Public programs, workshops, and performances complement Ové’s first solo exhibition in Miami.
Zak Ové’s work has long lived at the intersection of ritual, memory, and imagination. Drawing from Caribbean traditions, African histories, and Afrofuturist thought, his sculptures speak quietly but powerfully about collective identity and presence in public space. His figures do not perform; they gather, stand, and witness.
Before his installations reached monumental scale, Ové spent years immersed in the visual language of Trinidad’s Carnival, documenting its movement, symbolism, and communal spirit. That early engagement continues to echo throughout his practice, where procession, repetition, and ceremony remain central themes. Born in London to a Trinidadian father and Irish mother, Ové’s perspective has been shaped by life between cultures—an experience that informs both the emotional depth and material weight of his work. Over the years, his sculptures have appeared in major public and institutional settings internationally, including a landmark commission that placed his towering figures within the British Museum’s permanent collection.
This winter, the Miami Design District presents Ové’s first solo presentation in the city with J’OUVERT, on view in Jungle Plaza from January 15 through February 9, 2026. At the heart of the installation stands The Mothership Connection (2022), a nearly 30-foot totemic sculpture that reads as both ancestral monument and speculative form. Encircling it, Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness (2016) brings together forty graphite figures whose quiet formation asserts dignity, presence, and collective memory within the open air of the plaza.
Public programs presented in conjunction with the exhibition include a range of experiences that invite visitors to engage with Ové’s work beyond the sculptures themselves. On January 16, a First Look with the Artist offers an opportunity to hear directly from Ové as he guides audiences through the installation and its layered meanings. Creative exploration continues on January 19 with All Hail the Mothership, an art-making workshop presented by PAMM, encouraging participants to respond to themes of ritual and form. A Public Art Tour on January 24 places J’OUVERT in dialogue with the District’s broader public art landscape.
Movement and sound animate Jungle Plaza throughout the run of the exhibition. Soca Sundays, held on January 25, brings a Caribbean-rooted dance class open to all levels, while an immersive sound bath on January 30 transforms the plaza into a space of meditative listening and vibration. The celebratory spirit of Carnival takes shape during District Sounds: Carnival Edition on February 1, followed by AFROBETA’s live performance on February 6, blending music, food, and communal gathering. The programming culminates with Zak Ové in Conversation as part of the PAMM Scholl Lecture Series on February 5, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, offering deeper insight into the artist’s practice and influences.
Walking through J’OUVERT, Jungle Plaza feels like a crossroads of histories and futures, each figure and form acting as a quiet storyteller. Ové’s installation invites reflection, movement, and shared presence—reminding visitors that identity is layered, collective, and always in motion.
Public programming highlights in the Miami Design District surrounding the exhibition can be found here and below: