DESIGN MIAMI.BASEL 2024 wrapped over the weekend to high praise from attendees and participants alike—thanks to the intimate environment of well curated material, which resonated with serious, international collectors on the hunt for the best of the best.

The 18th edition of our flagship Swiss fair offered a rich tableau of rare and cutting-edge collectible designs from over 25 exhibitors—including ten debut exhibitors—across the fair’s Gallery, Curio, Design at Large, Special Projects, and Satellite programming. The refined, carefully considered displays allowed visitors to zero in on what they were looking for, and gallerists reported particularly strong sales. One visiting art advisor shared that he believed this year to be the most successful Basel show to date.

Scroll on for more rave reviews heard throughout the fair week, and enjoy shots of the beautiful installations that made the event such a hit.

The week kicked off with positive early sales. Galerie Meubles et Lumières, one of this year's Best of Show winners, reported the sale of two hero pieces soon after the fair opened: the flower-like Anemone sofa ​by Jean-Pierre Laporte and the large-scale Cassiopée chandelier by Max Sauze. Commenting on the success of the gallery’s presentation, Guilhem Faget, Manager of Galerie Meubles et Lumières said: “It's a great fair for dealers, with knowledgeable clients always eager to explore new pieces and designers. The event's timing alongside Art Basel makes it a key moment.”

One impactful debut presentation came from downtown+, with a Curio offering an exceptional combination of contemporary and historic Japanese design. Speaking to her experience, Luna Laffanour, founder of downtown+, said: “We are thrilled with our first participation in DESIGN MIAMI.BASEL. We had lots of interesting new encounters, and the fair's format allowed us to take the time to talk with our collectors.”

Contemporary gallery Objects with Narratives made another noteworthy debut with a solo exhibition of experimental, handcrafted works by rising Belgian talent Ben Storms—including pieces commissioned especially for the fair. Robbe Vandewyngaerde, Co-Founder of Objects with Narratives, said of the gallery’s first showing in Basel: “DESIGN MIAMI.BASEL offers an intimate and calm setting to meet dedicated and selective collectors from around the world. Together with the sales made on site and ongoing orders, we are on track to make this one of the most successful exhibitions we have participated in.”

Established Design Miami exhibitors also reported on a particularly successful set of sales this year. Monaco-based Lebreton noted that the fair offered one of the best sales performances achieved over a decade of exhibiting, while Marc Benda, Co-Founder of Friedman Benda, commented on the international presence of collectors, saying: “We were thrilled to see interest and support across the gallery’s program from existing and new clients, both private and institutional, from four continents.”

Galerie Mitterrand reported on another successful Basel fair, with a menagerie of key pieces from François-Xavier Lalanne, including Petit Bouquetin des Alpes (2000), a patinated bronze Ibex; Palombe I (2006), a patinated zinc and aluminum bird sculpture; and Nouveaux Moutons (Agneau), (1997), a small lamb sculpture formed from epoxy-stone and bronze. Meanwhile, Japanese craft also proved popular among collectors, with Pierre Marie Giraud selling notable pieces by Takuro Kuwata, Kohei Ukai, and Yoshiro Kimura.

Returning exhibitor Ketabi Bourdet Design observed a strong market for Phillippe Starck, selling key works by the French industrial architect-designer life the Miss Z mannequin (1991), Tom Double mirror (1985) and Roi Egon floor lamp (1985), among others. The gallery also enjoyed another key sale: the hand-painted, wrought iron Lilith Console (2023) by Elizabeth Garouste.

All in all, DESIGN MIAMI.BASEL 2024 left everyone feeling good about the state of collectible design today. “This year’s unique program of significant historical and fresh contemporary works brought energy and a new perspective to our 18th edition in Basel,” remarked Design Miami CEO Jennifer Roberts. “The result was a strong sales performance from both our established galleries and our impactful list of debut names. There was a deep sense of optimism about the direction of our industry, and we look forward to what’s next at our second Paris edition this October.”

For those who couldn’t make it to Basel this year, here are a few more shots of what you missed.