Rosa de La Cruz's passing has sparked discussions on how collectors shape the art landscape and the critical need for its accessibility.

In February, the art world mourned the loss of Rosa de La Cruz, a beloved Cuban-American collector and patron. Her legacy, embodied in her impressive art collection estimated at over $30 million, reflected her deep engagement with art beyond personal passion to become a public symbol of culture and education significantly shaping Miami’s art scene.

Rosa and Carlos de La Cruz opened their Key Biscayne home to the public for over three decades and later established a 30,000-square-foot museum in Miami's Design District. With its exhibitions, the free museum became a key part of Miami's art scene, especially during Art Basel Miami Beach.

The de La Cruz collection was a revered assembly of works that included the likes of Christopher Wool, Sarah Morris, Laura Owens, Félix González-Torres, Agustín Cárdenas, Ana Mendieta, Sterling Ruby, and Mark Bradford, alongside significant pieces by Wifredo Lam and Salvador Dalí.

"She harboured a significant number of works by Ana Mendieta and Félix González-Torres,” explains Victoria Maldonado, assistant director at the Juan Carlos Maldonado Collection from Miami, adding,

With Christie's set to auction this collection, estimated at over $30 million, the art community faces the bittersweet prospect of dispersing a body of work that has been both a private passion and a public treasure.

Maldonado explains that this “drop” of available art will divert art buyers' spending to the auction, not only due to the value of the works themselves but also because of “the added prestige of having been part of the De La Cruz collection,” potentially affecting investment in works by other artists within the community.

This decision also raises questions about the future of their iconic museum space, a sleek white building designed by John Marquette that has become synonymous with cutting-edge art in Miami. Speculations abound on its fate—will it become another high-end boutique, or could it serve a new purpose, possibly extending the legacy of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami?

It's a shame that this space couldn't remain open, as Rosa would have wanted. With the loss of financial support, one wonders if the decision to close was made hastily, driven solely by profit. Preserving such spaces is crucial, ensuring art remains inclusive and fostering appreciation and engagement with the arts

Business

Meet the Venezuelan Influencer Turned Beauty Mogul 

Venezuela native Ydelays Rodriguez transformed her initial isolation upon moving to the U.S. into a thriving online community. In 2012, she launched her YouTube channel, focusing on makeup and beauty, and has since garnered an impressive following of over 871K, along with 64 million views.

Her collaboration roster boasts esteemed brands such as YSL, Laura Mercier, Too Faced, and Lancôme, among others. In 2019, Rodriguez launched her beauty brand, Golden Dream Beauty, which is vegan and made in Italy, and has been featured in Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan! Rodriguez is barely getting started: she’s on a broader mission is to advocate for Latin American representation in the beauty industry.

Art

A La Brava: Revolutionizing Latin American Superhero Representation

Kayden Phoenix, launched "A La Brava," a pioneering comic series featuring superheroes of diverse Latin American origins. Addressing complex issues within its narrative, the series empowers young Latin American girls, encouraging them to challenge stereotypes and affirm their strength.

Fashion

 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Los Cabos

A "Luxury Edition" of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week took place in Los Cabos from April 2-6, showcasing regional talents and hosting guest designers from Saudi Arabia. Despite announcements on Instagram and Vogue México, there has been minimal online coverage from Latin American media, raising questions about global visibility.

The edition featured beloved Mexican talents , Alfredo Martinez, Kris Goyri, Sandra Weil, and guest Saudi designers Dazluq, Khawla Al Aiban, Kaf by Kaf, NH Designer, Nora Al Shaikh, Waad Aloqali.

News Bites

• While Shakira's latest album, "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran," breaks records, she recently expressed to Allure that the Barbie movie felt "emasculating." Her 12th studio album, inspired by a public breakup, achieved record-breaking streams within the first 24 hours of release and earned a 7x platinum certification on its release day. The apparent contradiction between her empowering music and her sentiments about the Barbie movie sparked a lot of opinions on Shakira’s comments, with people taking to social media to share their thoughts. One user even prompted the Colombian singer to “raise more secure men.”

• Mexico’s City’s Streets are being renamed after women. The Mexico City government, led by Martín Batres, is inviting residents to vote on the CDMX platform for a street or avenue in the city to be named after one of the country's distinguished women. The nominees include Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, Pita Amor, Mercedes Sosa, Benita Galeana, Adela Salazar, Leona Vicario, and Rita Guerrero.

• Yanbal Leads the Beauty Market in Colombia with Steady GrowthYanbal, the leading multi-Latin company in perfumery, has achieved steady double-digit growth in Colombia, launching its new perfume Ícono with meticulous planning in its development and global production.

• Fendi launches its Selleria 1925 collection in Mexico: The historic Italian house is betting on its wealthy Mexican clientele to seel its Selleria 1925 collection, featuring Roman leather pieces with prices ranging from approximately US $661.50 to $8,640.

• All About Guatemala Fashion Week (or What I Managed To Dig Up) For over three days, the Central American country celebrated Latin American fashion design from both Guatemalan and regional creators. The venue was Infinia at the Agexport building, a key institution for Guatemala's export growth. Designers featured included Jesús de la Garsa, Owana Lima from Nicteel; María Calderón, María Fernanda Bags, Totto, Ischia by Miranda Miguel, and Erick Bendaña. (Borrowed this pic for Vogue.Mx)Thanks for checking out the newsletter! Don't keep it to yourself—spread the word and get your friends onboard! Soon, I'll be launching a referral program with fantastic perks. Stay tuned—it's going to be worth the wait!

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