This Is America: Selections from PAMM’s Collection marks the Semiquincentennial––the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence––through artworks drawn from the permanent collection of Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). Bringing together works by artists from diverse cultural backgrounds and across multiple time periods and media, the exhibition presents a multiplicity of perspectives on American history and identity. Featuring artists such as José Bedia, Judy Chicago, Alfredo Jaar, and Rashid Johnson, alongside Miami-based contemporaries including Eddie Arroyo, Thomas Bils, Gonzalo Hernández, and Sandra Ramos, This Is America situates national narratives within the cultural dynamics of Miami.
The exhibition traces how American artists have responded to pivotal moments of crisis and transformation––from the Civil War and World War II to 9/11, the COVID-19 pandemic, and modern social and political conditions––while also foregrounding forms of cultural expression rooted in resilience, community, and joy. Reflecting on both somber and triumphant historical events, the works in This Is America frame the nation’s 250th anniversary as a moment not only for commemoration and celebration, but also for rumination.
By foregrounding the work of American artists––including women, immigrants, Black artists, Indigenous artists, and artists of color––the exhibition emphasizes national perspectives historically underrepresented in American art. This Is America underscores PAMM’s commitment to collecting and presenting art shaped by a broad range of experiences and invites visitors to engage with the evolving story of the United States through the museum’s permanent collection.
