Design Miami’s Inaugural LA Launch Marks a Design Renaissance

Milan, Paris, Copenhagen, New York, Miami, and now LA? The Southern California locale has positioned itself as an international arbiter of taste, particularly in the area of collectible design, with a decorated history that boasts the post-war mid-century design boom, American car culture, an iconic entertainment industry, and space age engineering. On the heels of a global rebrand designed by Henrik Purienne, Design Miami proves that good things come to those who wait with their inaugural Los Angeles fair – DESIGN MIAMI.LA – taking place May 16th – 20th, 2024 at a private Holmby Hills estate designed by the late architect Paul R. Williams. Guided by the mantra ‘Living with Design,’ Curatorial Director Ashlee Harrison shares programming inspired by the city’s rich design heritage, distilled through themes of eclecticism, imagination, and nostalgia.

The visual narrative begins with brand collateral featuring celebrated LA-based artist Peter Shire as the subject of the campaign – a refreshed marketing strategy employed by the fair moving forward to spotlight Design Miami’s expansive global artisan network. What’s more, print and digital ephemera become conduits for experiencing and connecting with exceptional design and afford those not in attendance the opportunity to live with that season’s keepsake. For those in attendance, the engaging exhibitions in this year’s edition will serve as a fully immersive exploration into LA’s continuing legacy as it inspires and contributes to global conversations on design.

With an emphasis on LA-based practices, art gallery Friedman Benda (New York/Los Angeles) cuts through the noise to present a curated group exhibition in a nod to Design Miami’s global context while acknowledging local talent and their international echo. Highlighted works will include the likes of Darren Romanelli, Carmen D’Apollonio, Farrell Hundley, Misha Kahn, and Samuel Ross.

For a particularly titillating point of view, Southern Guild (Cape Town/Los Angeles) thoughtfully weaves narratives of hyper-sentimentalism, nostalgia, ecological concerns, craft traditions, and social politics into their striking showcase. The globalized presentation of notable designers includes: ZaneleMuholi, Zizipho Poswa, Porky Hefer, Andile Dyalvane, Rich Mnisi, Cheick Diallo, Nandipha Mntambo, King Houdekpinkhou, Patrick Bongoy, among others.

The Future Perfect (New York/Los Angeles) crafts a response to the classical decor within the Paul R. Williams estate through a selection of objects whose design strategy moves in silence. With artifacts quietly in dialogue, each adds to the conversation on contemporary design without pulling focus from the others in service asserting their place within – and with respect to – historical context. The exhibition will present works by Genesis Belanger, created in collaboration with Bower Studios, as well as spotlight Jane Yang-D’Haene, Chris Wolston, Leena Similu, and Eric Roinestad.

Moderne Gallery (Philadelphia) facilitates a carefully curated 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. Guests may also access never before seen pieces by Nakashima alongside a masterwork by Miriam Carpenter. Making waves along the west, R & Company (New York) will celebrate current and contemporary works by designers based on the golden coast in search to develop new avenues for growth within the creative industries. Presentations include Hun Chung Lee, Rogan Gregory, and Jolie Ngo. Meanwhile, Gallery FUMI (London) looks inward recreating a domestic setting with pieces that showcase what it means to live beautifully expressed in material play from an array of designers including Kustaa Saksi, Francesco Perini, and Sam Orlando Miller.

Other notable exhibitors include Carpenters Workshop Gallery (London/Paris/New York/Los Angeles), Todd Merrill Studio (New York), Salon 94 Design (New York), Charles Burnand Gallery (London), Galerie Negropontes (Paris), Lebreton (Monaco), Wexler Gallery (Philadelphia), Ornamentum (New York), James de Wulf (Los Angeles), and Nick Thomm (Melbourne/Los Angeles).

A jewel in the crown that is Design Miami’s latest endeavor, Harrison curates an exhibition themed “Master Works of Collectible Design, 1938-Present,” to display a contemporary survey of evocative items from the past through present day in a nod to Hollywood’s golden era – and perhaps current design renaissance. It will tout innovation and craftsmanship in an homage to these artisan predecessors and design pioneers as well as those who shepherd collectible craft into the future.

This event marks a new waypoint for global design convergence within the intimate setting of a residential environment while offering a glimpse into the enduring allure of craftsmanship. From gallery highlights to individual exhibitors, Design Miami has primed Los Angeles to become the next best destination for design and those who dare to dream of it. “A land of thinkers and creators,” Harrison says. “California has always been fertile ground for risk-taking and avant-garde thinking across all realms of design.”

To inquire about attending, visit DESIGN MIAMI.LA here.