Highlights from Design Miami 2023
From the whirlwind tour starting at PAD London and journeying through Salon Art + Design in New York to the grand finale at Design Miami/, the world of collectible design galleries has unveiled a breathtaking collection of fresh works from both seasoned and budding talents. Design Miami/ stood as the nexus for 57 international galleries, each meticulously curating exhibits resonating with this year's central theme, conceptualized under the keen eye of curatorial director Anna Carnick.
Renowned activist and novelist Elif Shafak once conveyed, "Stories bring us together. Untold stories keep us apart." In times as critical as these, the exchange of narratives feels more crucial than ever; storytelling serves as our gateway to understanding one another's humanity, whether through words or through the craftsmanship of wood.
Throughout the fair, Carnick's curation shines a spotlight on 'design inspired by place, community, and heritage,' evident not only in specially curated Curio projects but also in handpicked pieces spanning the galleries participating in the fair.
Stepping into the space, Galerie Creative Mind Lara Bohinc unveiled a captivating array from her fresh Utopia series. This eclectic collection boasted vibrant, biomorphic benches, stools, and sustainable cork birdhouses, designed to foster playful interactions and communal engagement for both humans and wildlife alike.
Venturing inside, visitors encountered experiential displays inviting interaction. Marina Abramovic’s “Chair for Human Use with Chair for Spirit Use” drew clusters of attendees eager for a chance to sit amidst rigid high-back wood chairs crowned with crystals. Meanwhile, Creative Mind Harry Nuriev’s “Transformism” sofa stood as a prominent selfie spot in its striking white setting.
Amidst the bustling activity, the “Pollination Dance” installation by Fernando Laposse, sponsored by Maison Perrier-Jouët, offered a tranquil oasis. Samuel Ross’s striking cherry-red pieces for Kohler grabbed attention, while the Ginori 1735 Reborn Project earned acclaim for its dreamy selection of limited-edition tableware, featuring creative talents like Cathy Vedovi, Vincent Darré, Jacques Grange, Charles Zana, and India Mahdavi.
Gallery Fumi installation at Design Miami
Gallery Fumi
The recipient of the coveted Best Booth accolade this year, Gallery Fumi, mesmerized attendees with an expansive textural wall creation by Rowan Mersh. Their showcase also boasted a triumvirate of exquisite Armadillo pieces by Lukas Wegwerth, adorned in raspberry-tinted, capsule-shaped wood shingles, alongside Jeremy Anderson’s premiere lighting collection, a captivating evolution from his earlier Piccolo ceramics.
Les Ateliers Courbet's booth at Design Miami
Les Ateliers Courbet
Radiating with an exquisite aura of moody elegance, the gallery's booth, named Primal Nature, captivated with its luminosity. At its core stood a colossal Wabi Sabi bed crafted by Ethan Stebbins, complemented by Mauro Mori's compelling pieces in both wood and bronze, alongside the ethereal ginkgo chandelier by Veronica Mar. This showcase also marked the inaugural exhibition of two emerging artists from Les Ateliers Courbet — Héctor Esrawe, a versatile Mexican artist whose honeycomb-inspired bronze sculpture made a striking statement in one corner of the booth, and Philippe Anthonioz, who, in his early career, apprenticed alongside Diego Giacometti in the esteemed artisan’s studio.
