BLACKQUETRY BY MILTON MIZELL CLOSES TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Presents Official Recognition to Artist and Gallery Founder on Behalf of the Miami-Dade 250 Advisory Committee

MIAMI SHORES, FL — October 2, 2026 — CLAUG Creative Studio is proud to announce the successful close of Blackquetry, a solo exhibition by Miami-based marquetry artist Milton Mizell, which ran from August 22 through September 30, 2026, at CLAUG Creative Studio, 9703 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33138.

Over the course of six weeks, Blackquetry drew collectors, community members, and art lovers from across Miami and beyond, establishing itself as one of the most celebrated exhibitions in the gallery's history. The exhibition presented a body of work crafted entirely from natural, dyed, and bleached wood veneers — a centuries-old technique reimagined through the lens of Black identity, cultural memory, and contemporary portraiture. Several works from the exhibition were acquired by private collectors.

The exhibition culminated on September 23, 2026, with a closing mayoral event attended by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioners Oliver Gilbert and Keon Hardemon, and State Representative Ashley Grant. In a highlight of the evening, Mayor Levine Cava presented an official recognition on behalf of the Miami-Dade 250 Advisory Committee to both Milton Mizell and CLAUG Creative Studio founder Carlos Andrade — honoring the exhibition's contribution to the cultural life of Miami-Dade County.

"Blackquetry has been a defining moment for CLAUG Creative Studio. Milton brought a body of work that not only celebrated Black identity and artisanal mastery, but also opened a genuine conversation between art and community. To see Miami's elected officials recognize that work is a testament to what art can do when it is given the space to speak."

— Carlos Andrade, Founder, CLAUG Creative Studio

Blackquetry received coverage from the Miami Herald, WLRN, and Artburst Miami, solidifying Milton Mizell's presence in the Miami art conversation and affirming CLAUG Creative Studio's role as an emerging destination for significant contemporary work.

Photography by Gregory F. Reed.

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About Milton Mizell

Milton Mizell is a Miami-based marquetry artist whose work explores Black identity, portraiture, and cultural memory through the meticulous assembly of natural, dyed, and bleached wood veneers. His practice revives and reimagines a centuries-old craft, bringing it into urgent contemporary dialogue.

About CLAUG Creative Studio

CLAUG Creative Studio is an independent contemporary art gallery founded by Venezuelan-born artist Carlos Andrade, located in Miami Shores, Florida. The gallery is dedicated to presenting meaningful work by emerging and established artists, fostering dialogue between art, community, and culture. CLAUG Creative Studio is supported in part by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.