Wet Paint in the Wild: Miami Dealer Katia Rosenthal Installs a Show in Her Sandals and Chats Up Tennis Stars

Check out a week in her life.

Katia Rosenthal at her desk in Miami.

Welcome to Wet Paint in the Wild, an extension of Annie Armstrong’s gossip column wherein she gives art-world insiders a disposable camera so they can give us a peek into their corner of the madcap industry.

If you ask me, Katia Rosenthal is just about as synonymous with the Miami art scene as the Rubells or Mac’s Club Deuce. The gallerist, who is also the director of Bill Brady’s space in Miami, is a passionate advocate for local artists and an embodiment of the energetic spirit we associate with the town. She recently opened up her own space, KDR305, out of her own home, so I passed her a camera for the install. Let’s see how the show turned out…

I was invited to curate a fun summer exhibition in the Design District in a space is run by Matthew Chevallard. It was a pretty entertaining experience. The show is in a space selling Blu Scarpa and Concetto Limone shoes, and a showroom for Memphis Milano furniture. There is probably more! On top of it all, there is an art program component called the Office. Matthew is always doing a lot, which I admire. The show is a must-see—tons look at. Pictured are Julian Wainer and Matthew.

Who else installs shows in sandals? Guillermo came in clutch as I decided to ask him to help me around 3 p.m. for a 5:30 p.m. install. Very thankful to all my art-handler friends in Miami, they are few and far between. Art duo We Are Nice and Easy are pictured here helping move their sculpture into place. The title of the show is “We Hot.” I love the theme.

Being a stage mom for artworks is really my greatest passion—just making sure she looks good before we take that school picture. This is a piece by Joel Gaitan.

I made a quick drop by the Dale Zine opening. Best building facade in the Little River neighborhood goes to them.

Post-install drink at the new Low Key Miami with James McNeal and Nadia. He is the force behind another Miami bar called Over Under. He is awesome. Fried fish sandwich is a chef’s kiss.

The night before the opening, I’m drinking a smoothie for dinner, uploading artwork to some system, fixing an e-blast, finishing up something for Bill Brady, and trying to watch TV. I don’t think I have watched TV in like three weeks. I get into bed sometimes and realize I haven’t chilled, I look at my phone, it literally falls on my face and I pass out. The works on the walls are by Magnus Sodamin and Soimadou Ibraham.

People always ask me, “Do you miss New York?” I do not. I miss my friends a lot, though. I get to swim in the ocean 90 percent of the year.

I’m not your typical nature girl but over the pandemic I found this open-water swimming group that goes out early on Saturdays to Miami Beach. It’s really grounding. This is Diego (@seawolfswim). He makes sure I don’t get eaten by sharks and is also the nicest person in the world and leads the group basically for free.

Straight after work, opening night of “Wet Hot” at the Office: Kelly Breez, Joel Gaitan, me, Rodrigo Gaya, Sarah Mattes, Magnus Sodamin, and Alejandro Piñeiro Bello. I love a group pic.

Me trying not to flirt and talk about art while looking manic at the same time with bro tennis stars Tommy Paul and Rilley Opelka. They were in Wimbledon like three days prior. They love art and I love them. Also pictured are Matthew Chevellard and a friend.

Back up with the birds. This is a site visit for an install of a public artwork I have been working on for three years now. We’re almost there! Pictured are Joanna Davila and Michael Thompson.

I love my house, I love my garden. It’s my Eden, a special place like nowhere else in Miami.

Joel and I are working our tails off on some future projects at my house. I’m so happy for him, he’s crushing it and I’m helping guide. It’s like a movie. We just laugh every time something new happens to him. It’s getting really exciting. This is a Monday, btw. No days off this week.

My home is also the gallery. One day my gallery won’t be where I live, but for now it is, and I get to live with all kinds of art all the time.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
Article topics