Miami Art and Design Week: Welcome to the Weird and Wonderful

Between 2020 and 2022, the population of Florida grew by over 700,000, according to the US Census data. At the same time, states like New York and California each shrank by more than half a million people–with many of them moving to Florida (and Miami specifically), attracted by no state taxes and the promise of cheaper housing, though some neighborhoods in Miami now have New York city rent prices.

One thing is for sure: Real estate, art and design go hand in hand. Branded residences are being built that match the aesthetic of high-end names, ranging from fashion to luxury automotive — think Armani and Dolce & Gabbana, along with condominiums branded by Bentley and Aston Martin, and Porsche, where you can park your car with the Dezervator, an elevator designed to take you and your car right to your unit, no matter which floor you live on.

Design Miami 2023, Miami. Courtesy Design Miami

Miami, Florida, once renowned for its sun-soaked beaches and vibrant nightlife, has emerged as a global cultural hotspot, thanks to two marquee events that grace its shores annually: Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach. These twin spectacles have not only transformed the cityscape but have also solidified Miami’s status as a powerhouse in the international art and design scene.

So, it’s no wonder that last week, thousands of art and design lovers descended on Miami for the two fairs, along with an array of other events across the city, all in search of the next big artist, next big design, and plenty of installations to explore.

Fendi Screens. Courtesy officeinsight

The fair and events have become a truly multidisciplinary experience with influences coming from food, hospitality, architecture, and fashion, with the last industry playing an even bigger role year after year, just as we’ve seen at Salone del Mobile in Milan. Brands like Louis Vuitton, for example, launched a collection of sculptural handbags, complete with strong geometries, designed by Frank Gehry. Fendi collaborated with the design duo Bless to create a surrealistic installation at Design Miami. It included four large double-sided screens crafted by Fendi Casa, with accessories designed by Bless. The Bless accessories included a shearling blanket, broom handles and detergent bottles covered in fur, and of course another handbag which was inspired by a stamped parcel. Night time events are always popular with the Miami crowd, with one of the most popular being a night-time performance under a bridge of Sukeban — a japanese women’s wrestling match, where the winner’s championship belt was custom designed by Marc Newsom.

Design Miami, held across the street from the Miami Beach Convention Center, presents an avant-garde celebration of design, transcends traditional boundaries, and offers a curated blend of historical and contemporary design masterpieces. Beyond mere exhibitions, it serves as a dynamic platform for collaborations between visionaries in design, architecture, and the arts. From innovative furniture to cutting-edge lighting installations, the event captivates a global audience with its diverse array of design wonders, and is the place to be for those who are seriously looking for design inspiration and some of the most cutting-edge examples of elevated design.

Galerie Patrick Seguin Design Miami installation. Courtesy of the gallery

This year’s theme, “Where We Stand,” was curated by Anna Carnick, and looked at how design “inspired by place, community, and heritage,” responds to the world around us. Powerhouse design galleries like Galerie Patrick Seguin and David Gill, were showing in full force, showcasing both iconic architects and designers, and emerging talents, just a few years out of design school.

Galerie Patrick Seguin showed extremely rare pieces by Jean Prouvé who designed a “red building” residence in Brazzaville (Congo Republic) for Air France employees.

Fumi Gallery installation. Courtesy Fumi Gallery

Design Miami awarded the gallery the best historic piece award for its S.A.M. Tropique no. 503 Table by Prouvé. The gallery also displayed two monochromatic red Bridge FB 11 armchairs by Prouvé, in addition to furniture by Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand.

With its experimental richness of concepts, materials and techniques on view, London’s Gallery Fumi celebrated its 15th anniversary year by being awarded the best stand accolade by the fair. Its stand offered an overview of the gallery’s exciting approach to collectible design, with a new “Armadillo” sculptural screen by German designer Lukas Wegwerth, and the debut of ceramic objects and lighting by American ceramicist and designer Jeremy Anderson.

Super House, Tile Block Chair by Sean Gastley. Courtesy Maharam/Cor.zo

At Super House, not to be overlooked, is Sean Gastley’s debut of his Tile Block chair, made of glazed ceramic and Maharam’s wool Firma and Gemma Multi textiles.

Ukrainian designer Victoria Yakusha of design studio Faina presented a limited-edition collection dubbed “The Land of Light,” a response to war and violence in her native country and elsewhere in the world. Her installation is designed to “be a sanctuary of hope and core values, striving to instill optimism,” she said.  “The four ‘animals’ are here to help one keep one’s inner light and guide a path amidst darkness, hate, and destruction.”

Victoria Yakusha Faina collection. Courtesy Victoria Yakusha

Twenty First Gallery, directed by French applied arts expert Renaud Vuaillat, curated a highly-refined group of European artists and designers who seamlessly blended traditional craftsmanship with contemporary creativity to redefine the boundaries of collectible design. In one vignette, the gallery presented a stunning White Console by Guiseppe Ducrot, alongside Celadon Sconces also by the designer, and an umbrella holder by François Salem.

The New York powerhouse R & Company showcased the work of mid-century modern Brazilian designer Joaquim Tenreiro with a stunning 1960s Dining table and the work of emerging designer like Luam Melake, whose playful polyurethane chair delighted visitors.

White Console by Guiseppe Ducrot with Celadon Sconces also by the designer, and an umbrella holder by François Salem. Courtesy Twenty First Gallery

The Emma Scully Gallery’s “Nightscape” took its inspiration from old New York, transporting the visitor to a 1930s lounge, where they can sip Martinis and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city outside. Inspired by the pioneering New York photographers of the 1930s, this booth brings new design perspectives to our moment, presenting works by Rooms Studio, Rafael Prieto, Simone Bodmer-Turner, EJR Barnes and Jenny Min.

On the occasion of Future Perfect’s 20th anniversary, they’ve assembled their most expansive Design Miami/ presentation to date — a curated collection of 130+ new works by their roster of talents working at the intersection of art, craft, and design, featuring both gallery mainstays and newcomers. Exhibitors included Dan John Anderson, Bradley Bowers (who has worked with Wolf Gordon), Chen Chen & Kai Williams, Floris Wubben, and Karl Zahn, just to name a few.

Luam Melake, Listening Chair, 2022, urethane, polyurethane foam, and dyes. Courtesy of R & Company

Carpenters Workshop Gallery’s exhibition highlighted the global impact of Dutch design, by presenting the work of Maarten Baas and Nacho Carbonell, who both emerged from the innovative Design Academy Eindhoven. Nacho Carbonell’s “One-Seater Concrete Tree” was named Design Miami’s Best Contemporary Work. Handcrafted in concrete, steel, mesh, and cork with a canopy featuring twinkling lights, the throne-like seat was dubbed a “monumental fantasia” and chosen for its regal effect combined with Carbonell’s experimental craft approach.

Meanwhile, Fernando Laposse’s “The Pollination Dance” for Maison Perriet-Jouet celebrated nature’s interspecies collaboration through a poetic, dynamic installation. “Design has a power, our job as creatives is to interpret and simplify the world around us,” he said during a Design Miami talk. “But also to bring complexity to some aspects to create empathy in people and curiosity to learn.”

Joaquim Tenreiro, Dining table, c. 1960, wood and glass. Courtesy R & Company

Basic.Space is a gallery focusing on the work of truly innovative and emerging talents. One such individual is Nick Thomm whose hyper-colorful spectral paintings have won the favor of brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co, Adidas, and Nike. For his debut furniture collection, he was inspired by the clean-lined geometry of brutalist architecture, and transforms his signature acrylic and resin artworks into objects for the home in a three-dimensional kaleidoscope of color.

Even Bathroom fixtures brand Kohler got into the act by debuting an innovative limited-edition Kohler x SR_A Formation 01 faucet designed by the British designer Dr. Samuel Ross of SR_A.

Emma Scully Gallery Work by Simone Bodmer-Turner and EJR Barnes]
Courtesy Emma Scully Gallery

The product’s striking angles and industrial bold Haptic Orange color defy the traditional design and performance of a bathroom faucet, and challenges how we engage daily with the form and function of an everyday object.

The other must-see works were the temporary and permanent installations over in the Miami Design District in Wynwood, where all the top high-end fashion and design showrooms are situated. For example, digital artist Andrés Reisinger created an architectural takeover with a real-life version of his virtual dreamy image featuring pink billowing fabric draping over the a building on NE 39th street. It was part of his “Take Over” art installation which makes people question about what makes up a real work of art, and what constitutes a “real experience.”

Future Perfect installation showing Chris Wolston’s one of a kind terracotta Bouquet Chairs in foreground. Courtesy Future Perfect

Another popular installation was Lara Bohinc’s Utopia series of cork furniture and sculptures. Commission by the Design District, the installation includes outdoor seating, such as stools and armchairs connecting into sofas, as well as tables and oversized solar-paneled light sculptures. She also created 900 egg-shaped birdhouses, and an egg-like centerpiece that she imagined as a sculptural refuge for animals and children.

At 84 years of age, architect and designer Gaetano Pesce, is showing no signs of slowing down. His solo exhibition, “Again Miami With Multidisciplinary Works,” at MDD, was a “time-machine show” exploring the designer’s experimental approach to objects, with 28 new works.

Nacho Carbonell’s ‘One-Seater Concrete Tree’ was named Design Miami’s “Best Contemporary Work.” Courtesy Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery

The Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen, who designs for Molteni, Paola Lenti, Flos and Kettal, just to name a few, debuted the Gravitas collection of stone furniture for Mexican materials brand Arca, at its Wynwood showroom. Inspired by the works of Isamu Nogichi, Anish Kapoor, and James Turrell, up to 20-hours of craftsmanship went into creating each piece, which are a sculptural juxtaposition between rough vs. highly polished surfaces, and gravity vs. lightness. “Monolithic yet sensual and sensorial” is how Van Duysen describes the collection. The collection comprises 18 elements ranging from tables and chairs to a library stand.

Automotive companies like Lexus and BMW had activations throughout the city. For example, Lexus unveiled “8 Minutes and 20 Seconds,” an installation by Dutch solar designer Marjan van Aubel, which was on view in the sculpture garden at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. The striking solar sculpture reimagines the Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst (LF-ZC) concept car as an interactive experience through van Aubel’s trademark use of solar cells. Named in reference for the time it takes sunlight to reach the earth, “8 Minutes and 20 Seconds” uses third-generation solar cells that are both transparent and rich with color, to translate the LF-ZC into a graphic pattern design, in a true-to-size representation of the concept car.

As Miami Art Week has grown year after year, the fairs and surrounding events have elevated the city to a global stage. The fusion of Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach during the week-long extravaganza is a must-see for any design professional as it provides a fortitude of inspiration for designers in terms of colors, materials, and ideas, and is a bellwether for where design is headed.

Fernando Laposse’s “The Pollination Dance” for Maison Perriet-Jouet. Courtesy Officeinsight
Nick Thomm and his work at Basic.Space. Courtesy of Basic.Space
Kohler faucet made from Neolast, a new material exclusive to Kohler. Courtesy of Kohler
Andrés Reisinger “Take Over” installation. Courtesy Andrés Reisinger
Lara Bohinc’s Utopia series. Courtesy Miami Design District
Gaetano Pesce design, part of the “Again Miami With Multidisciplinary Works”, at MDD.
Courtesy MDD
Vincent Van Duysen Gravitas collection at Arca showroom.
Courtesy ARCA/Nick Hudson
Lexus’s “8 Minutes and 20 Seconds” installation by Dutch solar designer Marjan van Aubel, on view in the sculpture garden at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami.
Courtesy of Lexus