The MIAMI Shoe Museum (MSM) is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history, artistry, and craftsmanship of footwear. Through exhibitions, research, and educational initiatives, the Museum examines the cultural significance of shoes, emphasizing their evolution and lasting impact on fashion, society, and innovation.

Founded as a virtual platform in 2023 by artist, educator, and curator Luis Valenzuela, the Museum emerged from Valenzuela's collection, which he began assembling in 2010. His background in fashion, art, and education has shaped the development of one of the most notable private shoe collections worldwide, comprising over 900 shoes and related objects. This collection serves as a vital resource for historical and cultural research.

In 2024, Valenzuela expanded the initiative by opening the MIAMI Shoe Museum (MSM)  Research Center and its physical exhibition space, THE SHOE VAULT, in Downtown Miami. These spaces continue to promote the study of footwear design, technology, and sustainability.

The Museum highlights how shoes, crafted by anonymous pre-nineteenth-century artisans or twentieth-century legends, tell stories of shifting tastes, technological progress, societal values, and cultural identity. Its collection features designs by icons such as André Perugia, Salvatore Ferragamo, Roger Vivier, Vivienne Westwood, Herbert Levine, Manolo Blahnik, and Charles Jourdan, as well as modern innovators like Martin Margiela, Alexander McQueen, and the House of Balenciaga.

The MIAMI Shoe Museum also celebrates the evolution of sneaker culture, documenting its technological and aesthetic transformation over time. The twentieth century brought groundbreaking innovations in footwear design and materials, well-represented in the MSM Collection. Milestones such as the introduction of steel-reinforced stiletto heels and modern materials like plastics, zippers, Velcro, and advanced fibers illustrate the evolution of modern footwear.

The MSM Collection showcases creations by legendary designers and manufacturers, including André Perugia, Roger Vivier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vivienne Westwood, Herbert Levine, Manolo Blahnik, and Charles Jourdan. It also includes works by contemporary innovators like Martin Margiela, Alexander McQueen, and the House of Balenciaga, who challenge traditional footwear design concepts.

Additionally, the collection acknowledges the cultural and technological significance of sneakers, highlighting their creators and the continual evolution of materials and design that have redefined this style over the decades.