Design Miami/ 2021 Concludes Seventeenth Edition Featuring Historic Masterpieces and Exciting Debut Works

Over 40 international exhibitors presented at this year’s fair

Strong sales across the preview days included a sellout booth at Southern Guild and strong interest in ceramics across the program

Design Miami/ debuted the official Design Miami/ Mobile App, introduced cryptocurrency payments and presented NFTs at the fair for the first time
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​New Louis Vuitton digital partnership announced

Largest Design Talks program presented in Miami including a new series of digital 15-minute talks

Miami, December 8, 2021 - Design Miami/ concluded its seventeenth edition in Miami Beach on Sunday with over 40 exhibitors showcasing the very best in historic and contemporary collectible furniture and decorative art.

This year’s fair saw the launch of a host of new digital initiatives from Design Miami/ including the debut of the official Design Miami/ Mobile App and payments in cryptocurrencies possible both online and onsite for the first time at a major fair. Design Miami/ also launched a curated sale of NFTs in collaboration with five artists presented by Friedman Benda and R & Company, available between 1-5 December with all works sold via online auction on OpenSea.

Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Design Miami/ said: “The 2021 edition of Design Miami/ was the culmination of months of dedication and hard work by our dealers, partners and our own Design Miami/ team. It’s been so encouraging to have such an overwhelmingly positive reception to the fair from the gallery presentations to the new digital initiatives we have launched including our dedicated mobile app and first curated NFT sale”.

GALLERY PROGRAM/

This year contemporary ceramics proved popular across the gallery program with a number of galleries exhibiting new work. First time exhibitor Jeffrey Deitch presented Clay Pop, an exhibition of ceramic sculpture by a new generation of artists curated by New York gallery director Alia Williams. At The Future Perfect the gallery presented a dynamic “remix” of new works including by a number of Design Miami/ debuts such as ceramicist Bari Ziperstein whose presentation included a five-part interlocking ceramic coffee table which, at 63 inches, is the designer’s largest work to date. At Hostler Burrows, ceramic works by multimedia artist Sakari Kannosto inspired by Finnish folklore and fairytales were popular. The playful designs explore the relationship between humankind and nature. Cape Town gallery Southern Guild presented an immersive booth entitled Studio Visit showcasing new works specially commissioned for Design Miami/ by four South African designers. The exhibition proved popular with visitors and collectors alike with almost all works sold within the first two days of the fair.

Jeffrey Deitch at Design Miami 2021. Image credit to James Harris.

Trevyn McGowan, co-founder of Southern Guild said “Our reception in Design Miami/ this year was unprecedented. Sales have been incredibly strong, with the majority of pieces being sold in the first two days of the fair. This is our 10th year at the fair and after a decade of showing there, we feel we have a very good understanding of our audience. Our bravery to commit to showing at the fair early in the year paid off, as did our bold curatorial approach to focus on ceramics and present this in the immersive context of a working ceramicist’s studio. This resonated widely with collectors and institutions at the fair, and the feedback was phenomenal. Some of the top collectors in the world acquired the work and we saw fantastic support from art advisors and the design industry too”

Friedman Benda Presents Samuel Ross at Design Miami 2021. Image credit to James Harris Photography (6)

Southern Guild at Design Miami 2021. Image credit to James Harris Photography (6) (1)

Friedman Benda gallery presented the debut of Samuel Ross’ SIGNAL Series - a new collection of seating forms by the streetwear designer and creative director. Emblematic of Ross’ all-encompassing, conceptually rigorous approach, the traditional fair booth setting was transformed by the designer into a quasi-industrial setting. 

Also on show were a number of rare and important historic works. New York’s R & Company presented a seminal masterwork by Wendell Castle, the 1962 Chest of Draws which captured Castle’s innate ability to merge the sensibilities of both sculpture and furniture into a new, cohesive whole. This work was awarded Best in Show, recognising the significance of this museum-quality piece. Experts in works by George Nakashima, Moderne Gallery also presented a masterpiece at the fair, the first furniture pieces by the Japanese-American designer. The Karuizawa Chair, dated from 1935 in Japan, was designed for a church in Karuizawa Japan and until recently only two were known to exist, both in Japanese Museums. 

Moderne Gallery at Design Miami 2021. Image courtesy of James Harris.

R & Company at Design Miami 2021. Image credit to James Harris.

CURIO PROGRAM/

This year’s Curio program was the largest to date with over 19 presentations from galleries and designers. First time exhibitor Twenty First Gallery presented new work by Polish designer Marcin Rusak, paying homage to Josef Frank’s iconic Flora Cabinets of the 1930s and 1950s, Rusak’s collection titled Flora Contemporaria, included four limited-edition cabinets made using the designer’s self-developed techniques that incorporates real flora into the works. J. Lohmann Gallery presented a collection of handcrafted porcelain vessels by designer Dandra Davolio inspired by her deep connection to the sea and its coral reefs. Harry Nuriev returned to Miami with a new exhibition entitled The Bedroom, the designer's third installment within his explorations of transitory spaces. Featuring a Ryokan-style mattress presented within an ethereal cubic lightbox, visitors encountered an LED ceiling display that emulated the sunrise and sunset.

Harry Nuriev Curio at Design Miami 2021. Image credit to James Harris.

J Lohmann Curio at design Miami 2021. Image Credit James HarrisHouse of Today at Design Miami_Image credit James Harris.

Also returning to Miami was Beirut-based House of Today presenting a new series of work by Lebanese designer Khaled El Mays. Inspired by nature, the five piece series New Nature features two mirrors, a bar, a coffee table and the designer’s first ever chair. The collection features an assembly of materials and high craft techniques particular to Mexico City where the collection was produced, drawing on El Mays love of collaborating with master artisans for his work. 

House of Today Chairwoman, Cherine Magrabi Tayeb said “Design Miami has continually served as a melting pot of cultures, with inspiring exhibitions by international designers. Our presence here, representing and in collaboration with our Lebanese designers, signifies our shared commitment of being part of the ever-evolving design movement, in the epicenter of an expansive space that allows for dialogue and opportunities to flourish”.

NOTABLE ATTENDEES/

Elle Macpherson, model; Aby Rosen, entrepreneur; Daniel Arsham, designer; Bradley Cooper, actor; Peter Marino, Architect; Donna Karan, fashion designer; Stefano Tonchi, journalist; Silvia Venturini Fendi, creative director; JR, artist; David Grutman, entrepreneur.

DESIGN MIAMI/ OFFICIAL MOBILE APP, CRYPTOCURRENCY PAYMENTS AND CURATED NFT SALE/

The introduction of the Official Design Miami/ Mobile App offered users the ability to engage with the fair like never before; offering the ability to navigate the show floor like a seasoned VIP, unlock special offers, browse Design Miami/ fairs through 3D tours and, for the first time, click-to-buy exhibited works right from the show floor.

Alongside the app and it's click-to-buy functionality, Design Miami/ launched cryptocurrency payment through Coinbase for any objects available on the online marketplace.

Design Miami/ also debuted an exclusive, highly curated collection of NFTs, commissioned from Job Smeets, Katie Stout, Sebastian Errazuriz, and Studio Proba presented by R & Company and multiple works from Misha Kahn presented by Friedman Benda. This premiere collection was sold via online auction on OpenSea and also presented onsite at Design Miami/.

DESIGN MIAMI/ LOUIS VUITTON PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED/

Design Miami/ has partnered with Louis Vuitton to offer – for the first time – a new digital shopping experience on Design Miami’s online marketplace, designmiami.com. The digital storefront presents a travel-inspired collection of the brand’s celebrated Objets Nomades collection to collectors and design enthusiasts who will be redirected to Louisvuitton.com for shopping. This new partnership brings Louis Vuitton’s collection of inventive, creative, and functional furniture to an expanded audience.

You can view the collection available at designmiami.com here: designmiami.com/gallery/objets-nomades

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING/

Amongst this year’s partner and satellite collaborations, Kohler showcased its Rock.01 sink collaboration with contemporary artist Daniel Arsham. The“Stone Flow” installation showcased the one-of-a-kind, limited-edition 3D-printed sink entitled Rock.01 that brought together the creative innovation and expert craftsmanship from Kohler and Arsham. Produced in a limited edition of 99, the Rock.01 is crafted in Kohler, Wisconsin and will be available to purchase from 12pm EST on Dec. 10 – sold exclusively through kohlercollective.com. Maison Perrier-Jouët renewed its collaboration with Austrian design studio mischer'traxler studio to present Embodied nature, an interactive art installation that explored the relationship between mankind and nature. More than 100 species from all over the world were suspended within the installation space and ​ displayed in a “cabinet de curiosités”. 

Perrier Jouet presents Embodied Nature by mischer'traxler at DM21. Image James Harris.Stone Flow by Kohler and Daniel Arsham at Design Miami 2021. Photo credit James Harris Photogrpahy (4)

Fendi Presents Kompa by Mabeo at Design Miami 2021. Image credit to James Harris

FENDI invited MABEO, the furniture and accessories brand from Botswana, Africa, and its associated design studio, to develop products that build on their ongoing research into craft specializations. Kompa, a collection of ten pieces of furniture made up of distinct interrelating methods, was developed following creative meetings in Rome with Kim Jones, Silvia Venturini Fendi and Delfina Delettrez Fendi. 

AIG Private Client Group presents the 2021 Collectors Lounge Designers Commission by BADG. Image credit to James Harris..jpg (6)

MaestroDobel_DesignMiami_Day1

New partners at the fair included Maestro Dobel as the Official Tequila partner of Design Miami/ who brought their Artpothecary concept to life in Miami. The brand delighted visitors with ‘The Fruit Chemist’, a bespoke epicurean experience with an exclusively curated menu paired with Maestro Dobel by globally renowned Chef Jorge Vallejo of Mexico City’s Quintonil and furniture designed by ATRA - who won ​ Design Miami’s 'Best in Show: Best Curio Presentation' award at this year's fair.

Also debuting at Design Miami/, AIG Private Client group presented the Collectors Lounge commission in partnership with Black Artists + Designer Guild (BADG), a nonprofit organization and global platform representing a curated collective of independent Black artists, makers, and designers across various art and design disciplines who are at the top of their respective fields. Showcasing the work of designers Leyden Lewis (Leyden Lewis Design Studio) and Danielle Fennoy (Revamp Interior Design), the walls of the lounge were covered in a new camouflage-inspired design, titled Blackouflage, in a spectrum of different shades that reflect the myriad fluid identities that are encompassed within the Black community.

Founder of BADG, Malene Barnett said “The Collector's Lounge at Design Miami was BADG's first in-person event since the pandemic, and it felt like a homecoming surrounded by a community of design enthusiasts. We were thrilled to partner with AIG Private Client Group and have support from Benjamin Moore, building on our mission to create inclusive and equitable spaces through our design "Blackouflage." ​ Blackouflage, a concept to expand ideas around Black identity and expression developed by BADG Makers Leyden Lewis and Danielle Fennoy garnered overwhelming encouraging responses and connections.”

DESIGN MIAMI/ DESIGN TALKS/

This year’s Design Talks also expanded to embrace the fair’s new hybrid format, offering the most extensive talks program to date. In-person and digital talks offered insightful and future-thinking panels from some of the world’s leading names in art, design and architecture including designer Daniel Arsham, architect Florencia Rodriguez, and artist and fashion designer Samuel Ross.

For 2021, Design Miami/ also introduced a new series of 15-minute talks on Design & Human·Kind, where they connected with outstanding creatives to explore design-led visions for a more equitable and interconnected world. You can read more and watch the talks here: shop.deignmiami.com/pages/talks 

Building Inclusive and Equitable Creative Cultures, presented by AIG Private Client Group

Woman Made: Reflections on designing while women, presented by Kering x Phaidon

Design Miami/ 2021 Galleries/ 

AGO Projects/ Mexico City
​Ateliers Courbet/ New York
​Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts, LLC/ New York
​Carpenters Workshop Gallery/ New York
​CONVERSO/ Chicago
​Friedman Benda/ New York
​Hostler Burrows/ New York
​Jason Jacques Gallery/ Clinton Corners
​Jeffrey Deitch/ New York
​John Keith Russell/ South Salem
​Magen H Gallery/ New York
​Moderne Gallery/ Philadelphia
​Ornamentum/ Hudson
​R & Company/ New York
​Salon 94 Design/ New York
​SIDE Gallery/ Barcelona
​Southern Guild/ Cape Town
​The Future Perfect/ San Francisco
​Thomsen Gallery/ New York
​Todd Merrill Studio/ New York
​Volume Gallery/ Chicago
​Wexler Gallery/ Philadelphia

Design Miami/ 2021 Curios/
​APICAL REFORM & zeel studio/ Gujarat
​ATRA/ Mexico City
​Bea Interiors Design/ Miami
​Bohinc Studio/ London
​Gallery ALL/ Alhambra, Beijing
​Harry Nuriev/ New York
​House of Today/ Beirut
​J. Lohmann Gallery/ New York
​James de Wulf/ Los Angeles
​Mercado Moderno/ Rio de Janeiro
​Mindy Solomon Gallery/ Miami ​
​Objective Gallery/ Shanghai
​PELLE/ Brooklyn
​Room 57 Gallery/ New York
​RUEMMLER/ New York
​Tom Dixon/ New York
​Tuleste Factory/ New York
​Twenty First Gallery/ New York
​VERDI/ Bogota

DM/BX/ 2021 Exhibitors
​Agustina Bottoni/ Milan
​Andreu Carulla/ Girona
​Anders Hamilton presented by BKLYN CLAY/ Brooklyn
​Andrew Casto presented by Mindy Solomon Gallery/ Miami
​Ashley Porrini presented by Wexler Gallery/ Philadelphia
​Birnam Wood Studio presented by Tuleste Factory/ New York
​Charlie Cunningham presented by Wexler Gallery/ Philadelphia
​Christopher Kurtz/ New York
​Dara Schaefer/ New York
​Dean Roper presented by BKLYN CLAY/ Brooklyn
​Glenn Barkley presented by Mindy Solomon Gallery/ Miami
​Gustav Hamilton presented by BKLYN CLAY/ Brooklyn
​Katharina Kaminski presented by AMEN Candles/ Paris
​Kiyoko Morioka presented by Ippodo Gallery/ New York
​Kyle Mello Dixon presented by Wexler Gallery/ Philadelphia
​Roberto Lugo presented by Wexler Gallery/ Philadelphia
​Sarah Allwine presented by BKLYN CLAY/ Brooklyn
​Soleil Carlos presented by BKLYN CLAY/ Brooklyn
​Maria Beckmann presented Tuleste Factory/ New York
​Magen H Gallery/ New York
​R & Company/ New York ​
​Ries Studio/ Buenos Aires
​RRRES Studio/ Oaxaca
​Ruby Kean presented by Tuleste Factory/ New York
​Studio Proba/ Portland, New York
​Toni Losey presented by J. Lohmann Gallery/ New York
​Timbur presented by Tuleste Factory/ New York
​Tom Dixon/ New York
​Tomoyuki Hoshino presented by Ippodo Gallery/ New York
​Tuleste Factory, New York
​Quinaz Studio/ Miami

Design Miami/ 2021 Partners/
​AIG ​
​BADG
​Convelio
​Dior
​Doha Design District
​Fendi
​Grand Seiko
​Maestro Dobel
​Perrier Jouet
​Kohler
​Lexus
​Miami Design District
​Panerai ​
​Phaidon and Books & Books
​SCAD
​Superblue
​USM and Luminaire
​W South Beach

Design Miami/ 2021 ​
​1-5 December, Miami Beach

Schedule of Events/ ​
​Preview Day/ By Invitation Only ​
​Tuesday, November 30/ ​
​Members Preview/ 11AM - 12PM ​
​Collector’s Preview/ 12-7PM ​
​Wednesday, December 1/ ​
​VIP Preview/ 11AM - 1PM

Public Show Days/ ​
​Wednesday, December 1/ 1–8PM ​
​Thursday, December 2/ 11AM–8PM ​
​Friday, December 3/ 12–8PM ​
​Saturday, December 4/ 12–8PM ​
​Sunday, December 5/ 12–6PM

Notes to Editors

Design Miami 2021/ Best in Show Award Winners
​Best Gallery Presentation: Southern Guild, Cape Town
​Best Curio Presentation: ATRA, Mexico City
​Best Historic Work: Wendell Castle Chest of Drawers at R & Company, New York
​Best Contemporary Work: Halo by Bradley Bowers at The Future Perfect, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco