Marta (Los Angeles) will make its debut at Design Miami/ as part of the Curio program, presenting an exhibition by Lagos, Nigeria-based designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello titled Oríkì (Act II): Tales by Moonlight. This is the ’second act’ of a series the designer presented with Marta earlier this year in Los Angeles. The presentation consists of functional sculptures formed in an auto-parts foundry in Lagos, constructed in sand-cast aluminum. The works interrogate issues of globalization, production chains and supply-and-demand dynamics – reflecting Marcus-Bello’s interest in the cottage industry that has emerged in West Africa to fabricate the parts needed for the second-cycle cars that arrive in the region from America and Europe, and the questions it raises around the life-cycle of materials in our global society. It is named after the eponymous, beloved children’s television series, Tales by Moonlight, aired from 1984–2002 on Nigerian TV.

Maison Gerard (New York) will respond to the curatorial theme Where We Stand through an exploration of human connection by placing a spotlight on contemporary women designers from eight countries. Tel Aviv-based designer, Ayala Serfaty, whilst known for her lighting designs, explores her craft in new realms through the creation of her debut table, Janus, created through digital technology and Italian bronze casting. Lebanese designer Aline Hazarian will present her bronze ensemble of tables, a mirror, and sconces. Meanwhile, Carol Egan will display works from her new Power Structure collection, inspired by nature’s dynamism.

Continuing the focus on women designers, Hostler Burrows (New York/Los Angeles) will present new work by a selection of contemporary Nordic artists and designers, spanning from emerging to established. Notable highlights will include an entirely hand-crafted ceramic beaded chair by Loewe Craft Prize finalist Marianne Huotari; new glass sculptures by Hanna Hansdotter; and recent sculptural works by Kristina Riska.
v SHARED ENVIRONMENT/
​In approaching the curatorial theme Where We Stand, many galleries took to acknowledging our shared environment, through works that celebrate natural forms and materials.

Adrian Sassoon (London) will make its debut at Design Miami/ with a presentation of contemporary glass and metalwork from its roster of international designers. Curated under the title Nature by Design, the display will not only present extraordinary craftsmanship, but also illustrate how designers respond to the natural world. Highlights include Vezzini & Chen’s lighting designs. The duo, recognised for their seamless marriage of hand carved ceramics and blown glass, present a collection that treads a fine line between function and conceptual. The sculptural hand-crafted glass lighting designs explore themes of repetition, texture, and geometry, inspired by the biodiversity of the sea and arrangements that replicate growth patterns of plants. Silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki, will display works inspired by the elements. Created by hammering sheets of silver, Suzuki presents sinuous vessel-forms, transforming rhythms he observes in nature, such as a rush of wind or the spread of a flame, into tangible designs.

Sarah Myerscough Gallery (London) will present a curated vignette with the aim to nudge at memories of tranquility found in nature. Across a melody of natural textures and hues, this presentation of museum-quality functional design will be centered around innovative, sustainable, and restorative practices. Highlights include a new series of 3D printed vessels by Gareth Neil, titled Echo. Utilizing natural sand, Neil creates a series of vessels that present exaggerated forms, from the miniature to the monumental. The fluid, yet solid, material allows for endless configurations, offering Neil the opportunity to materialize designs that are unattainable in wood. The curation will also include a cascading, organic-twisted set of carved pendant lights by Nic Webb, alongside a sprawling wall installation of organic forms created from blushing maple by Julian Watts.

The Curio program will see studio Aqua Creations (Englewood) present Bodies of Water - an exhibition inspired by organic and sculptural shapes found in nature and the aquatic world, spotlighting the need for critical action to secure a brighter future for the natural ecosystem. The studio’s presentation will feature one-of-a-kind collectible design pieces specifically commissioned for this year’s edition of Design Miami/. Spanning floor lamps, pendant lights, wall installations, sculptural works, and furniture, each design calls for a celebration of the beauty of the natural world.

CELEBRATIONS OF TRADITION & CRAFT/
​Amongst the highlights of this year’s nineteenth edition of Design Miami/ is a celebration of time-honored techniques, tradition, and craft.

Ateliers Courbet (New York) returns to Design Miami/ to present a curated display that highlights a selection of contemporary design pieces by eight artists, all underpinned by principles that value a circular economy whilst honoring traditional craftsmanship. Each designer locally sourced raw materials, then utilized time-honored techniques to carve, shape, and form the organic matter into a design that respects its origin. The final result is a collection of objects that exude a sense of harmony and integrity. The selected pieces welcome visitors to embark on a sensory journey through the different regions of the designers - from Pieter Maes’s hand-crafted Meridienne sofa inspired by the organic folds and curves of a human body, to Ethan Stebbins’s hand-crafted Wabi Sabi bed, utilizing Japanese time-honored techniques of interlocking joinery with hand-cut and chiseled local materials.