META Miami cordially invites you to join us for the opening reception of
FOREVER SUMMER:
Miami’s Postwar image in the works of Andy Sweet, GODLIS, and Bunny Yeager
The birth of Miami was captured on film. This gives the history of photography in the city a unique character: the two have gone hand in hand, each reflecting the other. We could safely say that the central theme in the history of photography in Miami has been—or at least was for most of the 20th century—the city itself or the imagery created around it.
We still know very little about this history, because the focus has been on local history as depicted through photography rather than on the history of local photography itself. Perhaps the time has come to take a greater interest in the latter than we have to date. For now, we present the work of three photographers who have contributed significantly to the history of local photography: Bunny Yeager (1929–2014), David Godlis (1951), known simply as GODLIS, and Andy Sweet (1953–1982).
Bunny Yeager, an attractive model who became a photographer without ceasing to be the former, made a decisive contribution to the emergence, in American photography of the 1950s and 1960s, of a new type of woman: self-assured, confident in her sexuality, and determined to express it openly and provocatively. Her pin-ups, set against tropical backdrops in South Florida or in interiors conducive to intimate fantasies, were her great contribution to the erotic imagination of the era.
Bunny Yeager. Self Portrait, Miami 1953. 20 x 20 in
GODLIS was very young when he came to Miami Beach in 1974, discovering that he wanted to be a street photographer—because, in reality, he already was one. A vibrant energy runs through his work. Movement and expressive angular distortion dominate his images, which not only emphasize people but also highlight minor street details that reveal something interesting about this bustling city.
Shortly thereafter, during the brief period that marked the transition from the 1970s to the 1980s, Andy Sweet also made Miami Beach—and its population of elderly Jews and social outcasts of all ages—the focus of his photographic exploration. The place, aged and dilapidated, serves as the setting for a multitude of human situations in his tranquil, conversational photographs. Yet, in their visual simplicity and familiarity, they convey a powerful affirmation of life.
José Antonio Navarrete, Miami 2026
GODLIS. Corner View, Miami Beach 1974. Archival Pigment Photograph. 16 x 20 in
“This exhibition isn't just about nostalgia,” says Milagros Maldonado. “It’s about the specific, electric energy that happens when you mix Sweet’s technicolor joy with Godlis’s architectural grit and Yeager’s daring style. It’s the sun-drenched Miami mirage resonating in our minds—a place of Forever Summer.”
Andy Sweet. Pier RR. Archival Print. 20 x 20 in
“The depth of this exhibition was made possible through the collaboration with Ed Christin,” says Isabel Pérez. “His archival insight into the Sweet, Yeager, and GODLIS collections and his commitment to preserving the authenticity of these eras allowed us to build a narrative that feels both timeless and raw.”
The opening reception will be held on May 14 at 7 pm and will feature live music by Tim Laroque. The artists’ estates and representatives will be in attendance to celebrate this rare gathering of Florida’s photographic titans.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 7-9 pm
2751 N Miami Ave, Suite 1
Miami, FL 33127