DESIGN MIAMI.LA will take place within a private 1938 Holmby Hills estate designed by the legendary Paul R. Williams. Curated by Ashlee Harrison, the fair will serve as a testament to California’s rich design heritage as an international arbiter of taste – from the post-war mid-century design boom and car culture, to the entertainment industry and space age engineering, the fair explores themes of eclecticism, imagination, and nostalgia – all integral to the city’s design landscape.
Highlights:
Gallery FUMI (London) will recreate a domestic setting with works that showcase exceptional quality and craftsmanship from an array of designers. Highlights include the likes of Kustaa Saksi’s Pitkä-Kotka Chair, crafted from woven textile art wrapped around an oak wooden frame; the Incontro Low Table by Francesco Perini, crafted from oak and inlaid with rings of black gold marble; and a pair of mirrored wall sculptures from the Rosa Luna series by Sam Orlando Miller, created in hues inspired by the Los Angeles sunrise and sunset.
The Future Perfect (New York/Los Angeles) will respond directly to the classical decor within the Paul R. Williams estate, through a presentation of works that offer subtle magnitude and quiet importance. The exhibition will present works by Genesis Belanger, created in collaboration with Bower Studios – a collection of acid etched bronze mirrors, which feature sets of hands emerging from behind curtains. The mirrors, which shift from obfuscation to clarity, present a deeply evocative image, creating an immersive and striking showcase.
Southern Guild (Cape Town/Los Angeles) will sensitively weave narratives of hyper-sentimentalism, nostalgia, ecological concerns, craft traditions, and social politics into a striking exhibition. The presentation curated for DESIGN MIAMI.LA will mark a significant milestone in Southern Guild’s contemporary epoch, through a globalized presentation of notable designers including Zanele Muholi, Zizipho Poswa, Porky Hefer, Andile Dyalvane, Rich Mnisi, Cheick Diallo, Nandipha Mntambo, King Houdekpinkhou, Patrick Bongoy and others.
Moderne Gallery (Philadelphia) will present a carefully considered presentation of rare and important works by George Nakashima, in conversation with historical and contemporary works by esteemed designers including Miriam Carpenter, Hasimoto Tomonari, and Bobby Silverman. Never before seen pieces by Nakashima, from a single estate, will take center stage alongside a masterwork by Miriam Carpenter.
PODIUM
To mark the occasion of the inaugural DESIGN MIAMI.LA, Harrison will curate a Podium exhibition under the theme “Master Works of Collectible Design, 1938-Present”. The Podium display will showcase a curated exhibition of works from multiple galleries, through the lens of a historic and contemporary survey that evokes the allure and sophistication of Hollywood’s golden era. Showcasing masterful innovation and refined craftsmanship, the exhibition will spotlight the central position Los Angeles holds within the global design landscape, paying homage to the pioneers of design from the old world to now, drawing from a rich cultural heritage as well as cutting-edge creations of today.
DESIGN MIAMI.LA 2024, May 16th-20th, Private Estate, Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, designmiami.com/fair/los-angeles-2024
