Joep van Lieshout‘s Humanoids (2019) is a permanent public art installation commissioned by the City of Miami Beach’s Art in Public Places program. It’s part of a larger series of site-specific works created for the renovated and expanded Miami Beach Convention Center area. The piece consists of nine large-scale biomorphic sculptures made of aluminum (cast in various dimensions). These abstract, humanoid-like figures are placed throughout Collins Canal Park, which is located just north of the Miami Beach Convention Center, along the canal and integrated amidst the landscaping and trees. Van Lieshout, a Dutch artist (often working under Atelier Van Lieshout), is known internationally for his sculptures, large-scale installations, and public artworks that blend elements of design, architecture, and social commentary. His work frequently explores themes like the relationship between humans, machines, nature, and society. Humanoids reflects his ongoing fascination with man, machine, and humanity, appearing as abstracted creatures that “inhabit” the natural environment of the park. The sculptures make a subtle statement about our relationship to nature and origins—they blend into the surroundings as if they are organic beings or evolved forms using the park as their habitat. They encourage interaction: visitors can use them as spots to meet (rendezvous points), sit, sketch, write, think, talk, or simply contemplate. This turns them into social catalysts and places for reflection amid the urban setting. The work was unveiled around 2019 as part of the Convention Center’s public art initiative. We filmed the installation on the occasion of Miami Art Week 2025.

Joep van Lieshout: Humanoids, 2019 / Miami Beach Art in Public Places. Miami Beach (USA), November 26, 2025.