Travelers passing through Miami International Airport (MIA) are now encountering more than a gateway to the world; they are stepping into the story of Miami’s Historic Overtown.
Through a landmark partnership with the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora (Miami MoCAAD), Telling Overtown Stories, Saying Their Names transforms MIA’s Connecting Communities Wall into an immersive cultural experience that combines art and technology to share 130 years of Black history with a global audience.
On view through October 13, 2026, near Door 11 on Concourse E’s arrivals level, pre-security, the exhibition features three large-scale interactive murals that reflect Overtown’s deep cultural roots and enduring ties to the African Diaspora.
By blending augmented reality and QR technology, the exhibition invites travelers and residents alike to engage with oral histories through layered, living narratives, positioning MIA as both a transit hub and a cultural destination during Miami-Dade County’s 250th-anniversary year.
“Showcasing this impressive exhibition at MIA during the same months as our FIFA World Cup matches and the Miami-Dade 250 events offers a unique opportunity to share Overtown’s story with visitors from around the globe,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in a press release.
The unveiling brought together civic leaders, cultural advocates, and community members, underscoring the importance of elevating local stories on the international stage. The program, emceed by MIA Communications Director Greg Chin, featured remarks from MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who suggested displaying the murals at the airport. The remarks highlighted the exhibition’s impact at the intersection of art, education, and oral history.
In a press release, Marilyn Holifield, Senior Partner at Holland & Knight LLP and Miami MoCAAD Co-founder, who also delivered remarks, said, “The exhibition embodies the power of merging art and technology to ensure that stories once overlooked are never forgotten.”
“The exhibition culminates nearly a decade of vision, collaboration, and innovation, creating new ways to experience art and to make it accessible,” Holifield continued. “What began as an idea from our team member Alexis Brown has grown into a traveling exhibition that brings Overtown’s stories directly to the community and, now, to the world.”
About Miami MoCAAD
The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora (Miami MoCAAD) is dedicated to preserving, presenting, and promoting the art, history, and cultural contributions of people of African descent. Through exhibitions, public programs, and innovative, technology-infused initiatives, Miami MoCAAD creates new ways to experience art, reimagining the spaces where art, history, and community intersect.
Learn more at www.miamimocaad.org.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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