Telling Overtown Stories, Saying Their Names

Historic Overtown’s people, landmarks and cultural legacy come into focus through three interactive mural installations at Miami International Airport. On view from April 15 through October 13, the exhibition transforms the airport’s Connecting Communities Wall into a public storytelling space using visual art, oral histories and digital content activated by QR codes. Presented with the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora, the project expands access to murals permanently installed at sites throughout Overtown.

Featured works include Reginald O’Neal’s tribute to Local 1416 longshoremen and their role in advancing Miami’s Black community, Anthony “Mojo” Reed II’s OVERtown: Our Family Tree, honoring Judge Lawson E. Thomas and Stefan Smith’s Overtown Pitch: Game Changers, which explores Black soccer history through art, storytelling and an interactive penalty-kick game.

Timed to coincide with the FIFA World Cup 2026, Miami-Dade 250 and the United States’ 250th anniversary, the exhibition connects local history with audiences traveling through Miami. Recorded memories, curated narratives and artist perspectives highlight the individuals and communities whose contributions continue to shape Overtown and the wider city.