ROSA DE LA CRUZ’S GALLERY HOME

Home is where the “art” is for Cuba-born art aficionista Rosa de la Cruz, who lives with the likes of Sigmar Polke, Jim Hodges, Martin Kippenberger and other 20th-century master artists. For many, her gallery-like lifestyle seems more than extraordinary; but for Rosa, it’s simply a way of life.
“Many visitors are surprised that my husband, Carlos, and I live in a house that looks like a museum,” Rosa says. “We use this home like any normal house, and we also host many functions here.”
Perhaps the most noteworthy event is the garden party Rosa has hosted for the past several years to kick off the preeminent Art Basel Miami. Because last year’s party quickly outgrew her home, she’s moving this year’s event to the Miami Design District, where German artist John Bock will complete an 8,000-square-foot installation at the Moore Space Loft. No worries, though, Rosa’s home and collection are still open to the public, by appointment only. And she likes it that way.
“One of the problems with contemporary art is that people are not familiar with it,” she says. “I’m providing a service that’s personal with a story behind it — not a museum experience. People who don’t generally like contemporary art end up liking it when they leave.”
Rosa and Carlos bought the small, one-story waterfront Key Biscayne house in 1982, and during the past 24 years, have added several wings designed by well-known architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Platter-Zyberk, of Seaside fame, Juan Lezcano, and Raul Rodriguez.
Now three houses in one, the gallery home totals 15,000 square feet with one bedroom and the rest of the space dedicated to the arts. To keep the look consistent outside, the entire home was painted white, creating “a blank canvas for the artwork inside,” she says.
Collecting came naturally to Rosa and Carlos, who lived in Europe for 10 years and traveled avidly. So when the couple settled in Miami with their five children, and now 15 grandchildren, gathering Latin American art seemed the obvious first step. A 1953 Rufino Tamayo painting initiated their passion, and hundreds of pieces later, Rosa says she still feels like she’s learning about art. “The day I think I know everything will be a bad day,” she says with a laugh.
Unlike typical residential collections, Rosa’s covers the floors, walls, ceilings and nearly every inch of her gallery home. “These are not works like you see hanging behind a sofa,” she says. “Artists come to my house to do site-specific installations.”
Though she has a few steady favorites, such as Jim Hodges and Felix González-Torres — the latter of whose work she has the largest collection — Rosa never stops looking for new talent, and rotates her collection almost every year. Thus, choosing what to keep up and what to take down proves to be a difficult endeavor. Not one for works with a strong narrative, Rosa prefers pieces that leave the door open — fitting for a woman who wants to share art with the world.

	Home is where the “art” is for Cuba-born art aficionista Rosa de la Cruz, who lives with the likes of Sigmar Polke, Jim Hodges, Martin Kippenberger and other 20th-century master artists. For many, her gallery-like lifestyle seems more than extraordinary; but for Rosa, it’s simply a way of life. “Many visitors are surprised that my husband, Carlos, and I live in a house that looks like a museum,” Rosa says. “We use this home like any normal house, and we also host many functions here.” Perhaps the most noteworthy event is the garden party Rosa has hosted for the past several years to kick off the preeminent Art Basel Miami. Because last year’s party quickly outgrew her home, she’s moving this year’s event to the Miami Design District, where German artist John Bock will complete an 8,000-square-foot installation at the Moore Space Loft. No worries, though, Rosa’s home and collection are still open to the public, by appointment only. And she likes it that way. “One of the problems with contemporary art is that people are not familiar with it,” she says. “I’m providing a service that’s personal with a story behind it — not a museum experience. People who don’t generally like contemporary art end up liking it when they leave.” Rosa and Carlos bought the small, one-story waterfront Key Biscayne house in 1982, and during the past 24 years, have added several wings designed by well-known architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Platter-Zyberk, of Seaside fame, Juan Lezcano, and Raul Rodriguez. Now three houses in one, the gallery home totals 15,000 square feet with one bedroom and the rest of the space dedicated to the arts. To keep the look consistent outside, the entire home was painted white, creating “a blank canvas for the artwork inside,” she says. Collecting came naturally to Rosa and Carlos, who lived in Europe for 10 years and traveled avidly. So when the couple settled in Miami with their five children, and now 15 grandchildren, gathering Latin American art seemed the obvious first step. A 1953 Rufino Tamayo painting initiated their passion, and hundreds of pieces later, Rosa says she still feels like she’s learning about art. “The day I think I know everything will be a bad day,” she says with a laugh. Unlike typical residential collections, Rosa’s covers the floors, walls, ceilings and nearly every inch of her gallery home. “These are not works like you see hanging behind a sofa,” she says. “Artists come to my house to do site-specific installations.” Though she has a few steady favorites, such as Jim Hodges and Felix González-Torres — the latter of whose work she has the largest collection — Rosa never stops looking for new talent, and rotates her collection almost every year. Thus, choosing what to keep up and what to take down proves to be a difficult endeavor. Not one for works with a strong narrative, Rosa prefers pieces that leave the door open — fitting for a woman who wants to share art with the world.

Jim Hodges’ mirror wall installation reflects the natural light in the atrium, where Martin Kippenberger’s green mixed-media on canvas catches the eye and Felix González-Torres’ stacked pieces of paper sit in the center.

Frank Gehry’s bentwood furniture distinguishes the living room. Artwork by Sigmar Polke, on the right wall, Dirk Skreber, on the left wall, and Cosima von Bonin, above the doors, paints the space.

Christian Holstad, one of Rosa de la Cruz’s favorites, makes his mark throughout the library with “Slumber Party” and “Take Stand,” left and right respectively; and “Helping Hands,” two snake-like sculptures on the floor. Photography by Christopher Grosso

Holstad’s sculpture, “Party Favors,” takes center stage in the dining area. The New York artist is known for his use of everyday objects, such as pieces of fabric, gloves and champagne glasses, which are incorporated into this piece. Photography by Christopher Grosso

Six paintings and a collection of paint cans, by Kelley Walker and Wade Guyton from their “Dear Ketel One Drinker Hello Again” series, line one wall of another dining/sitting area in the home. Photography by Christopher Grosso

Tal R sculptures and paintings fill one of the left wing galleries, which was added on by architect Juan Lezcano in 1995.

Jonathan Meese created an untitled installation, 2005, that canvases the left wing gallery like graffiti on a city wall. Photography by Christopher Grosso

The collaborative multimedia piece shown above, by assume vivid astro focus, encompasses the entire second floor. The site-specific installation was completed in December 2004. Photography by CM Guerrero

Venezuelan artist Arturo Herrera’s “Untitled” wall painting colors the loggia and patio area, where Rosa has held many events, including a garden party for Art Basel Miami. Photography by David de Armas