Design Miami.Paris: Celebrating Modernism and Craftsmanship in Collectible Design

Design Miami.Paris returns to the historic L’hôtel de Maisons from October 16-20, 2024. The event brings together over 20 international galleries, showcasing the finest in collectible design. This year’s edition, running alongside Art Basel Paris, explores Modernism’s legacy and celebrates contemporary design that pushes the boundaries of materiality and craftsmanship.

Each gallery will offer a unique exhibition of historic and contemporary pieces that come together to tell the story of great design across the rooms of the historic mansion. ~ Grela Orihuela, Senior VP of Fairs

Honoring Modernism’s Legacy

Modernism, emphasizing function, simplicity, and industrial materials, is a central theme this year. Galerie Patrick Seguin presents the legacy of French Modernism with a curated collection of masterpieces from Jean Prouvé, Le Corbusier, and Jean Royère. These designs showcase how Modernism influenced 20th-century design, blending minimalist lines with practicality. The gallery creates a striking dialogue between industrial aesthetics and the classical interiors of L’hôtel de Maisons.

Galerie Downtown-Laffanour continues this Modernist journey, featuring works by icons such as Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, and Serge Mouille. Their pieces are paired with contemporary designers like Ron Arad, Choi Byung Hoon, and Ettore Sottsass. This combination highlights how Modernism’s influence extends into the 21st century, demonstrating its global impact across time.

Morentz (Waalwijk) is committed to preserving and promoting 20th-century design. This year, they feature some of the most admired international names in collectible design, including George Nakashima, Jose Zanine Caldas, and Paavo Tynell.

Exploring Materiality and Innovation

Materiality remains a strong focus in this year’s exhibits. Galerie Desprez-Bréhéret showcases minimalist designs by Jean Touret alongside contemporary ceramics by Agnès Debizet. The gallery emphasizes craftsmanship and material exploration across generations.

Lebreton (Monaco) celebrates European modern and post-war ceramicists with works by Suzanne Ramié, Jean Derval, and Joelle Deroubaix. A highlight includes Derval’s Pichet Anthropomorphe, a hand-crafted vase from 1950 that reflects contemporary ceramic trends toward anthropomorphic forms.

Galerie MiniMasterpiece debuts a stunning cardboard installation, featuring jewelry designs from 11 artists. The centerpiece is a 4-meter-long table, crafted entirely from raw cardboard, which exemplifies the gallery’s exploration of sustainable design.

Avant-Garde and Functional Design

Galerie Meubles et Lumières (Paris) specializes in avant-garde 1960s French design, presenting works by Christian Adam, Pierre Paulin, and Robert Mathieu. Their functional yet creative designs stand out with organic shapes and uniform colors, creating an engaging dialogue with the intricate moldings and parquet floors of L’hôtel de Maisons.

Galerie Maxime Flatry delves into lacquer, featuring pieces like Katsu Hamanaka’s pedestal table and Jean Dunand’s lacquered daybed. This gallery also displays rare items from Karl Lagerfeld’s collection, establishing a direct connection to L’hôtel de Maisons, his former residence.

Cultural Exchange and Vintage Design

The global perspective of Galerie Eric Philippe blends 20th-century furniture from Europe and North America. Key pieces include a walnut and mother-of-pearl coffee table by American architect Paul László, offering a trans-continental exploration of modern design.

Nilufar Gallery (Milan) pays homage to vintage design, presenting an interplay of vintage rarities and contemporary gems. Nina Yashar, founder of Nilufar, views vintage objects as testimonies of past lives. Highlights include armchairs from Gino Levi Montalcini and Giuseppe Pagano, demonstrating the gallery’s specialization in the Rationalist Movement.

Pierre Marie Giraud (Brussels) creates a cross-cultural conversation through pieces from the United States, Japan, and Europe. Meanwhile, Thomsen Gallery (New York) presents Japanese bamboo baskets, ceramics, and bronze objects, celebrating Japan’s artistic traditions and materiality.

Refined Craftsmanship and Contemporary Design

Acrostic (Encompass), 2020 by Raphael Navot for Friedman Benda at DESIGN MIAMI.PARIS 2024 (Image courtesy of Friedman Benda and Raphael Navot)

Friedman Benda presents Raphael Navot’s Encompass sofa, a piece that emphasizes form and comfort. Dr. Samuel Ross’ designs use materials to comment on social issues, while Joris Laarman’s Ply Loop Chair pushes the limits of biodegradable plywood.

Thomas Fritsch-ARTRIUM highlights rare French ceramics from 1945 to 1970, showcasing a pivotal period in French design.

Three seater sofa mod. Tappeto Volante, Italy, 1974 by Ettore Sottsass at Galleria Rossella Colombari at Design Miami.Paris 2024 (Image courtesy of Galleria Rossella Colombari)

Galleria Rossella Colombari (Milan) spotlights Italian design from the past century, with a special focus on Carlo Mollino. Their exhibition, “Uno Studio di Interni Molliniano,” features works by legendary Italian architects like Gio Ponti and Carlo Scarpa, blending rationalist aesthetics with personal expression.

Attending Design Miami.Paris

Design Miami.Paris runs from October 16-20, 2024, with a preview day on October 15. The event will take place at L’hôtel de Maisons, 51, rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris, France. Show hours are as follows:

  • Preview Day (Invitation only):
    Tuesday, October 15, 2024
    • Members Preview: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Collectors Preview: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Show Days:
    • Wednesday, October 16: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    • Thursday, October 17: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    • Friday, October 18: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    • Saturday, October 19: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    • Sunday, October 20: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Passes are available for purchase at designmiami.com.

Design Miami Paris 2023. Image courtesy of James Harris for Design Miami.Paris

Participating Galleries at Design Miami.Paris

This year’s fair will feature over 20 international galleries, including:

  • Carpenters Workshop Gallery
  • Friedman Benda
  • Galerie Chastel Maréchal
  • Galerie Desprez-Bréhéret
  • Galerie Downtown-LAFFANOUR
  • Galerie Eric Philippe
  • Galerie kreo
  • Galerie Maxime Flatry
  • Galerie Meubles et Lumières
  • Galerie Mitterrand
  • Galerie MiniMasterpiece
  • Galerie Patrick Seguin
  • Galerie SCENE OUVERTE
  • Galerie Yves Gastou
  • Galleria Rossella Colombari
  • Hostler Burrows
  • KARRY BERREBY
  • Lebreton
  • Morentz
  • Nilufar
  • Pierre Marie Giraud
  • Salon 94 Design
  • Thomsen Gallery
  • Thomas Fritsch-ARTRIUM

As Design Miami CEO Jen Roberts explains, “This has been a pivotal year for Paris, and we are pleased to return to the cultural capital. Design Miami.Paris marks a key moment on the annual design calendar, showcasing diverse programming that captures the past, present, and future of collectible design.”

Lisa Morales

Lisa Morales is the owner of Allegory PR Services and founder of Live in Italy Magazine. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief for Live in Italy Magazine. She is a Contributing Editor for Widewalls, a Florida Contributor to the Food Wine Travel magazine, Culture Trip, and La Ceramica in Italia e nel Mondo. Lisa’s “beats” are the visual arts, food and wine and Art Basel Miami and other South Florida art fairs and art exhibitions. Seeking solace from her PR and marketing life, Lisa cooks and blogs about her food and wine pairing adventures.