Design Miami/ Basel Announces Gallery Highlights and Additional Programming for its 17th Edition

Basel, 09 May 2023 - Design Miami/ Basel is delighted to share preview highlights from the 26 galleries presenting at the 17th edition of the fair, which returns to its iconic Swiss location at Basel’s Messeplatz from June 13 - 18, 2023, with Preview Day on June 12. ​
​​
​This special edition of Design Miami/ Basel will reflect on the fair’s history as a meeting place for the world’s leading collectible design galleries. The 2023 event will be presented in a new, focused format, designed to celebrate many of the galleries that have established - and continue to build - the market for collectible design as we know it today, including new entries to Design Miami/ Basel’s gallery program from Galerie Gastou (Paris) and Foreign Agent (Lausanne).
​​
​Grela Orihuela (Senior VP of Fairs), says: “This special edition of Design Miami/ Basel presents an exciting opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of our flagship Swiss edition. Together with our participating galleries, we look forward to celebrating the fair’s history as a platform that has helped uncover and establish some of the greatest names across both historic and contemporary design, while continuing to spotlight new and emerging talent”.
​​
​Alongside the 26 gallery presentations set to go on show, Design Miami/ Basel is also excited to preview additional programming highlights, including a Special Project Satellite by jeweler Caroline Van Hoek, an interactive installation by artist Cyril Lancelin and a presentation by UAE-based Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council.

Gallery Highlights/

Among the rare and unique displays of collectible work set to go on show at this year’s fair, a number of key thematic threads emerge, exploring the past, present and future of the ever-unfolding history of great design. ​
​​
​The Past in Focus: The Leading Historic Design Masters/
​The Basel fair has always taken a particular focus on historic design. This year’s programming will spotlight some of the world’s most prominent galleries for historic design, a number of whom have pioneered the reputation of some of the foremost respected designers from the past centuries, setting the standard for historic, collectible design. ​
​​
​Galerie Patrick Seguin (Paris) exemplifies the in-depth knowledge and industry authority that Design Miami’s presenting galleries have become known for. Founded in 1989, the gallery is credited with propelling a number of significant French design talents – Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier and Jean Royère – to international acclaim, with a particular specialization in the work of Jean Prouvé. Among the highlights are a selection of his remarkable chairs, each one of different typology or color, including the now iconic Metropole, Cité and Antony chairs. The presentation will also include three exceptional aluminum pieces by Prouvé from Cameroon, Africa. Speaking on the significance of presenting at this year’s fair, Patrick Seguin says: "We have been present at Design Miami/Basel since its beginning and it is a pleasure for us to continue, this year again, to show and present the timeless work of Jean Prouvé, twentieth-century pioneer in the innovative production of furniture and architecture. The fair’s new configuration this year offers us new possibilities to present these beautiful iconic pieces, highlighted by a bold scenography."

Cité Chair, 1932 by Jean Prouvé at Galerie Patrick Seguin. Image courtesy of Galerie Patrick Seguin

Galerie Eric Philippe (Paris) will present a selection of rare European design pieces from from the 1920s to the 1960s. Exceptional pieces include a 1920s table designed by Hungarian architect Dénes György, combined with notable cast iron pieces from the famous Näfveqvarn foundry by Swedish architects Westerberg & Elmberg. Another significant highlight is a Paul László designed floor lamp from 1952. The shade is crafted with mahogany, brass and textile, executed by great textile artist Maria Kipp, while the hand-carved base is sculpted by F.F. Kern.
​​
​Taking a panoptic view, Galerie Gastou (Paris) will make its debut to the gallery programme with an eclectic array of works, united by themes of brutalism and surrealism. Brutalism will be represented with pieces by Dominique Zimbacca and the Ateliers de Marolles founder Jean Touret, whose sensibility is expressed in the adornment of his cabinets with zoomorphic handles of fantastic animals. The booth will also be illuminated by a selection of 1970s Italian lights such as the Arcangelo Metropolitano by Ugo la Pietra, the Astéroïde lamp by Sottsass and the Delirium Yum by Ingo Maruer. In their poetic eccentricity, these works give way to a sense of surrealism, which will be embraced through highlights including the exceptional, otherworldly Cage Bed by Max Ernst.

Floor Lamp, 1952 by Paul László at Galerie Eric Philippe. Image courtesy of Galerie Eric PhilippeFreeform Tripod Coffee Table, 1986 by Valentine Schlegel at Galerie Yves Gastou. Image courtesy of Adrien Millot

The Evolution of Design History: From Past to Present/ ​
​The impact of the past on the present will be highlighted through a number of gallery presentations which present historic and contemporary works alongside each other, charting the influence of historic masters on contemporary design icons.
​​
​Friedman Benda (New York) will present a survey titled Iconoclasts and Icons, highlighting masterworks and important touchstones in the evolution of contemporary design spanning over eight decades. The focuses are on ten visionary designers who have been core to the gallery’s mission – Ron Arad, Daniel Arsham, Estudio Campana, Wendell Castle, Misha Kahn, KAWS, Joris Laarman, Gaetano Pesce, Samuel Ross, Ettore Sottsass, and Faye Toogood. The presentation aims to reconcile a wide range of creative identities, backgrounds and processes by bringing these influential figures’ seminal works into a dialogue. Through rare prototypes, works from the personal collections of the artists, and the inclusion of preparatory sketches, each work offers a snapshot of a key moment in the individual’s own practice and within the canon of design. ​
​​
​Speaking about the significance of Friedman Benda’s relationship with Design Miami/, and the gallery’s presentation at this year’s Basel fair, Marc Benda, owner, says: “Design Miami is a meeting place bringing together artists and designers, collectors, and long-time friends. It is a crossroad of disciplines where we can show the best and most exciting works and take risks with new expressions. 'Iconoclasts and Icons’ seeks to represent the chaos of contemporary design, distilling the explosive creative forces unleashed by the unending possibilities in our field.”

Squid Chair with Table, 1966 by Wendell Castle at Friedman Benda. Image courtesy of Daniel Kukla

Galerie Downtown-LAFFANOUR (Paris) will showcase the past and present in dialogue via a selection of masterpieces of 20th century design by Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, placed alongside contemporary pieces by designers such as Ron Arad, Choi Byung Hoon, and Ettore Sottsass, offering a distinct continuity. ​
​​
​Meanwhile, Mouvements Modernes (Paris) will present a booth charting the evolution of design history from the late 20^th century to the present day. The gallery was founded in 2002 by Pierre Staudenmeyer, who also founded the Néotù gallery, a precursor for the collectible design scene in Paris in the 1980s which existed until 2000. For Design Miami/ Basel 2023, Mouvements Modernes will pay tribute to the Néotù gallery and its ongoing legacy. Unique pieces from the 80s and 90s will include work by the famous duo Garouste & Bonetti, known for their imaginatively unconventional furniture design. These historical works converse with inventive contemporary creations such as the Branches Series by Fabien Petiot - a set of works appearing to have grown organically in vegetal forms, with two new pieces edited especially for the occasion. Also on show is a new, unique textile piece by Daniela Busarello, whose poetic visual language draws inspiration from the natural world, as well as an exceptional collection of Sèvres porcelain designed by Andrea Branzi.

Sideboard, 1952 by Jean Prouvé at Galerie Downtown-LAFFANOUR. Image courtesy of Galerie Downtown-LAFFANOUR

Rethinking Tradition: Contemporary Masters/
​This year’s Basel edition will present leading, cutting-edge contemporary design from around the world. Foreign Agent (Lausanne) will make its Design Miami/ Basel debut with a showcase of works by acclaimed designers specializing in contemporary African art and design. Amongst the presentation, renowned Mozambican artist and designer Gonçalo Mabunda will present his unique Big Chair (2008). A mixed-media sculptor, Mabunda’s works examine the collective memory of Mozambique recovering from decades of conflict. In Big Chair, Mabunda utilizes decommissioned weapons from the Mozambican civil war, to construct a throne. Meanwhile, Hamed Ouattara will also join Foreign Agent’s presentation. Born in Ouagadougou, Ouattara’s work transforms and up-cycles local, discarded objects into a modern design. For this showcase, Ouattara will display his BOLIBANA collection. Using ancestral welding techniques, Ouattara transforms discarded materials - including metal, plastic, wood, and petrol and oil drums - to create fully functional furniture designs. Each art piece reflects on its former life, and the stories it carries – stories of environmental injustice and global consumerism. ​
​​
​Galerie kreo (Paris) will return to Design Miami/ Basel to present the best of contemporary design and original vintage lights from iconic designers including the likes of Virgil Abloh, Marc Newson, Gino Sarfatti, Hella Jongerius, and Alessandro Mendini. Meanwhile, Galerie Maria Wettergren (Paris) will present a collection of Scandinavian and Japanese contemporary designs that celebrate craft, art, architecture, and design. Japanese and Danish designer-cabinetmaker pair, Akiko Kuwahata and Ken Winther, will present Shade (2019) from the duo’s series of acclaimed wood works. Together, the pair utilize their craft to consider the role of shadow, silence, rhythm, and tactility. The subtle moiré pattern of Shade, a semi-transparent room divider made of Oregon pine, offers a fascinating ever-changing theater of light and shadow, combining functionalist purity with a strong kinetic dimension.

AFRIKYA, 2022, by Hamed Ouattara at Foreign Agent. Image courtesy of Foreign AgentShade, 2019 by Akiko Kuwahata & Ken Winther at Galerie Maria Wettergren. © Ole Akhøj. Image courtesy of the artists & Galerie Maria Wettergren

Materiality, Form and Innovation: The Intimacy of Craft & Design/
​This year’s fair edition spotlights an appreciation for craftsmanship and technical accomplishment of designers past and present. Pierre Marie Giraud (Brussels) will present new artworks and hand-picked collectible designs from leading artists in ceramics and glass, alongside a selection of Japanese crafts including lacquer and bamboo. Championing craft, glass artist Ritsue Mishima will showcase her multidimensional, luminous, Medusa (2016); whilst Kristin McKirdy will present a selection of her figurative vessels and small sculptures of biomorphic forms. ​
​​
​Specializing in the marriage of contemporary designs with traditional craft, Galerie SCENE OUVERTE (Paris) will showcase designers and artists that place materiality at the heart of their works - across glass, clay, ceramics, metal, bronze, leather, fabric, and stone. Hervé Langlais presents Arches 2 - made using Nero Antico marble, the form and material evokes a modern interpretation of Roman constructions. Meanwhile, Studio TERRE, experimental art studio, will present LOLA (2022). Inspired by the Mediterranean, Studio TERRE returns to ancient techniques and gestures to create modern and contemporary designs. LOLA, created from Murano glass beads and terracotta powder, offers an ethereal aesthetic. The room divider is designed to hang from the ceiling, and comes alive at the breath of a light breeze or as someone walks by, with each hanging string moving in tandem with the surrounding motion.

Untitled, 2021 by Kristin McKirdy at Pierre Marie Giraud. Image courtesy of Benoit Grellet

LOLA, 2022, by Studio Terre at Galerie SCENE OUVERTE. Image courtesy of Paul Hennebelle

Presenting a selection of remarkable historic furniture pieces created by iconic Scandinavian and Brazilian designers of the 20th century, Gokelaere & Robinson (Paris) celebrates the intimacy of craft and design. 1950s Brazilian design was marked by a major turning point in the field of architecture and design. Jorge Zalszupin’s Guanabara table (1959) upholds this turn of technical innovation. Exceptional by its dimensions, the table presents a 4.5 meter long curved rectangular top. Supported by a strong metal structure placed on two solid concrete biomorphic bases covered with brown leather, the wooden tabletop is composed by a combination of rectangular pieces of Jacaranda of different colors that creates a patchwork-like composition. This collage technique gives the entire table an extremely vibrant quality. Meanwhile, Gallerie Mattieu Ricard (Paris) returns to Design Miami/ Basel to present a selection of 1950s French rare and collectible works across furniture, lighting, and ceramics; highlights includes designs by Mathieu Mategot, Georges Jouve, and Charlotte Perriand. ​
​​
​Galleria Antonella Villanova (Florence) celebrates craft through spotlighting the work of internationally-known jewelry artists. Each designer offers a new aesthetic and conceptual interpretation of traditional jewelry designs - exploring innovative techniques, using often-ancient practices, alongside contemporary materials and forms. 

Guanabara Table, 1959 by Jorge Zalszupin at Gokelaere & Robinson. Image courtesy of Gokelaere & Robinson

Additional Programming Highlights/

Special Project Satellite: At the Skatepark by Caroline Van Hoek/ 
​Designer Caroline Van Hoek will present At the skatepark for this year’s Special Project Satellite. The presentation will feature works of jewelry that are inspired by skateparks - from the varying shapes of their construction, to the wear and tear, and the youthful atmosphere. The showcase displayed within a booth entirely covered in graffiti by David Neirings.
​​
​Flap³ by Cyril Lancelin/
​Design Miami/ Basel will present Cyril Lancelin - Flap³ (2023), an interactive artwork that explores the relationship between the viewer, the artwork, and technology. Flap³ uses 12 Soli radar sensors - a miniature radar developed by Google ATAP that understands human motions at various scales - to allow viewers to influence the form of the artwork, and create a unique ever-evolving shape through their movements and speed. The presentation creates a dialogue between the viewer and the artwork, animating gestures and interactions.

Flap³ by Cyril Lancelin

Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council presents Traditional Methods in Modern Design/
​Design Miami/ Basel welcomes Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council to this year's edition of the fair. The UAE-based Council works to empower local craftswomen who practice traditional Emirati crafts, ensuring the preservation of indigenous craft heritage for future generations. Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council will exhibit Traditional Methods in Modern Design, a research-based presentation that demonstrates the ongoing effort to question and uncover ways of making and consuming within the domestic and built realms. Through in-depth gastronomy research, Reem Saif Almazrouei will present a collection of Emirati inspired tableware created through a range of different weaving techniques and motifs inspired by the UAE crafts heritage. Meanwhile, Ghaya Bin Mesmar will present a collection of chairs created through an exploration of palm-based weaving techniques, dyes, and materials. Further collaborations with additional designers will also be on show in Basel, to be announced upon the fair opening. 

Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council presents Traditional Methods in Modern Design

Digital Programming/
​Design Miami/ continues to reach global audiences through its hybrid approach to fair programming, offering robust digital access to audiences across the world. Design Miami/ Basel will be made digitally available through an immersive 3D tour created by Matterport technology; digital visitors will be able to access the tour via designmiami.com from 13th June. ​ 

NOTES TO EDITORS
​​
​Design Miami/ Basel 2023 Galleries/ 
​Angela Weber Möbel
​Foreign Agent
​Friedman Benda
​Galerie DOWNTOWN Francois Laffanour
​Galerie Eric Philippe
​Galerie Gastou
​Galerie Jacques Lacoste
​Galerie kreo
​Galerie Maria Wettergren
​Galerie Matthieu Richard
​Galerie Meubles et Lumières
​Galerie Mitterrand
​Galerie Pascal Cuisinier
​Galerie Patrick Seguin
​Galerie SCENE OUVERTE
​Galleria Antonella Villanova
​Galleria Rossella Colombari
​Gokelaere & Robinson
​Jousse Entreprise
​Ketabi Bourdet Design
​Lebreton
​Morentz Gallery
​MOUVEMENTS MODERNES
​Pierre Marie Giraud
​Thomas Fritsch-ARTRIUM
​Thomsen Gallery
​​
​Schedule of Events/
​Preview Day/ By Invitation Only/
​Monday, June 12/
​Collectors Preview, 12–6pm
​VIP Preview, 6–8pm
​​
​Public Show Days/
​Tuesday, June 13/ 10am-7pm
​Wednesday, June 14/ 10am–7pm
​Thursday, June 15/ 11am–7pm
​Friday, June 16/ 11am–7pm
​Saturday, June 17/ 11am–7pm
​Sunday, June 18/ 11am–6pm
​​
​Visiting the Fair/
​Tickets to the fair are now available and can be purchased here.
​​
​NOTES TO EDITORS
​​
​About Design Miami/
​Design Miami/ connects the world through extraordinary collectible design, with live fairs on three continents that bring together galleries, designers, brands, experts, collectors, and enthusiasts. Each edition of Design Miami/ features museum-quality 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting, and objets d’art from the world’s top, expertly vetted galleries, in addition to showcasing immersive design collaborations with celebrated brands. With flagship fairs taking place alongside Art Basel in Miami, Florida, each December and Basel, Switzerland, each June, Design Miami/ is also accessible 365-days a year through designmiami.com, a content-rich digital marketplace featuring works from leading galleries and original editorial and video content on Forum Magazine.
​​
​Press inquiries, please contact/
​Camron ​
​+44 (0)20 7420 1700
​​
​Hannah Perry/ hannah.perry@camronglobal.com ​
​Grace Englefield/ grace.englefield@camronglobal.com