From Venice with Love
Edouard Duval-Carrié Retrospective
"Pluridisciplinary is the word for me and I’m interested in everything."
- Edouard Duval-Carrié
Presented by The Betsy Writers Room and FIU Public Humanities Lab with support from The Jorge Perez Family Foundation CreARTE Grant.
Edouard Duval-Carrié is a contemporary visual artist based in Miami. Born and raised in Haiti, Duval-Carrié fled the regime of “Papa Doc” Duvalier as a teenager and subsequently resided in Puerto Rico, New York, Montreal, Paris and Miami. In his sprawling Little Haiti studio, Edouard creates politically-charged, luminous sculptures and mixed-media paintings evoking magical realism. He was highlighted for his participation in the 61st Venice Biennale, where his work explores immigration, memory, Vodou symbolism and the deep cultural ties between Haiti and Africa.
“From Venice with Love” is a monumental retrospective celebrating master contemporary artist Edouard Duval-Carrié, arriving in Miami fresh off his acclaimed participation in the 61st Venice Biennale. Curated by Carl Philip Juste, the exhibition invites audiences into Duval-Carrié’s world of migration and memory—where Vodou symbolism becomes both language and lens—directly challenging and rewriting dominant narratives of the Caribbean.
From August 1 through November 15, 2026, the project becomes an immersive visual takeover of The Betsy: Duval-Carrié’s works will fill The Betsy Gallery, while nightly, large-scale video art will map onto the iconic Betsy ORB throughout August. Inside the hotel, BBar will glow with 26 essence-filled light boxes by Duval-Carrié—transforming the space into a gathering point and a luminous backdrop for community conversations, convening, and celebrations.
Grounded in civic engagement, “From Venice with Love” extends well beyond a single venue. Through free public programming, curated academic salons, and live performances, it bridges communities across Miami Beach (including the Lummus Park Promenade Series) and Little Haiti—creating a true citywide footprint that meets audiences where they are.
At the heart of the project is the power of partnership. Produced collaboratively by an alliance of two current grantees of the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation CreARTE program, this initiative brings together The Betsy Writers Room and FIU’s Public Humanities Program—uniting organizational strengths and inviting the extended community to celebrate one of Miami’s finest artists.
And while the visual work anchors the experience, the project ultimately functions as an interdisciplinary cultural hub—a living laboratory for the African and Caribbean Diaspora. It will weave together an elite roster of interdisciplinary talent through residencies, performances, and collaborations, expanding the exhibition into a dynamic, collective act of cultural memory-making.
ABOUT THE INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST-PARTICIPANTS
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Dudley Alexis is an independent filmmaker and visual artist, cultural anthropologist and historian who sees his world through unique multicultural eyes. In both his visual art and filmmaking Dudley aims to understand the power of thought and how it helps to translate our voices. He is best known for When Liberty Burns (2020), Liberty in a Soup (2015) and Sove Nou (2012).
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Deborah Briggs is founder and director of The Betsy Writers Room and a member of the ownership family at The Betsy-South Beach, where she leads community engagement programs. Deborah is co-director of this project with Dr. Rebecca Friedman.
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A'Keitha Carey is a PhD Candidate at Florida International University in Global Dance - born in the Bahamas. Carey attended Florida International University and Florida State University, earning an MFA in Dance. Currently, Carey is working toward a PhD in Global Sociocultural Studies. Carey also holds a certificate in Women’s Studies from Texas Woman’s University and is a dance teacher.
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Diaspora Vibe Afro Beat All Stars
Diaspora Vibe Afro Beat All Stars is an iconic South Florida band led by Gordon Meyer. The All Stars celebrate the global influence of African diaspora music with repertoire that bridges classic vintage Afrobeat, soul, and modern jazz, creating a contemporary culturally rich atmosphere grown from vintage global roots.
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Rebecca Friedman is the Founding Director of the Public Humanities Lab (PHL) and Professor of History at FIU. She is Director of Research for the non-profit iWitness: IPC Institute for Visual Journalism where she oversees projects on immigration and climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean and global diasporas. Rebecca is the co-director of this project with Dr. Deborah Briggs.
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Rosie Gordon-Wallace is founder of the Diaspora Vibe Culture Arts Incubator (DVCAI),a platform dedicated to exploration and experimentation with forms and themes that challenge definitions of the Caribbean and Latin American art. She is an active member of the PAMM Fund for African American Art and serves as one of South Florida’s 50 Most Powerful Black Professionals.
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Assel Jean-Pierre Jr. is a Haitian-American pianist, composer, recording artist, and educator whose work bridges classical virtuosity, jazz improvisation, gospel expression, and the rhythmic traditions of the Caribbean and Latin America. A New York native, he holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Piano Performance and a Master’s degree in Jazz & Composition from the University of Central Florida. His performance and educational work has taken him throughout the United States, Haiti, France, Greece, Switzerland, and Italy. In 2025, he appeared at Carnegie Hall as part of the prestigious Seven Pianists concert alongside internationally recognized artists including Joey Alexander, Valentina Lisitsa, Natalie Tenenbaum, Jimin Park, and the Altino Brothers.
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Carl -Philippe Juste is a Haitian-American cultural storyteller, a visual historian, born into a family that has profoundly impacted Miami’s cultural landscape. His father, Viter Juste, is widely regarded as the "father of Little Haiti." An immigrant from Haiti, Viter was a community leader and activist who fought for the rights of the Haitian diaspora in Miami. He is credited with naming Little Haiti, shaping the area into the heart of Miami’s Haitian community, and leaving an indelible mark on the culture of the city. Viter Juste’s advocacy and leadership helped establish a cultural hub that has remained central to Miami’s identity. Through his work, Carl Juste not only honors his father's legacy but also ensures that Little Haiti's rich culture continues to be celebrated locally and on the world stage.
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Curtis Lundy is a world-recognized jazz musician from a highly musical family in Miami, Florida, Lundy began his journey in the All Miami Youth Jazz Band, attended the University of Miami, receiving classical training under Dr. Lucas Drew. He also studied privately with jazz luminaries including Rufus Reid, Jaco Pastorius, and Ron Carte. He served as the producer and musical mentor for rising saxophonist Simon Mogul, having produced Mogul's debut album, Simon Says.
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Simon Mogul is a talented sax player (from Miami). Known for his work on the NYC jazz scene, he blends classic straight-ahead jazz with elements of soul, hip-hop, and R&B, honoring legends like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. Since moving to New York, he has played with/for icons like Matt Wilson and Arturo O’Farrell, tours internationally and leads an award-winning quintet. Simon completed his Master of Music (MM) in Jazz Studies at City College of NY.
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Gerardo José Ortega is a tenor and arts leader based in Miami. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Florida / New World School of the Arts, and serves as Artistic Administrator of the Downtowner Concert Series and Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Miami. Recent highlights include performances with Miami Music Festival, Barry Opera Theatre, and New World Opera Theatre, plus concert appearances including a National Finalist performance at Carnegie Hall and engagements with ensembles across the U.S. and abroad.
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Edgar Pantojais a pianist and composer specializing in Latin jazz and world music, bridging traditional Cuban genres (rumba, son, and timba) with global rhythms, including jazz, funk, samba, and Moroccan Gnawa. He graduated from Conservatorio Esteban Salas and Conservatorio José María Ochoa.
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Nuria Richards is a thought leader, cultural producer, and creative economy advocate. She’s a serious market maker, completing a Masters in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. An experienced and sought after social entrepreneur, she views art collections as an archive that impact how we refer to the world through time, sometimes through narratives that feel current and close, sometimes through a way to look at the past.
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Nancy St. Leger Dance Company is a performance collective dedicated to the preservation of authentic Haitian Folklore dance. The company was created to demistify Haitian Folkloric dances and to celebrate Haiti’s rich cultural Heritage.
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Alexia Vorbe is a Haitian-born writer, researcher, and curator known for critical analysis of Caribbean art and visual culture. She gained academic and public recognition for her work, which includes an award-winning academic essay, a Medium publication, and collaborative curatorial projects with Edouard Duval-Carré. She is a writer and scholar who secured First Place for her academic essay at the Sigma Delta Tau Writing Awards at Barry University;, authoring the critical essay Hermeneutics of Liberation in Haitian Art. She has been credited by the Miami-based art organization Commissioner for facilitating public art and local artist features to life, including the Ayizan Means Sacred Earth project.
Presenting Partners
