Not Afraid

More about the book

Not Afraid is the first comprehensive exploration of a monumental private collection of contemporary art owned by the Rubell family in Miami, Florida. Since 1967, the family has amassed around 6,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, photography, videos, and installations by significant artists from the last three decades. The collection features renowned names such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, and Cindy Sherman, among others. The book showcases approximately 300 reproductions of key works, designed to simulate the experience of visiting the collection, which opened to the public in 1996. It is neither a catalogue nor a traditional art history manual but an impressive visual journey through contemporary art. The publication includes an introduction by museum director Mark Coetzee and an insightful interview with Don and Mera Rubell about their collecting journey. Originally based in New York, the Rubells relocated to Miami in 1993, restoring Art Deco hotels before establishing their collection in a former Drug Enforcement Agency building. With 40,000 square feet of exhibition space that changes biannually, the collection attracts around 22,000 visitors each year, making it a must-see for contemporary art enthusiasts in Miami.