Design Miami/ launches a new retail platform and presents a new collection of works on paper created by international designers, artists and architects, to offer support in areas most hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Featuring works by the likes of Annabelle Selldorf, Marlene Huissoud, Formafantasma, Kiki & Joost and many more, the full proceedings will support GlobalGiving’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, an initiative helping key workers worldwide. The collection was created in partnership with Anava Projects, set up by curators Anna Carnick and Wava Carpenter to support ‘design for good’, and will be available to purchase via the design fair’s new Shop platform.
‘From the beginning, we wanted to create a platform that could support our community at large. As the pandemic unfolded, it was important for us to use our network and our platform for the greater good,’ says the fair’s Director of Global Exhibitions, Jillian Choi. Designers were asked to create works that described their experience during the pandemic. ‘We were heartened but not surprised, by the overwhelming response and desire to contribute,’ continues Choi. Available to purchase will be over 100 works ranging from the abstract to the practical, including a sketch from David Adjaye’s Smithsonian project, a photograph by Germans Ermičs, collages by Humberto Campana and Justin Morin amongst others.
Launching today, Design Miami/ Shop is a new online marketplace dedicated to collectible design, offering over 800 pieces from 52 international galleries. Having cancelled its Basel date this year, the fair has been exploring ways to support its international roster of design galleries, and this new project creates an outlet for both commercial as well as creative and collaborative connections. ‘The feedback so far [...] has been incredibly positive with almost every gallery that exhibits in Design Miami/ Basel participating,’ observes Design Miami/ CEO, Jen Roberts. ‘The quality and quantity of works presented gives an excellent indication of just how excited the gallerists and studios are. Our galleries have been incredible partners in this effort and have generously shared material along with their expertise to create a more robust site. They have all been extremely supportive of this initiative while understanding that it’s really an effort to support them short and long term.’
Pieces on sale will start at $100, and will include unique works such as a 6x6 Demountable House by Jean Prouvé (priced at US$1,500,000). Collectors will be able to browse the catalogue by product, era and gallery, as well as specially curated areas selected by the fair’s team and including collections on Contemporary Ceramics and Brazilian Modernism.
‘While we are looking ahead to the Miami fair in December, we wanted to find a way to support our galleries and partners in the interim,’ says Roberts. ‘The collectible design market has seen some upsides to the pandemic as people have had to spend the majority of their time in their homes. When I speak to the galleries, they all note that these new circumstances have meant that their clients are finally able to spend time in one place which is helpful for making decisions about pieces they had been considering. We believe that our new online platform will be a valuable addition to the Design Miami/ portfolio, and become a destination where visitors can browse and purchase the best in collectible design from the foremost experts in the field as they would at our fairs.’