood.” The design weaves together Cuba’s island, palm, and sea with three women muses carrying their history forward. Flags flowing together in upward movement, Martí’s white rose, and a Tocororo in flight tell a story of resilience: rooted in Cuba, rising in America.
The announcement follows a highly competitive, global talent search that launched on June 23rd and concluded on July 13th, capturing widespread attention across the international art community. The initiative generated massive engagement online, sparked by a viral Instagram post on the property’s official channel, @LaVictoriaMiami. This drew a vast pool of high-caliber applications from local Miami creators as well as artists from around the world.
The selection followed a rigorous process led by a committee that included Founder and President of Copperbridge Foundation and Curator of La Victoria Miami Collection’s internal artwork, Geo Darder. “We worked closely on the interior of La Victoria, collaborating with the design team to bring together six artists for an Art Deco-inspired collection,” Darder said. “I’m proud to have been part of the selection committee… He represents a new voice in Miami’s art community.”
The selected artist, Gauna, a local Miami artist who has a degree in architecture and visual arts, weaves his unique style, and describes the mural as deeply personal. “I connect deeply with the experience of carrying your culture with you while creating a new home,” Gauna said. “When someone sees the mural, even for only a few seconds from the Metrorail, I want them to feel movement, optimism, and freedom. We all come from somewhere, we all carry a story, and we all have the possibility to build something new without forgetting our roots.”
City of Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph “Rafael” Rosado has been a catalyst in the effort to bring more art to District 4, working closely with the La Victoria Miami Collection team throughout the selection process. “Silver Bluff has its own character, history and sense of community, and this mural gives the area something distinctly its own,” said Commissioner Rosado. “Jerónimo Gauna’s work will
create a lasting sense of place for the people who call this neighborhood home as well as those who visit. Through Arte D4, our public art initiative, we are bringing original works to spaces across District 4 and adding a new layer to the visual story of the City of Miami.”
Rina Gitlin, Public Art Curator for The Underline, said the piece reflects the cultural richness of the surrounding area. “This mural reflects the community’s Cuban history and cultural diversity, which continue to nurture a vibrant creative spirit,” Gitlin said.
Sebastián A. Arcos, director of the Institute for Cuban Studies at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, said the project illustrates the continuing relationship between Cuban identity and the Cuban-American experience.
“La Victoria’s mural illustrates the complex relationship between past and present, tragedy and victory,” Arcos said. “It serves as a reminder of a community that is proudly American while continuing to feel deeply Cuban.”
Antuña Capestany, who serves on the board of FIU’s Institute for Cuban Studies, said the collaboration reflects La Victoria Miami Collection’s commitment to honoring Cuban culture through art, preservation, and community-centered development.
Selection committee members include:
Laura Antuña Capestany and Jimmy Capestany, co-owners, La Victoria Miami Collection ● Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, City of Miami District 4 Commissioner
Sebastián A. Arcos, director, Institute for Cuban Studies, Florida International University ● Rina Gitlin, Open Space Arts Curator, The Underline
Geo Darder, founder and president, Copperbridge Foundation; curator, La Victoria Miami Collection
The mural is expected to be completed by the end of the month at the 1900 SW 25th Terrace site in the Silver Bluff neighborhood. It joins La Victoria Miami Collection’s ongoing commitment to honoring Cuban culture and Art Deco heritage, both through its interior art collection and through exterior public art created in partnership with the community. Stay tuned to @LaVictoriaMiami on Instagram for updates on the mural’s progress and details on the grand unveiling.
For more information about La Victoria Miami Collection, visit
https://www.lavictoriamiamicollection.com
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