At the latest edition of Miami Art Week, artist Es Devlin transformed the Faena District into a monumental public reading room—and ensured that its impact would extend far beyond the art installation itself through the donation of thousands of books to Miami-Dade schools.
Commissioned by Faena Art, Library of Us featured a striking rotating triangular bookshelf housing 4000 books, each title hand selected by the artist. Across the bookshelf, scrolling texts on a 50 ft long LED screen were read aloud in the voice of Es Devlin. Conceived as both an immersive artwork and a civic gesture, the installation invited visitors into a shared space for reflection, literature, and collective exchange. Throughout the experience, Es Devlin emphasized the profound role of books in shaping empathy, imagination, and human connection.
Crucially, the project was designed with a lasting educational legacy in mind. Following the exhibition, the books were donated to Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where they were carefully sorted by age group and prepared for circulation across the district. The collection included works by authors such as Audre Lorde, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Gabriel García Márquez, William Shakespeare, James Baldwin, and Maya Angelou, offering students access to a wide spectrum of voices and perspectives. By placing these books directly into classrooms and students’ hands, Library of Us extended its mission beyond the cultural sphere, transforming a temporary art installation into a meaningful investment in literacy and learning.
Art Week December 2025
