De la Cruz Collection

The De la Cruz Collection was a private art museum in Miami, Florida, that operated from 2009 to 2024. Located at 23 NE 41st Street, it was owned by Cuban-born American businessman Carlos de la Cruz and his wife Rosa (1942-2024). The institution showcased their personal collection of contemporary art and distinguished itself by offering free public admission during its fifteen years of operation. Its closure in 2024 following Rosa de la Cruz's death marked the end of one of Miami's notable private museum initiatives.

The origins of the collection date to the 1960s, when Carlos de la Cruz's mother, Dolores Suero Falla, commissioned a portrait from Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dalí. Rosa de la Cruz's first acquisition was "Star Gazer" (1956) by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo. The couple began opening their collection to the public in 1990 from their private residence. After nearly two decades of acquisitions, they constructed a dedicated building to display approximately one-fifth of their holdings, which exceeded 3,000 works. The museum opened in 2009. Since 1998, ArtNews had listed Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz in its worldwide survey of the "Top 200 Collectors." The museum closed permanently in February 2024 following Rosa de la Cruz's death, and in May 2024 Christie's auctioned the 26 most desirable pieces for US$34.4 million.

The collection encompassed contemporary art across multiple media and generations, with particular depth in painting, sculpture, and conceptual practices. It reflected the de la Cruz family's sustained engagement with international contemporary art over several decades, from their initial acquisitions in the 1960s through the 2000s. The museum displayed roughly one-fifth of the total holdings at any given time, rotating works through its three-story exhibition spaces.

The collection featured significant works by major contemporary artists including Isa Genzken, Christopher Wool, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Mark Bradford, Peter Doig, Dan Colen, and Nate Lowman. Additional represented artists included Tauba Auerbach, Kathryn Andrews, Hernan Bas, Walead Beshty, Joe Bradley, Martin Creed, Aaron Curry, Mark Grotjahn, Wade Guyton, Guyton/Walker, Rachel Harrison, Arturo Herrera, Jim Hodges, Evan Holloway, Thomas Houseago, Alex Israel, Rashid Johnson, Alex Katz, Martin Kippenberger, Michael Krebber, Wifredo Lam, Glenn Ligon, Michael Linares, Adam McEwen, Ana Mendieta, Albert Oehlen, Laura Owens, Jorge Pardo, Manfred Pernice, Sigmar Polke, Seth Price, Sterling Ruby, Analia Saban, Josh Smith, Reena Spaulings, Rudolf Stingel, Kelley Walker, and Rufino Tamayo. The 26 most desirable pieces were sold at Christie's in May 2024 for US$34.4 million.

The museum occupied a purpose-built 30,000 square foot (approximately 10,000 square meter) building at 23 NE 41st Street in Miami's Design District. Designed by architect John Marquette, the three-story structure provided expansive exhibition space for the collection. The building was constructed specifically to house and display the de la Cruz collection, replacing the couple's earlier practice of showing works in their private residence.

The De la Cruz Collection was located at 23 NE 41st Street, Miami, Florida, in the United States. During its operation from 2009 to 2024, admission was free and open to the public. The institution was privately owned by Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz and functioned as a non-commercial exhibition space for their personal collection. Following Rosa de la Cruz's death in February 2024, the museum closed permanently, and its holdings were dispersed through auction. The official website was http://www.delacruzcollection.org/.