Dogtown Owner Shaping Grand Ave’s Art Scene

The scent of sea salt mingles with fresh paint as visitors step into Arrae, Miami’s newest art sanctuary on Grand Avenue in The Little Bahamas District. Anai Fonte, also the owner of Dogtown next door, fell in love with the space and knew immediately—this was it. This isn’t your typical white-walled gallery space. Instead, vibrant works cascade across densely curated walls in a celebration of local creativity that owner Anai Fonte describes as “curiosity meeting accessible art.”

Fonte, a Miami Beach native with deep Dominican and Cuban roots, has transformed her vision into reality with the opening of Arrae. The gallery represents more than just another art space—it’s a love letter to Miami’s evolving creative landscape and a bridge between the city’s cherished past and its dynamic present.

From FIU Student to Visionary

Armed with a BFA in Fine Arts from Florida International University, Fonte has built her artistic practice around ceramics and fabric, though her multidisciplinary approach spans various mediums. Her journey from student to gallery owner reflects the same organic growth she champions in her curatorial philosophy.

“I want to create a space where art doesn’t intimidate,” Fonte explains. “Where someone can walk in, feel welcomed, and discover something that speaks to them personally.”

This accessibility philosophy stems from Fonte’s own relationship with art and her hometown. Growing up in Miami Beach, she witnessed firsthand how creativity could flourish in unexpected places and how community connections could shape artistic expression.

A Love Affair with Coconut Grove

Fonte’s connection to the Grove runs deeper than just a physical location. Her memories paint a picture of a neighborhood that once embodied Miami’s free-spirited essence.

“The first time we ventured into the Grove, we ended up at the Hare Krishna temple. They fed us, gave us candies and flower leis. They were beautiful people who shared wisdom with me that I still draw on today,” she recalls. “The hippies smoking pot in the street often talked about politics, the ever-changing world, music, love, and art. I loved getting lost in the canopy-lined streets and finding old bungalows and cottages adorned in wacky colors and an assortment of lawn ornaments.”

That magical first encounter sparked a lifelong connection. The Grove represented everything Fonte loved about Miami—its eclectic spirit, cultural diversity, and welcoming embrace of artistic expression. She made a promise to herself that if she stayed in Miami, this would be her home.

“It was the Grove that I kept wanting to return to day after day. I vowed that if I stayed in Miami, this is where I wanted to live, and ultimately I did.”

Navigating Change and Transformation

Yet Fonte’s relationship with her beloved neighborhood has evolved alongside Miami itself. The artist doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the bittersweet reality of urban transformation.

“The years passed, and I saw the Grove I fell in love with slowly dying. Tiny bungalows were replaced with cold concrete boxes. Trees destroyed. Hippies were replaced by yuppies. VW Vans replaced by Tesla’s. Hare Krishna replaced by women in Lululemon and Cartier bracelets.”

This observation extends beyond the Grove to encompass Miami’s broader evolution. The city Fonte grew up in feels increasingly distant, replaced by something shinier but perhaps less soulful.

“I then pulled back and realized much of Miami had gone this way. I don’t want to say I am disillusioned, but it feels like the Miami I grew up in is just a memory. I want to love this new version, but it’s hard not to reminisce about what was.”

Rather than retreat into nostalgia, Fonte channels these feelings into creative action. ARRAE represents her attempt to bridge past and present, honoring Miami’s artistic heritage while embracing its contemporary energy.

The Salon-Style Experience

Step inside ARRAE and you’ll immediately understand Fonte’s vision. The gallery embraces a salon-style approach that breaks from the minimalist aesthetic dominating many contemporary art spaces. Here, walls come alive with diverse works hung closely together, creating an immersive experience that encourages exploration and discovery.

This curatorial choice reflects Fonte’s belief that art should be abundant and accessible rather than precious and distant. The dense hanging style invites visitors to spend time with each piece, to make personal connections, and to see how different works dialogue with each other.

The gallery currently features works from 43 artists from the Grove and Miami area. This local focus aligns with Fonte’s mission to support and celebrate regional talent. Rather than importing art from distant markets, ARRAE serves as a platform for Miami’s creative community to shine.

Celebrating Local Voices

Among the featured artists, Victoria Pesce Elliott’s “Works from the Tropics” collection commands attention at the gallery entrance. Elliott’s pieces, crafted entirely from natural materials gathered in the lush tropical environments surrounding her homes in Miami and Jamaica, embody the connection between place and artistic practice that Arrae champions.

Elliott’s story resonates with many visitors. A lifelong creator who recently committed herself full-time to her art, she represents the transformation of passion into professional practice. Her work transforms childhood fascination into vibrant artistic expression, much like Fonte’s own journey from art student to gallery owner.

The use of local materials in Elliott’s work speaks to a broader theme running through ARRAE’s collection—the idea that Miami’s environment itself can be a collaborator in artistic creation. Palm fronds, shells, coral fragments, and other tropical elements become both medium and message.

Memory, Belonging, and Creative Spirit

Fonte’s curatorial vision centers on three interconnected themes: memory, belonging, and Miami’s creative spirit. These concepts weave through every aspect of ARRAE’s presentation, from the artist selection to the hanging style to the gallery’s welcoming atmosphere.

Memory appears not just in nostalgic references to Miami’s past but in the way art can capture and preserve moments of beauty, struggle, and transformation. The works on display serve as visual time capsules, preserving perspectives on life in this ever-changing city.

Belonging manifests in the gallery’s inclusive approach. ARRAE doesn’t cater to an exclusive art world elite but welcomes anyone curious about creative expression. The salon-style hanging creates multiple entry points for engagement, ensuring that visitors with different backgrounds and interests can find something that speaks to them.

Miami’s creative spirit flows through the diversity of artists and mediums represented. From Fonte’s own ceramic and fabric works to Elliott’s natural material sculptures to the varied expressions of dozens of other local creators, ARRAE showcases the breadth and depth of the city’s artistic community.

A Vision for the Future

As ARRAE establishes itself in Miami’s cultural landscape, Fonte’s vision extends beyond simply displaying art. The gallery aims to become a community hub where artists and art lovers can connect, where conversations about creativity and culture can flourish, and where Miami’s artistic future can take shape. She sees the beginning of a new Art District era in the Grove, taking over Grand Avenue.

The timing feels particularly right. As Miami continues to attract attention as an international art destination, spaces like ARRAE ensure that local voices remain central to the conversation. Rather than being displaced by outside influence, Miami’s homegrown creative community finds support and celebration.

Fonte’s background as both artist and entrepreneur positions her uniquely to understand the challenges facing local creators. Her multidisciplinary practice gives her insight into different artistic processes and communities, while her business acumen helps her create sustainable platforms for artistic expression.

The Dominican and Cuban Connection

Fonte’s Dominican and Cuban heritage infuses ARRAE with cultural richness that reflects Miami’s broader Latinx identity. This cultural grounding provides context for understanding how artistic expression can serve as a bridge between generations and traditions.

The waters of Biscayne Bay that inspire Fonte’s vision connect to broader themes of migration, adaptation, and belonging that resonate throughout Miami’s Caribbean and Latin American communities. Art becomes a way of maintaining cultural connections while embracing new possibilities.

Building Community Through Art

Arrae’s success will ultimately be measured not just in sales or critical acclaim but in its ability to foster community connections. The gallery’s approach encourages visitors to engage with art on personal terms, to ask questions, and to see themselves as part of Miami’s creative ecosystem.

This community-building aspect addresses one of Fonte’s core concerns about Miami’s transformation. While she mourns the loss of the Grove’s bohemian character, she’s working to create new spaces where authentic connection and creative exploration can flourish.

The salon-style presentation encourages lingering, conversation, and repeated visits. Unlike galleries where visitors might quickly walk through and leave, ARRAE invites deeper engagement. The dense hanging means there’s always something new to discover, even on return visits.

Looking Forward

As Arrae settles into its role in Miami’s art scene, Fonte continues to balance her roles as artist, curator, and community builder. The gallery represents her attempt to reconcile love for Miami’s past with excitement about its future.

The space serves as a testament to the power of local creativity and the importance of providing platforms for homegrown talent. In a city increasingly defined by external perceptions and outside investment, ARRAE insists on the value of indigenous artistic expression.

For visitors, the gallery offers more than just art viewing—it provides an opportunity to engage with Miami’s creative soul. Whether you’re a longtime resident nostalgic for the city’s artistic past or a newcomer curious about its cultural present, ARRAE welcomes you to explore, discover, and connect.

With the opening of ARRAE, Anai Fonte wishes to establish a cultural sanctuary where Miami’s creative spirit can flourish, where memory and belonging intersect with artistic expression, and where the city’s evolving identity finds visual form. It’s a space that honors what was while embracing what could be—much like Miami itself.