MOCA and AfriCOBRA and MOCA Mark 30 Years at LEGACY 30 Gala in North Miami

Miami Living, February 2, 2026

The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami is marking its 30th anniversary in 2026 with A Night in Paradise: LEGACY 30, a gala celebrating leadership, philanthropy and a defining chapter in Black art history. The event will take place on Friday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m.

 
The gala honors MOCA trustees Christopher Carter and Tracey Robertson Carter for their long-standing support of the museum and cultural institutions across Miami. The evening also recognizes AfriCOBRA, the Chicago-based artist collective that shaped the visual language of the Black Arts Movement through work centered on Black identity, access and community.
 
MOCA's relationship with AfriCOBRA expanded in 2018 with AfriCOBRA: Messages to the People, an exhibition marking the collective's 50th anniversary. The exhibition reunited founding members and early contributors and featured works across painting, textiles and sculpture. It later became an official collateral event of the 2019 Venice Biennale, making MOCA the first Florida institution to be included.
 
 Founded in 1996, MOCA North Miami has focused on accessibility, education and public engagement. The 30th anniversary gala reflects those values while linking the museum's past to its future.
 

The evening will feature cuisine by Chef Raheem Sealey and will be hosted by NBC6 anchor Constance Jones. The dress code is Tropical Chic.

 

Honorees include Christopher Carter, Tracey Robertson Carter and members of the AfriCOBRA collective: Sherman Beck, Jeff Donaldson, Jae Jarrell, Wadsworth Jarrell, Barbara Jones-Hogu, Napoleon Jones-Henderson (posthumously), Omar Lama, Carolyn Mims Lawrence, Nelson Stevens and Gerald Williams.

 

MOCA is offering multiple ways to support the gala through sponsorships, table hosting and individual tickets. Options range from presenting and major sponsorships to table packages and individual tickets priced at $1,500. Proceeds support the museum's ongoing programs and community initiatives.

 

Additional details about sponsorships, tickets and the LEGACY 30 celebration are available through MOCA's website or by contacting the museum's development office.