Jorge Pérez has undeniably been one of the most influential figures in shaping Miami’s art and cultural landscape—so much so that the city named an entire museum after him. Even after generously donating his entire collection of Latin American art to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Pérez hasn’t rested on his laurels. His continued funding and active support for both the museum and Miami’s broader art scene reflect his profound dedication as a patron of the arts, a commitment that has always been as vital to his identity as his collecting. With his private museum and art center, El Espacio 23, nearing its fifth anniversary, we sat down with Pérez to explore his journey as a collector and patron, his lasting impact on the local art community and his ambitious vision for the future.

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Pérez vividly recalls his upbringing as the son of Cuban exiles in Colombia, where his mother nurtured his early connection to art by taking him to museums as a child. “I was looking mostly to the great Latino American Masters, which is also where my collection started,” he shares. After moving to the U.S. and building his fortune in real estate—beginning with low-income multifamily apartments across Miami—Pérez found that collecting art was a way to stay tethered to his cultural roots. “It gave me a sense of not losing my culture,” he explains.

At a pivotal moment in his career, Pérez made the bold decision to donate his world-class collection of Latin American art to a newly founded Miami museum that was in search of both funding and artistic treasures. Soon after, the institution was named in his honor, cementing his legacy. “I did it for two reasons,” he explains. “First, because of legacy and because I wanted my art to be seen by the public. However, the main reason was mostly because, when you look at the United States, all the major institutions are named after a non-Hispanic person. I thought it was very important since Hispanics were becoming a bigger percentage........

© Observer