The eighteenth edition of DESIGN MIAMI.BASEL opens in just one month, and this year’s event promises to be better than ever. From June 10-16 , over 25 exhibitor presentations, including several new gallery debuts, will come together at Messe Basel to showcase an array of world class historical and contemporary collectible design altogether under one roof.

Design Miami CEO Jen Roberts observes: “Last year was a significant milestone in the evolution of Design Miami, and this year will only see the momentum continue. [This] edition of our Basel fair follows the announcement of our global rebrand, and the inaugural Los Angeles edition. I greatly look forward to returning to our flagship location in Basel, to continue our mission at Design Miami: building and cultivating creative collaboration and a global platform for cultural exchange.”

This year’s highlights include a special installation in the fair’s entrance hall honoring the late Italian design maestro Gaetano Pesce (1939 - 2024), courtesy of Pulp Galerie (Paris), Friedman Benda (New  York/Los Angeles), and downtown+ (Paris). The tribute will highlight important works representative of the legendary designer’s 50-plus year career and trailblazing, experimental approach.

Once inside, visitors will enjoy a rich offering of historic and contemporary design objects from both longtime Design Miami collaborators as well as several new participants. First time gallery exhibitors include Galerie Eva Presenhuber (Zurich/Vienna); MAXIME FLATRY (Paris); and Objects with Narratives (Brussels); while the Curio program welcomes a notable number of debut exhibitors: Craft x Tech (Tokyo); Mameluca (Lisbon); Nolwa Studio (Hyderabad); Nick Thomm (Melbourne/Los Angeles); and Pulp Galerie (Paris); with Karry Berreby (Paris) making its Basel debut.

On the historical side, several galleries will showcase rare works representing significant moments in design history. These include, among others, a number of Paris-based galleries, including Pulp Galerie, which will present an exhibition devoted to an impressive collection of early pieces by the aforementioned Pesce. Additionally, Galerie Mitterrand will display iconic works by legendary French design couple François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, and Thomas Fritsch-ARTRIUM will spotlight French ceramics dating between 1945 and 1970 by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Georges Jouve, Jean Derval, and others. LAFFANOUR-Galerie Downtown and Galerie Patrick Seguin will celebrate work by 20th century design icons such as Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, and Pierre Jeanneret. And Ketabi Bourdet Design will honor the work of influential designers Philippe Starck and Elizabeth Garoust, longtime friends who studied together at École Camondo and who, in 1969, both chose to leave their studies to pursue their independent design careers.

Other focal points include Galerie Eva Presenhuber's solo exhibition dedicated to works by Franz West, as well as a presentation by Thomsen Gallery (New York) focusing on Japanese craft— specifically, Japanese bamboo baskets made by legends of Japanese bamboo art, including Iizuka Rōkansai, Tanabe Chikuunsai, and Maeda Chikubōsai. The latter noted masterpieces from the first half of the 20th century will be complemented by Japanese ceramics from the 15th-21st centuries, Japanese gold lacquer boxes from the 20th century, and an exceptional set of Japanese folding screens.

On the contemporary side, there are also several highly anticipated exhibits, including first time exhibitor Spazio Nobile (Brussels), which will present LUNISOLAR, featuring work by Taiwanese designer Pao Hui Kao and Norwegian ceramicist Ann Beate Tempelhaug that explores poetry, calligraphy, and painting with Urushi lacquer and porcelain glaze techniques to reflect the rhythm of nature. The 2024 Basel edition also welcomes the debut of Craft x Tech (Tokyo), an initiative founded by Hideki Yoshimoto / TANGENT with the curatorial direction of Maria Cristina Didero, for which several acclaimed international creators—including Ini Archibong and Sabine Marcelis, among others—created work inspired by six craft districts from Japan's Tohoku region. The resulting pieces aim to bridge the gap between traditional Japanese craft and contemporary technology. Meanwhile, longtime Design Miami collaborator Galerie kreo (Paris) will present German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic’s recently released TRANSFORMERS collection, which explores themes of materiality through the lens of technology. The lauded designer has reimagined the purpose of a precision measuring device, typically utilized in the automotive industry, resulting in nine striking new functional works in anodized aluminum.

This year’s Design At Large program is also sure to inspire, with three large-scale works displayed throughout the fairgrounds. Rino Claessens’ elegant Modular bench (2023), presented by Galerie SCENE OUVERTE(Paris), is composed of 28 glazed ceramic modules, and offers 14 seats in a curving, abstract formation. Multidisciplinary creative Marie Piselli (Paris) will present her new digital work, OUI CLOCK | AURORA (2024), taking an alternative approach to time, measuring it not in quantitative hours, minutes or seconds, but rather via moments shared, and moments alone, designed as a reminder of the importance of shared experiences and emotions. And last but not least, Ketabi Bourdet and LAFFANOUR (Paris) have joined forces for a special presentation of revered director and visual artist Robert Wilson’s Hamletmachine table and chairs, designed for the premiere of the eponymous play staged at NYU Theater in New York in 1986.

Plus so, so much more.

We can’t wait to see you in Basel!