A Miami arts organization with
a global impact
Museums, galleries, and exhibition spaces present artwork; Fountainhead introduces you to the artists who create them.
Residency Alumni
550+
Countries Represented
49+
People Touched Annually
3,000+
Our Story
Fountainhead was founded in 2008 by collectors and passionate art appreciators Kathryn and Dan Mikesell, who believe connecting people intimately with artists impacts how we move through this world, treat one another and confront today’s most critical issues. They created Fountainhead to positively impact the lives and careers of artists and nurture and grow their local arts ecosystem. Establishing a residency program for visiting national and international artists alongside an artists’ studios complex to serve the local artist community, Fountainhead has welcomed nearly 530 artists from 49 countries and engages thousands of art lovers each year. In 2019, Fountainhead launched Artists Open, a countywide open studios event that welcomes the public into over 300 artists studios all over Miami.
Fountainhead’s approach empowers artists by making connections that lead to growth in their work and careers, providing time and space to experiment and challenge their practice, and mentorship and business skills to help them lead thriving careers. In its 15-year history, Fountainhead has become a pioneering force in the arts and culture landscape developing innovative artist and community engagement programs, and cultivating key relationships with leading art institutions in South Florida and beyond.
Natalie Ball in her studio at Fountainhead Residency, shot by Celia D Luna
“Artists feed our every sense and emotion, and inspire us to act.”
– Dan & Kathryn Mikesell
Photo by Andrea Máté Photography
Our Mission
Fountainhead elevates the voices, visibility, and value of artists in our society and makes their work accessible in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Our mission is to inspire new ways of thinking by looking into the human experiences and stories that connect us all.
Harnessing the power in our diversity, we’re building a global family of artists and appreciators, one personal connection at a time.
Our Values
We believe that true equity requires elevating and supporting diverse voices by sharing power, resources, and access.
We believe that connecting people through the arts causes us to pause and experience the present, question our assumptions and biases, and aspire to a better future.
We want people to be able to see themselves in the artists we support and equally create space to be inspired by those who are different.
The arts should be accessible to everyone wanting to engage in them. We provide an environment that is approachable and free of barriers and hierarchies.
We know that in order for artists to continue their work and contribute to our society, they must have the resources and opportunities that lead to thriving careers.
We work with artists and communities of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual preferences, gender identities, and abilities.
