Eight Artists Transform Steinway Pianos for This Year’s Pop-Up Piano Miami

By LAURA RODRIGUEZ

Brushstrokes and piano keys come together once again for this year’s Pop-Up Piano Miami. Eight artists set out to turn pianos into the works of art that will be showcased at the exhibition. Each piano serves as a blank canvas to portray the artist’s individual style. From Ivan Roque’s “Urban Pop” style to Alexander Mijares’s puzzle-inspired paintings, each piano brings a different vibe.

The concept of painting pianos originated the summer of 2011 in New York, when street pianists started popping up all over the city. A full exhibition came to Miami for the second year during Art Basel.

The eight pianos, donated by Steinway & Sons Miami, were scattered across Wynwood, Midtown Miami, Downtown Miami, and Design District. The audience could play the pianos in between “pop-up” performances, and interact with the artists during the exhibition. The artists participating in the exhibition were: Alexander Mijares, Desiree Kawass, Federico Carosio III, Ivan Roque, Rodrigo Gaya, Ross Von Rosenberg, Ruben Ubiera, and Wase One.

After the exhibition, the pianos were donated to local charities. The exhibition also benefited Friends of the New World Symphony and the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra through a fundraising concert event featuring two renowned musicians.

“Pop-Up Piano Miami” opened Dec. 5 at the PERRY South Beach Hotel, 2377 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, and continued through Dec. 9.