Meet Yuval Ofir | Creative Strategist & Cultural Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yuval Ofir and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuval, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor has been learning how to bridge creativity and clarity. I’ve built a career by helping other people tell their stories, whether through murals, photography, events, or brand strategy, and over time I realized that my real value isn’t just in making things look good or feel meaningful, but in helping people see what they’re really trying to say, and how to say it with intention.

That shows up in different ways depending on the project. Sometimes it’s visual storytelling through photography. Other times it’s sitting with a business owner or artist and distilling their ideas into something that makes sense to both their audience and their own future self. My work is about alignment, between values, voice, and visibility. That applies whether I’m consulting a cultural institution on a mural project or capturing someone’s legacy through a camera lens.

In the end, it’s about helping people own their narrative. I think that’s what’s made my work resonate, and it’s what keeps me grounded in everything I do, from the community side of Yo Miami to the personal side of my creative practice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Yo Miami started as a way to support local artists and bring visibility to Miami’s underground creative community; before murals became trendy and before “creative placemaking” was a buzzword. What began as a few events in a warehouse has grown into a platform that connects artists, institutions, property owners, and brands through murals, programming, consulting, and storytelling.

What sets us apart is that we’ve always prioritized authenticity and alignment. I’m not interested in cookie-cutter campaigns or slapping art on a wall to check a box. Whether I’m advising a city agency, photographing a behind-the-scenes team, or curating a mural for a local business, the goal is the same: help people tell their story in a way that’s real, resonant, and rooted in place.

It definitely hasn’t been easy. There’s no handbook for building something like this, and I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. But every misstep has taught me how to listen better, to clients, collaborators, and my own instincts. The biggest lesson? Start with clarity. If you don’t know what you stand for, you’ll get pulled in a hundred directions trying to be everything to everyone.

I want people to know that Yo Miami isn’t just a brand, it’s a commitment. To culture, to creativity, to community. And to proving that you can build something meaningful without selling out or burning out.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I want to give a visitor the full Miami experience, the one locals actually live and love, here’s how I’d lay it out:

Day 1:
Start with a slow morning at Legion Park Farmers Market for fresh juice, and whatever food looks good that week. Wander the MiMo District or stop by a friend’s art studio if one’s open. Dinner at OffSite, one of my favorite spots for a lowkey lunch or dinner, pretty much can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

Day 2:
Kayaking at Oleta River State Park in the morning for peaceful, scenic, just enough movement activity to earn some rest later on. Swing by Haulover Beach afterward for some sun, sand, and wrap the day with a laid-back dinner at Blue Collar or La Sandwicherie by the water.

Day 3:
Drive down to Homestead for a farm-hopping adventure; pick fruit, pet goats, grab local snacks, and reconnect with the land. Great change of pace from the city.

Day 4:
Wake up and go to for brunch at Novela Cafe Social. End the night with a show at the Miami Improv; always a fun, high-energy way to cap off the weekend.

Day 5:
Head up to Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood for a morning of eating and exploring. It’s chaotic in the best way, with vendors selling everything from fresh-pressed juices to vintage clothes. Bonus points if we find a new hot sauce or weird snack we’ve never heard of.

Day 6:
Final day: Flour & Weirdoughs in Key Biscayne. Grab pastries, maybe take them to the beach or a quiet scenic spot to reflect on the week. A soft landing before heading home, and hopefully, already planning their return.

General Options to fill in the 7th day (some dependent on the day of the week):
-Arlol comedy show at the Arlo Hotel in Wynwood for the kind of unfiltered humor you only get in a room full of locals.
-Art Club Forever, a night run by a younger crew that feels like a glimpse into the next wave of Miami’s creative community. Whether you’re making art or just soaking in the energy, it’s always a vibe.
-Casa La Rubia; they’re owned by budweiser but still have some ties to the original Wynwood Brewing Co through what’s on tap, and the food by Cluckin Right is always on point.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s no way I’d be where I am without the creative community in Miami; the artists, organizers, and collaborators who’ve shown up, taken chances, and built something together over the past decade. I want to shout out everyone who believed in the vision behind Yo Miami back when it was just a name and a warehouse. The people who painted the first murals, came to the first events, trusted me with their projects or stories, that trust shaped everything.

I also owe a deep debt of gratitude to my mom, who’s been a steady and generous presence throughout this journey. As the landlord of Yo Space, she’s given me the room, literally and figuratively, to figure things out without the kind of financial pressure that could’ve derailed the vision early on. More than that, she’s been a role model in every sense: showing up with integrity, compassion, and a quiet kind of strength I’ve always admired.

And I’d be remiss not to mention my grandfather, whose work ethic and connection to legacy still guide me, and my daughter, who’s made me more intentional about the kind of world I want to help create and what’s truly worth my time and energy.

Whether through mentorship, friendship, or unwavering support, these people and forces have been part of the blueprint I continue to build from.

Website: https://www.yo-miami.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yophojo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuvalofir/

Twitter: https://x.com/itsyomiami

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsyomiami

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yo-space-miami

Youtube: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCPS2-oBZ_OKvew8_WFB6BbA