As Director of the Art + Research Center at ICA Miami, Gean Moreno has become an essential catalyst within the city’s cultural landscape, enriching dialogues around contemporary art through his work as a curator, critic, and educator. With more than a decade of influence across South Florida and internationally, he has helped expand Miami’s creative ecosystem by fostering spaces for critical inquiry, experimentation, and collaboration. Speaking with Whitewall, Moreno offers a thoughtful glimpse into the places and moments that ground his perspective—from the expansive quiet of the Big Cypress landscape to the energy of artist studios where ideas are constantly unfolding. He also shares the neighborhoods, meals, and hidden corners of the city that continue to inspire him day to day.
Courtesy of Gean Moreno.
WHITEWALL: WHERE TO FIND INSPIRATION?
GEAN MORENO: I find the best inspiration at Big Cypress National Preserve.
WW: FAVORITE PLACE TO SEE ART?
GM: Artist’s studios are my favorite place to see art in Miami.
WW: BEST NEIGHBORHOOD VIBE?
GM: It has to be Coconut Grove.
“Artist’s studios are my favorite place to see art in Miami,”
Gean Moreno
WW: BEST-KEPT SECRET?
GM: A fully functioning speakeasy in a local artist’s studio—that’s all I can say.
WW: BEST MEAL IN MIAMI?
GM: At Recoveco, South Miami.
Gean Moreno’s 24 Hours in Miami
Morning: Fishing on a charter boat.
Noon: Lunch at Black Point Marina.
Night: Sunset at Key Biscayne, then drinks at Fox’s Lounge.
The Best of Miami, According to Gean Moreno
1. Big Cypress National Preserve
Courtesy of Big Cypress National Preserve, National Park Service.
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Conserving over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to diverse wildlife, including the Endangered Florida panther. – Big Cypress National Preserve
2. Recoveco
Courtesy of Recoveco, Miami.
As implied by its name, meaning “nook” or “cranny” in Spanish, Recoveco is an intimate spot with an open kitchen and a rotating menu dictated by products’ best availability and taste. A carefully selected list of wines and unique beers complements an intentional and dynamic menu. – Recoveco
3. Black Point Marina
Courtesy of Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Ideally located close to Biscayne National Park, this marina is a great starting point for fishing and diving expeditions. It has a dockside restaurant and bar, Ocean Grill Restaurant, large picnic pavilion and grill, bikeways, jogging trails, and a jetty which extends 1.5 miles into the Bay, enabling fishing enthusiasts to cast from shore. – Black Point Marina
4. Fox’s Lounge
Courtesy of Fox’s Lounge, Miami.
Opened in 1946 by Hank and Betty Fox, Fox’s Sherron Inn is the establishment sort that not only embedded its dark threads into the fabric of Miami’s history, but has inspired a generation to carry-on the lost values that make old-fashioned, hospitality special: family, friends, and stiff drinks. Fox’s Sherron Inn began as a sandwich shop and liquor store along South Dixie Highway, all housed under one roof. In 1967, Eastern Airlines pilot George Andrews purchased the establishment as a long-time regular. For the next 40 years, Andrews nurtured a family culture that cemented Fox’s into the legendary culinary and community allure we share today. – Fox’s Lounge
5. ICA Miami
Courtesy of ICA Miami.
The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) is dedicated to promoting continuous experimentation in contemporary art, advancing new scholarship, and fostering the exchange of art and ideas throughout the Miami region and internationally. Through an energetic calendar of exhibitions and programs, and its collection, ICA Miami provides an important international platform for the work of local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, and advances the public appreciation and understanding of the most innovative art of our time. The museum is deeply committed to providing open, public access to artistic excellence by offering year-round free admission. – ICA Miami
