Design Miami’s Los Angeles Curatorial Director, Ashlee Harrison, says:
“I am honored to collaborate with Design Miami as Curatorial Director of the inaugural edition of DESIGN MIAMI.LA. This edition will serve as a testament to California’s rich design heritage, paying homage to the Paul R. Williams designed historic estate in which the fair will be presented. A land of dreamers and creators, California has always been fertile ground for risk-taking and avant-garde thinking across all realms of design. This edition of DESIGN MIAMI.LA will center on the themes of eclecticism, imagination, and nostalgia that have informed the city’s design landscape, bringing together some of the world's leading international design galleries and voices for the first time under one roof.”

For the inaugural edition of DESIGN MIAMI.LA,Friedman Benda (New York/Los Angeles)plans to present a curated group exhibition, with an emphasis on LA-based design practices. Works presented at the fair will nod to Design Miami’s global context and place within the design community, whilst acknowledging the local surroundings of Los Angeles and its cultural significance across the international design landscape. Highlight works will include the likes of Darren Romanelli, Carmen D’Apollonio, Farrell Hundley, Misha Kahn, and Samuel Ross.

Having just opened a second location in Melrose Hill, Los Angeles,Southern Guild (Cape Town/Los Angeles)will bring a distinctive point of difference to the Los Angeles edition. For this inaugural fair, the gallery 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. Exhibiting designers will include Zanele Muholi, Zizipho Poswa, Porky Hefer, Andile Dyalvane, Rich Mnisi, Cheick Diallo, Nandipha Mntambo, King Houdekpinkhou, Patrick Bongoy and others.

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. The Future Perfect will also place a spotlight on works by Jane Yang-D’Haene, Chris Wolston, Leena Similu, and Eric Roinestad. Through presenting a melange of designers together in one conversation, The Future Perfect will draw a constellation around contemporary design and its place in history.

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. This exhibition provides a unique opportunity to experience the convergence of masterpieces spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, all within the intimate setting of a residential environment. Moderne Gallery will encapsulate the essence of the studio movement, offering a glimpse into this creative world and the enduring allure of craftsmanship.

R & Company (New York)will showcase a unique combination of works by contemporary designers based on the West Coast -including Hun Chung Lee, Rogan Gregory, and Jolie Ngo. The presentation will explore a design dialogue that seeks to develop new avenues for growth in the industry. Meanwhile,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.

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. The Podium curation will pay 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. The Podium exhibition at DESIGN MIAMI.LA will embody a journey through the evolution of design excellence, celebrating the essence of what defines significant and influential work.