Design Miami/ 2015 Celebrates the Evolving Design Market

2-6 December '15

As the market for collectible design continues to evolve and mature with each edition, Design Miami/ celebrates the full diversity of its field. This December the fair offers extraordinary works from galleries based on five continents that specialize in everything from classic early twentieth century design to the conceptual cutting edge. Work ranging from full-sized architectural elements to the most delicate jewelry, by designers from as far afield as the Philippines and Japan, South Africa and Brazil, will be on show under one roof at the global forum for design.

Design Miami/ welcomes Firma Casa, its first participating gallery from Brazil (São Paulo), into a program that is notably strong in design from Latin America. The distinctive and innovative work of the Campana Brothers – Design Miami/ Designers of the Year in 2008 – are represented at both Firma Casa and Friedman Benda. A rare jacaranda wood bench by Modernist pioneer Joaquim Tenreiro is showing at R & Company. Cristina Gargles Gallery exhibits a spectacular coffee table by Gloria Cortina topped with golden obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass. ADN Galeria of Mexico participates in the Design Curio program with a project by the Mexico-based sculptor and furniture designer Eduardo Olbés.

The scholarship, research and the preservation of historic works that are so important to the world of collectible design are aspects that are perhaps less visible to visitors to Design Miami/. A number of exhibitions at this year’s fair will put the spotlight on projects honoring design history. Galleria Rossella Colombari will recreate an interior in the style of Villa Planchart in Caracas designed by Giò Ponti, using colors and materials dear to the architect.

Another apartment – this one from Milan, designed by Ponti’s protegé architect Attilio Colonello – will be recreated from historic drawings and photographs by Casati Gallery, in a scenography that will include a number of pieces from the original scheme.

Echoing the burgeoning interest in clay as a sculptural medium over recent years, decorative ceramics remain a strong area of creative innovation at Design Miami/. The Finnish ceramicist Kristina Riska will show Bodypart III, a sculptural vessel of vast proportions and organic curvature at Hostler Burrows. Lee Hun Chung contrasts the glassy finish of ceramic glaze with the rough, stone-like surface of concrete in a low table at Seomi International. Patrick Parrish Gallery will show the first ceramic works of painter Guy Correiro.

Design Miami/ will create a new exhibition venue adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, a short walk from Art Basel in Miami Beach.