Celebrating Black History Month at The Betsy

Join The Betsy for an exhibition opening and performance presented in honor of Black History Month. On Friday, February 7, at The Betsy - South Beach will showcase the work of acclaimed photographer Maria Daniel Balcazar.

The inaugural exhibition, titled Kilombo, showcases large-scale documentary photographs that capture the enduring vitality of African traditions in Brazilian culture. Visitors can experience this moving collection in the Carlton Room Gallery, where it will remain on display through May 2025. The opening reception begins at 7:30 p.m.and welcomes the public free of charge.

This exhibition marks the launch of iWitness @ The Betsy, a new collaborative initiative between The Betsy Hotel and FIU's iWitness: IPC Institute of Visual Journalism. The evening features a presentation by Balcazar herself, accompanied by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Carl Juste, founder and curator of iWitness. Adding to the cultural celebration, Brooklyn-based poet and performer Tai Allen will present original works accompanied by pianist Brian Murphy.

Both featured artists will join The Betsy Writers Room's prestigious residency program, which has hosted over 1,000 creative professionals. Located at 1433 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach's historic Art Deco District, The Betsy Hotel continues its tradition of supporting arts and culture through this meaningful partnership with FIU's Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab and the Iris Photo Collective.