Today, I have to write an article for the blog of my own company. And sure, with the magic of artificial intelligence, I could easily ask ChatGPT-4: “Hey, write a stupendous article for my blog,” and it would spit out something well-structured and polished. But would it feel human? Would it carry my imperfections, my voice, my experience? Probably not.
I tend to talk a lot—but I also listen deeply. That’s part of who I am as an entrepreneur, as someone who has built something from nothing, trusting my instincts in the messy, unpredictable world of startups. And today, I wanted to write this piece my way—about the journey, the city that shaped it, and what it means to create something with purpose.
I’m beyond blessed to be here in Miami, right at the heart of this incredible moment the city is living—a moment where people from all over the world want to be part of this energy. Miami, in many ways, has become the Hong Kong of the Americas. It’s a place people envy: the fashion, the luxury, the beautiful bodies, that bit of South Beach snobbishness—it’s all part of the package.
But beneath all of that, Miami is raw. It’s vibrant. It’s culture, in every sense of the word. It’s not just about the food, the art, the music—it’s about the soul of this city, a soul that has transformed itself over decades.
We have the Miami City Ballet, a 40-year institution, and the Florida Grand Opera, running strong for 83 years. These are cultural anchors, yes—but what truly makes Miami pulse are the younger spaces shaking things up. Places like Locust Projects, an incubator for artists, born in 1998. It’s a non-profit contemporary art space that gives artists the freedom to experiment, to push boundaries without commercial or institutional limits.
I only got closer to Locust recently, and wow—what an impact they’ve made. An organization founded by artists, for artists.
And honestly, that’s why I’m so proud to have established The Art Dome right here in Miami. Why this city? It’s where it all started for me.
I landed in Miami in 1999, just a year after Locust Projects opened its doors. I’ve watched this city evolve—its skyline reaching higher, its cultural heartbeat getting louder. I saw the birth of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, replacing the old Miami Auditorium (Calle Ocho? Flagler?—my memory’s fuzzy on that one). I remember the opera being there, and the ballet gracing the stage at the Jackie Gleason Theater, now The Fillmore.
I witnessed Frank Gehry’s New World Symphony rise, the creation of MOCA North Miami, the birth of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), and countless other museums, galleries, and private collections. This city became a canvas.
But here’s what makes Miami magic—it’s not just the big names. It’s the mix. The Bach Societies, the chamber music, the underground rap, the electronic beats, the hip-hop streets. The culinary scene with world-class chefs who’ve turned food into an art form. Even the touristy Art Deco tours? They tell the stories of legends—Al Capone, Versace—and connect them to the modern marvels like the submarine tunnel to the Port of Miami, the mega-bridges, the design district exploding with creativity.
Miami is art. In every corner. In every beat. In every clash of old and new.
And that’s why The Art Dome is here. To be part of this moment, to give artists a space where ideas turn into movements.
Because art isn’t just about beauty. It’s about connection. It’s about community. It’s about telling the stories that shape who we are.
And for me? Miami is where my story started. And with The Art Dome, I’m just getting started.