Miami, Friday, January 16, 2026 \u2013 The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College (MDC) presents its newest exhibition Belkis Ay\u00f3n and Carlos Alfonzo: Odyssey. This marks its second exhibition in the Freedom Tower\u2019s contemporary art gallery since the historic landmark reopened following a major renovation to mark its 100th anniversary. Odyssey features works by artists Carlos Alfonzo, a Cuban-American painter who came to \u00a0the U.S. during the Mariel Boatlift, and Belkis Ay\u00f3n, a Cuban printmaker who draws from Abaku\u00e1, a secret, all-male Afro-Cuban society. The exhibition will be on view from Wednesday, January 28 through Sunday, May 10.<\/p>\n
Odyssey is an exhibition that brings together the powerful and deeply symbolic practices of two influential Cuban artists. Belkis Ay\u00f3n (1967\u20131999) and Carlos Alfonzo (1950\u20131991) who each developed a distinct visual language marked by bold expression and layered meaning. While their artistic approaches differ, their works converge through shared engagements with historical myth, complex spiritual belief systems, and a commitment to visual storytelling that unfolds as an ongoing journey.<\/p>\n
Both artists attended the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Cuba\u2019s premier national university for the arts. As their work evolved, they were acutely attuned to the societal realities surrounding them, responding to inequity, violence, and oppression shaped by their experiences in and beyond Cuba. Navigating conditions of scarcity and limited personal freedom, Ay\u00f3n and Alfonzo forged resolute artistic paths that earned critical acclaim during their lifetimes and continue to influence contemporary art today. By presenting their work in dialogue, Odyssey invites renewed consideration of their practices, offering fresh context and perspectives on their lasting impact within art history.<\/p>\n
\u201cOdyssey creates a powerful dialogue between two visionary artists whose work speaks to resilience, spirituality, and the search for freedom,\u201d said Amy Galpin, PhD, MOAD\u2019s Executive Director and Chief Curator. \u201cBy presenting them together in the Freedom Tower, we invite audiences to engage with their enduring legacies and consider how their distinct yet interconnected journeys continue to shape contemporary art and cultural history.\u201d<\/p>\n
The exhibition will remain on view at MDC\u2019s Freedom Tower through May 10, 2026. Additional public programs and events accompanying the exhibition will be announced on MOAD\u2019s website and social media channels.<\/p>\n
MOAD\u2019s programs are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners. They are sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Department of State through the Division of Arts and Culture, and with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.<\/p>\n
The programs at the Freedom Tower, operated by the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College (MDC), are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners. They are sponsored by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with collections, exhibition, and marketing support from ArtesMiami, Art Bridges Foundation, the Shepard Broad Foundation, the Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA), Henry Luce Foundation, Jay I. Kislak Foundation, Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation, and US Century Bank.<\/p>\n
WHAT:\u00a0\u00a0 Belkis Ay\u00f3n and Carlos Alfonzo: Odyssey<\/p>\n
WHEN:\u00a0\u00a0 Wednesday, January 28 through Sunday, May 10, 2026<\/p>\n
Public hours Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM<\/p>\n
(Gallery hours will observe Miami Dade College\u2019s holiday schedule.)<\/p>\n
WHERE: MDC\u2019s Freedom Tower (600 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132)<\/p>\n
\u00a0For more information about MOAD and a full schedule of events, please visit http:\/\/www.moadmdc.org\/<\/a> and check our Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> channels for regular updates.<\/p>\n