The Wolfsonian-FIU

10/16/2026

Once upon a time… 🏰

These beautiful illustrations from the 1919 edition of “Cinderella” are by British artist Arthur Rackham, known for illustrating classic fairy tales and children’s books in the early 1900s.

We just love the tiny outline of Cinderella’s little shoe trailing behind her as she rushes away from the ball at midnight...

👠 See it for yourself in our exhibition “Foot Notes: Shoes, Symbolism, and Society”!

🎃 Then join us this Sunday, October 18, 1–4 pm, for “Howl-O-Ween: Once Upon a Time,” featuring story time, artmaking, costumed figure drawing, bingo, and more!

Collection, Gift of
📚 Book illustration, “Cinderella,” 1919. Arthur Rackham, illustrator. Charles Seddon Evans, author. William Heinemann, London, and J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, publishers.

10/13/2026

Making bread from air? 🤯 🍞

In the early 20th century, capturing nitrogen promised to feed a growing world—but the same chemistry also fueled explosives.

In our latest blog post, Italian studies scholar and former Wolfsonian research fellow Rebecca Falkoff explores how science, art, and propaganda intertwined in fascist Italy’s pursuit of abundance and power.

Read the full story:

We're perfectly situated right in the heart of SoBe, at the corner of 10th & Washington. Plan your trip and check out our hours, admission, and more.

09/28/2026

How did a curious drink created in Atlanta in 1886 become one of the most recognizable brands in the world?

For the next installment of our “Made in USA” series, we’re taking a closer look at Coca-Cola through a surprising discovery in our collection.

While doing some research in our library, we found these educational booklets from the 1940s titled, “Our America.”

They were distributed to teachers during the Second World War—along with posters and other materials—to help classrooms at a time when resources were being diverted to the war effort overseas.

Through vivid illustrations and interactive cut-and-paste activities, students explored American industries: from steel manufacturing and glassmaking to electricity and motion pictures.

And who was behind all this? Coca-Cola!

From its earliest days, Coca-Cola understood the art of mass marketing, connecting its name and imagery to nearly every aspect of American life.

But what makes these booklets so unique is that none of the images feature Coca-Cola at all.

Instead, the company provided genuinely useful educational materials. The booklets are filled with beautifully illustrated lessons, some so detailed and colorful that it’s easy to get lost in the little worlds they depict.

Today, they offer a colorful window into 1940s America, celebrating the spirit behind everything from the glass in our windows to the movies on our screens.

By teaching young Americans about the industries shaping their country, Coca-Cola was also making itself part of the American story.

09/16/2026

With special behind-the-scenes access and under the close supervision of our library team, Nathaniel Sandler—founder of Miami’s beloved free bookstore, Bookleggers Library—got a rare, once-in-a-lifetime chance to carefully assemble an original 1900 Paris World’s Fair puzzle.

Putting it together under expert care reveals what a display case can’t: how it worked as a souvenir and how a visitor over a century ago may have experienced it. As an educational institution stewarding one of the largest university collections of modern material culture, creating these rare opportunities to understand objects in context is central to our mission.

Nathaniel shares that same passion for unearthing stories that might otherwise stay hidden in the archives. This Friday, he brings that curiosity back for our popular “Into the Stacks” series and another one-night-only close look at the collection.

No, you won’t be assembling a 19th-century puzzle yourself—but you will get an unusually close look at rarely seen objects from the collection, including telephones, radios, and other tools that helped people share news, tell stories, and stay connected.

Tickets are going fast! Link in bio 🤓

09/11/2026

Artist Leo John Meissner’s 1934 linocut print, “Future New York,” depicts the city as a concrete jungle packed with buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians.

Nearly a century later, its exaggerated metropolis feels surprisingly familiar. Perhaps, in some ways, Meissner’s vision came true. It’s fascinating to imagine what people in 1934 thought the future might hold, and all that New York—and the world around it—would experience over the next century.

Collection, Gift of
🖼️ Linocut print, “Future New York,” c. 1934. Leo John Meissner, artist.

09/06/2026

Extraordinary seating for an extraordinary venue!

These theater seats were designed by Art Nouveau master Hector Guimard for the Salle Humbert de Romans in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. The striking building was demolished shortly after completion, and only a few remnants—like these seats—survive today.

Imagine going to see a show and not realizing the true masterpiece was the chair beneath you! They really don’t make them like they used to. 🌿✨

We have another incredible object designed by Guimard on view in our 2nd-floor galleries right now: a cast-iron balustrade that inspired new contemporary work by artist Liene Bosquê.

Catch Bosquê’s show on its final day—today—before the balustrade returns to storage!

Collection, Gift of
🪑 Theater chairs from the Salle Humbert de Romans, Paris, 1897–1901. Hector Guimard, designer.

09/04/2026

Creating art outdoors during summer in Miami—what could go wrong? ⛈️ ☀️

A little rain wasn’t about to stop Liene Bosquê from creating her rooftop cyanotypes for “What Still Stands,” now on view on the second floor.

It’s your final weekend to see the finished works in person before the installation closes this Sunday, September 6!

📍 The Wolfsonian–FIU
1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach
🕙 Wed–Sun: 10am–6pm | Fri: 10am–9pm

09/04/2026

What is a cyanotype? Besides a funny word. ☀️💙

Artist Liene Bosquê, who developed the project during her time as a Wolfsonian Creative Fellow, describes the process, accompanied by animation from our social media intern and animation wizard Sophia Monteiro—with a surprise guest appearance by Art Nouveau master Hector Guimard. See if you can spot him! 👀

The finished cyanotypes are on view in “What Still Stands” on the second floor.

It’s your final weekend to see the installation before it closes this Sunday, September 6!

📍 The Wolfsonian–FIU
1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach

🕙 Wed–Sun: 10am–6pm | Fri: 10am–9pm

08/24/2026

Ever wonder how books in exhibitions look like they’re magically floating in mid-air? ✨🪄

It’s all in the acrylic mount—and our preparator came up with a clever way to improve the process.

Instead of starting from scratch, they modified an existing machine in our workshop to custom-shape mounts faster and more precisely.

A true behind-the-scenes ! 🛠️📚

08/12/2026

For the past decade, Zines for Progress (Z4P) has introduced Miami-Dade high school students to the practice of zine-making, giving them a creative platform to explore and express their ideas.

Drawing inspiration from The Wolfsonian–FIU collection, students investigate how design communicates meaning before creating original publications that respond to contemporary issues through research, visual storytelling, and critical thinking.

Since its inception, the program has engaged more than 2,500 students across 100 classrooms, resulting in 1,012 original zines that explore topics ranging from mental health and identity to the challenges shaping everyday life.

Ten years on, Zines for Progress continues to demonstrate how design remains a powerful medium for observation, dialogue, and civic expression.