DESIGN MIAMI.LA 2024 Honorary Committee

Owner and Principal Designer, Alison Palevsky, has worked on high-end residentialprojects in locations all over the world. At the start of her career in the early 2000s,Alison refined her eye and strong individual point of view as co-owner of SPI Design.In2014, she launched her own company, Palevsky Co, that is located in Santa Monica.Palevsky specializes in interiors that blend comfort, livability, and modernity with highstyle. Her work has been featured inLuxe Magazine,Architectural Digest,CaliforniaHome + Design, andElle Decor—amongst many other titles. Alison has long worked alongside established and emerging artists to createcollaborative products and art works, many of which were sold in her studio/retaillocation. The studio also housed rotating exhibitions that she personally curated, manydriven by a singular theme.Palevskycontinues to consult with clients on their designand art collections helping to identifyhighlycollectible works from around the globe. Shehas also designed a luxury furniture line focused on crafting thoughtfulyetfunctionalpieces for her clients. Alison is currently working onaline of small accessoriesscheduled to launch in early 2025.

We are avid collectors of fine art and contemporary and vintage design furniture. What we collect and how we curate pieces within our home reflects our personalities and style sensibilities, bringing us personal joy and creating a welcoming environment for friends and family. We are thrilled that LA is hosting Design Miami.

André Balazs has created some of the world’s most iconic hotels, from the luxurious Chiltern Firehouse in London, the Mercer Hotel in New York, Hollywood’s legendary Chateau Marmont, and Sunset Beach on Shelter Island. He conceived and created The Standard Hotels in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and London and sold the hotels and the brand in 2017. His properties and projects share an unwavering commitment to detail and carefully considered sense of place. He’s collaborated with highly renowned architects and designers including Jean Nouvel, Shigeru Ban, Christian Liaigre, James Polshek, Richard Gluckman, Calvin Tsao and Studio KO. A graduate of Cornell University as College Scholar and Columbia Graduate School, André Balazs was a founding trustee of the New York Academy of Art, and has served as a member of the board of directors of the New York Public Theater and Wolfsonian-FIU, and the recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Design Patron Award.

Bianca has devoted her life to elevating the city’s diverse art scene and connecting its creative community. Bianca’s curatorial approach is characterized by her passion for people. Blending traditional and contemporary elements and influences, she continually seeks ways to bridge cultures, ideas, and geographies. The elder daughter of legendary tastemaker JF Chen, Bianca grew up surrounded by art and design. She watched her father transform his small shop on Melrose Avenue into a thriving business, all the while honing her own creative intuition and learning how to navigate the many intricacies of the industry. In addition to her work as a curator, Bianca is actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives aimed at advancing economic opportunity and gender equity for artisans. She currently sits on the board of Nest.

A passionate connector and Los Angeles native, seasoned entrepreneur Brian Toll is the Co-Founder and Co-President of The h. wood Group. He and his partner and longtime friend, John Terzian, are responsible for some of the most recognized hospitality brands in the industry. Today, Toll oversees operations, finance and business strategy. With a track record spanning almost two decades, he brings a wealth of knowledge and relationships to his work. His diligent approach has garnered a reputation for trust, integrity and professionalism, and his business acumen has turned his venues into overnight successes. Toll understands the inner workings of the industry and ensures that The h.wood Group runs seamlessly. His perspective undoubtedly keeps the stylish properties ahead of the curve. Toll and Terzian continue to expand The h.wood Group portfolio. Its brands are industry leaders with their distinct aesthetics, world-class service and palpable atmospheres.

Craig Robins is an entrepreneur, real estate developer, and art collector based in Miami, Florida. As the CEO and President of Dacra, the real estate development company he founded in 1987, Robins focuses on developing creative communities that integrate art, design, and architecture to accelerate asset value creation and enrich urban life. In the late 1980’s through the early 1990s, Robins played an integral role in the repositioning and revitalization of Miami’s South Beach through Dacra’s restoration of Art Deco landmarks, and the creation of new commercial and cultural opportunities. Robins realized that creative public programming would rapidly foster a sense of community, and his projects were defined in part by performances, public art, and dynamic events that were inclusive of residents and visitors to the area. In parallel, Dacra also developed mixed-use projects throughout South Beach including Lincoln Road and Espanola Way. Later Dacra acquired 8.5 acres on Allison Island and created a New Urbanist residential community — AQUA. The rapid appreciation of the asset value of the Miami Beach properties was attributable in part to Robins’ strategy of defining Dacra’s projects as destinations in the national and international conversation, a strategy he continues to employ today. In 2005, Robins co-founded Design Miami, the global forum for collectible design which has grown to include annual fairs in Miami Beach, Basel and Paris, all presented concurrently with Art Basel’s fairs in those cities. In 2023, Design Miami was acquired by basic.space, an ecommerce platform in which Robins is an investor. An avid collector and supporter of the arts and architecture, Robins is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Perez Art Museum Miami; an active supporter of ICA Miami; and a member of the University of Miami School of Architecture Master in Real Estate Development and Urbanism Advisory Board. Robins’ long-term commitment to design earned him the 2006 Design Patron award presented at the White House by the First Lady, which recognizes an individual’s patronage of design within the business and civic sectors from the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. He is also on the Board of the Sylvester Cancer Center at UM Health.

David Clayton Miller is a professional photographer having shot for Dolce & Gabbana, the Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Architectural Digest and other fashion and media outlets. He recently produced the Hulu Originals documentary “WE LIVE HERE: THE MIDWEST”. He previously produced two independent feature films, “Defying Gravity” and “Em & Me”. He is married and the father of three boys and lives in Los Angeles.

Gulla Jonsdottir, a groundbreaking Icelandic architect and designer, is known for her work exemplified by its dynamic use of curved forms and sensuality. Her iconic style focuses on bringing unique spatial experiences that respond to nature and the surrounding site, always echoing the integration of organic beauty and function. Unlocking a visual landscape that is both futuristic and a warm evocation of yesterday’s world of tomorrow. Establishing her own practice based in Los Angeles in 2009, Gulla is able to pursue her ambition of altering the contours of modern design and progressive architectural vision. Her atelier is a team of international designers, working across fields of hospitality, commercial & residential design, museums and wellness projects worldwide. Her limited-edition furniture pieces are a natural extension of her architectural and interior practices, celebrating form and materials to meet a specific functional need, and have been featured in Design Miami (2022) and Salon Art + Design (2022 & 2017). Gulla thrives to transform the way we think about design and the language of architecture. The artist within has sought to question everything taken for granted and as a result, created spectacular and unique spaces. The genesis of Gulla’s design begins in her sketchbook with superfluid drawings, that reflect her belief in the connection between, art, architecture and nature. Gulla studied mathematics and biology before moving to Los Angeles to study architecture at Sci-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture). Before starting her own firm in 2009, she worked for Richard Meier on renowned projects such as the Getty Center Museum and Gagosian Gallery, at Walt Disney Imagineering and Dodd Mitchell Design. Gulla has in her career of architecture and design received several awards. The most recent being West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for Leading in Women in Design (2022), as well as being listed in the Wallpaper 300 USA (2024) as an Influential Tastemaker. She sits on the board of the West Hollywood Design District and chairs the Design Committee.

Harley Wertheimer is a music executive, gallery and restaurant owner from Los Angeles, CA. He was most recently VIce President of A&R for Columbia Records, where he signed and developed acts for the labels. In 2022 he founded the art gallery CASTLE, and in 2023 he co-founded Stir Crazy, a restaurant in Hollywood.

Jackie Leroux Pritzker is a collector with a deep passion for Art, Interior Design, Architecture,bMusic and Mental Health. She is a dedicated learner, who finds joy in understanding how Art and the human experience intersect. She is guided by inspiration from growing up in San Antonio,Texas with diverse cultural roots. Jackie attended her first Burningman in 2002, which sparked her inspiration toward the Bay Area Art scene and thus began her interest in local, emerging artists. She received her Masters Degree in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling from San Francisco State University, where she was able to integrate arts into her work. She ran a successful therapy group for unhoused parents called “Art Space” which was deeply inspiring, reinforcing her passion for the connection between art and humanity. Jackie's eye for collecting Art has grown exponentially over the last decade, having the privilege to work closely with some incredibly accomplished interior designers and artists in the industry. She is fascinated by learning about process, craftsmanship and visiting artists in their studio or creative spaces.

Jessie Andrews is a self-made modern woman. She is the founder and CEO of four successful businesses, a globally sought-after designer, actress and consultant, as well as a fashion week front row mainstay. As industries shift, Jessie has remained a tastemaker for over 10 years gaining acclaim from leaders spanning between fashion, art, music and culture.

With over forty-five years of experience, JF Chen owner Joel Chen has established himself as a tastemaker and curator. The 20,000+ square foot galleries and showrooms at JF Chen are like a design lover’s paradise. You’ll find everything from eclectic period pieces to masterworks of the seventeenth century to the twenty-first centuries. Whether you're a collector, Architect, decorator, or museum enthusiast, JF Chen offers a wide range of museum-quality furniture, lighting, accessories, and art. Joel Chen stays ahead of the trends. He has an incredible eye for design and is renowned for his intellectual rigor. His passion and appreciation for fine design have made him a source of inspiration for many in the design and creative industries. JF Chen has had the privilege of showcasing the works of legendary designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Poul Kjaerholm, Jean Prouve, Jacques Adnet, Donald Judd, Dan Johnson, Hans Wegner, and Ettore Sottsass. Chen's collaboration with the Eames Office resulted in the creation of a comprehensive catalogue raisonne of iconic pieces from his own Eames furniture collection, which is a must-see for any design enthusiast. JF Chen also champions contemporary and emerging artists and designers. Through exhibitions and representation, Chen has helped introduce new talents to the world of art and design. The gallery's first show, "Architectonic," featuring artists Max Lamb and Hun Chung Lee, was just the beginning of Chen's dedication to finding and cultivating new talent.

James ("Jim") R. Hedges IV has been named by Art and Antiques magazine as one of the “Top 100 Collectors in America”. Hedges has served on The Drawings Acquisition Committee at the Museum of Modern Art, as a National Council Chair for the Aspen Art Museum, a member of the National Committee of The Anderson Ranch, a Director of The Aspen Institute’s Arts Panel, as a Trustee for The Drawing Center, a Founder of The American Friends of the Tate Gallery, a Founder of The Aspen Conversations, a Trustee of The DIA Foundation, a Trustee of ArtPace, and member of the National Committee for the Whitney Museum of American Art. He is also a former Director of The National Public Radio Foundation (NPR). He also served as President of The Hedges Family Charitable Foundation. Hedges makes his home between Los Angeles and Paris.

An arbiter of taste and champion of flawless service, John Terzian is the Co-Founder and Co-President of Los Angeles-based hospitality and lifestyle firm The h. wood Group. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Terzian brings a breadth of experience and networks to The h.wood Group. His close-knit industry relationships have stemmed from his professional background and entrepreneurial business affairs in a career of almost twenty years. Today, Terzian is responsible for the creative development and concept design of each project, as well as strategic partnerships. A fine arts major in college, he has a distinct aesthetic and brings an elegance and nostalgic design to each venue. Terzian understands how to cater to an elite clientele, and his ability to anticipate needs and wants cements The h. wood Group as a provider of world-class service. Terzian also plays an active role in philanthropy. He serves as a board member for Imagine LA, the non-profit mentorship program for the homeless, as well as for the Children's Hospital Sports & Entertainment board.

Katherine Ross is a communications consultant in the fashion and luxury market. She is also founder and co-owner of re:la (regarding Los Angeles) a collection of wearable luxury items that are inspired by the creative spirit of Los Angeles. She curated the Wear LACMA fundraising project from 2012 -2018 which has raised millions for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art - working with over 30 Los Angeles-based designers that found inspiration in the museum’s collection. Ms. Ross was a former Senior Vice President at LVMH Moët Hennessy. Louis Vuitton and reported directly to the Chairman. Prior to her work at LVMH she was Senior Vice President of Communications for Prada. She has consulted on communications for Balenciaga, Creatures for the Wind, Hermes and other luxury brands. Preceding her work in fashion, she was a Senior Vice President at Sotheby’s in New York. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Michael Govan, CEO and Director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Kelly Wearstler is a multi-hyphenate with an aesthetic that is both instantly recognizable and undefinable. Her internationally renowned studio produces residential, hospitality, retail and digital environments, limited edition furniture collections, lifestyle products and thought-provoking collaborations with the world's leading brands across fashion, lifestyle and technology sectors. Throughout her career, Wearstler has challenged the traditional parameters of design, most recently through her studio's pioneering employment of AI. Also a gallerist, Wearstler has launched the careers of artists and designers from across the globe. Her Masterclass was the first in its category and she has since appeared as a featured speaker at Business of Fashion Voices and Design Miami/. She has published six books, the latest, Synchronicity. Wearstler has received awards from numerous publications and organizations including Architectural Digest’s AD 100 Hall of Fame, Elle Décor’s The A-List Titans, Wallpaper*’s America 300, Time Magazine’s The Design 100, and Vogue's Best Dressed List.

Ken Fulk is a designer of experiences large and small. He is renowned for his layered interiors, high-concept hospitality brands and unforgettable parties. The Virginia-born designer has spent the last 25 years developing a business by elevating the daily lives of his clients, not only designing their homes, jets, restaurants and hotels but also creative directing birthdays, weddings, dinners, anniversaries and family getaways. Leading a staff of 80 with studios in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, Ken Fulk has gained international acclaim with widely published residential and hospitality projects from Mexico to Miami and Provence to Provincetown. As co-proprietor and creative director of properties ranging from historic hotels in New Orleans and the Berkshires to New York's Noda and Felix Roasting Co., Fulk has expanded his impact beyond the boundaries of design. In 2018, he founded Saint Joseph’s Arts Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting local artists at revitalized historic landmarks in San Francisco and Provincetown. Fulk has been named to Architectural Digest’s AD 100, Elle Decor’s A-List, Luxe's Gold List and was twice-nominated for a James Beard Design Award. The firm recently won the international Restaurant & Bar Design Award for Carbone Miami.

Kulapat Yantrasast is the founding principal and creative director of WHY. Born in Bangkok, he received his M. Arch. and Ph.D. degrees in Architecture from the University of Tokyo and subsequently worked for eight years as a close associate to the Pritzker Prize-Winning Architect Tadao Ando, leading several important US and European museum and culture projects. In recent years, Kulapat has acquired a reputation as one of the art world’s preeminent architects, designing genre-defying spaces that focus on the human impact of the arts. His interdisciplinary approach to architecture and design is inspired by his passion for food, ecology, and human society, viewing each project as a unique blend of ingredients. He is a frequent public speaker at leading institutions and is the first architect to receive the Silpathorn Award from the Government of Thailand. Since 2005, he has served on the Artists’ Committee of the Americans for the Arts, the nation’s oldest organization for support of the arts in society, and he is a board member of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

Lyn Winter is the founder and president of Lyn Winter, Inc., a strategic communications and advisory agency specializing in contemporary art and culture. Lyn has more than 30 years’ experience working in the U.S., UK, Europe and the Middle East with major corporations, institutions and individual leaders in the fields of art, design, fashion, architecture, music, film, finance, luxury and media among them Christie’s, Google, Levi’s, Louis Vuitton, Marriott International, Merrill Lynch, MTV Networks, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), where she served as Director of Communications from 2007-2014 during a period of financial and leadership crisis, transformation and turnaround. Past and current clients include the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Al Jazeera Media Network, Artforum, Blackman Cruz, The Broad Stage, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival/Goldenvoice, CODE Art Fair, Copenhagen International Fashion Fair, Depart Foundation, Desert X, Desert X AlUla, Design Miami.LA, Design Pavilion NYC, Harvey Goldsmith, Peter Grant, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Island Records, Jeffrey Deitch, J.F.Chen, Malcolm McLaren, Marmol Radziner, Nilufar Gallery, Pentagram, Rodeo Drive, Scott Mitchell Studio, Southern Guild Gallery, Stamen Design, Isaac Tigrett, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Van Doren Waxter, Vielmetter Los Angeles and Women Photographers International Archive. Lyn has led communications campaigns for artists including Doug Aitken, Urs Fischer, Cai Guo-Qiang, Robert Longo, Rodney McMillian, Ed Moses, Takashi Murakami, Jim Denevan and Lauren Bon, among other artists. She is the executive producer of several artist films for Rodarte, Marina Abramovic and for Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color and Space, a museum exhibition of pioneering Latin American artists. Lyn is editor of architectural designer Scott Mitchell’s monograph Scott Mitchell Houses published by Rizzoli. She is also the executive producer of Rodeo Drive-The Podcast, a podcast series that explores the past, present and future of the iconic fashion and luxury thoroughfare in Beverly Hills. Born in Manchester, UK, Lyn graduated with a First Class Master of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge. She resides in Los Angeles and in Palm Springs in a historic residence designed by modernist architect William F. Cody.

Born in Tehran, Pamela Shamshiri moved to Los Angeles with her family in the wake of Iran’s revolution at the age of 9. Pamela and her brother and business partner, Ramin, spent much of their childhood playing on the various floors of their father’s furniture showroom; watching each room transformed by new arrangements of furniture and décor, Shamshiri learned the importance of story-telling through thoughtful yet livable design. Her studies led her to the East Coast where she earned her degree from Smith College in art history and architecture, later she attended NYU where she earned her master’s in production design for film. Pamela returned to the West Coast in ’98, where she, her brother and two friends co-founded award-winning multidisciplinary firm, Commune in 2004; toward the end of Shamshiri’s Commune tenure, the firm was awarded the prestigious Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design. In 2016, Pamela and her brother Ramin moved on from Commune to start Studio Shamshiri. Now Studio Shamshiri calls a historic building in Hollywood home and has become most recognizable for Shamshiri’s holistic approach to design; emphasizing the importance of creating one cohesive space that is a composed harmony of Architecture and Interior Design informed by the building’s past, present, future and those that will inhabit it. Since its founding 2016, Studio Shamshiri has been featured in Architectural Digest, ELLE Décor, VOGUE Living, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, The World of Interiors and is consistently included in the American, French and German editions of Architectural Digest’s AD100 list.

Ryan Murphy is an Emmy®, Golden Globe®, Tony® and Peabody® Award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director. He created the cult-favorite series Popular; Golden Globe-winning television drama Nip/Tuck; Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series Glee; Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning anthology series American Horror Story and American Crime Story; Emmy-winning anthology series Feud; Pose; Scream Queens; and 9-1-1.

Sarah Harrelson is the founder and editor-in-chief of CULTURED Magazine. The magazine was founded in 2012 as a definition-defying publication that seeks to break down the borders between creative disciplines and showcase the complexities of the art ecosystem. CULTURED has become a trusted compass for fashion, art, design, and architecture, consistently spring boarding young voices into the conversation through thought-provoking coverage. Harrelson curates and produces events each year for the leading fashion houses, luxury brands and galleries, from intimate dinners to large-scale cocktail events and speaker forums. Her art collection focused on emerging artists has been featured by The New York Times and Artnet. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and has three children.

For over 35 years, Cuban born Waldo Fernandez has managed all elements of his own interior design practice, working on various projects all over the world. Those projects include: many high end private residences, restaurants, hotels on both coasts, numerous Hawaiian estates, riding stables, executive offices, yachts and private planes. Mr. Fernandez is credited with completing Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills, CUT at the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay, Live Nation executive offices in Westwood, CA, the new Malibu Beach Inn known as Nobu Ryokan Hotel in Malibu, and The Forum in Inglewood, CA. Most recently, Mr. Fernandez designed the interiors for the Soho House in West Hollywood. The Soho House is a high end private dining club that seats up to 400 hundred guests. Located on the Penthouse level of the new Mani Brothers building on famed Sunset Blvd, the multi level space features an outdoor dining terrace, private screening room and lounges where guests can enjoy sweeping views of Los Angeles. Waldo’s work is a combination of a wide range of styles which often incorporates the aesthetics of both location and architecture. For Waldo, the home is the essence of one’s inner-self. He believes that creating one’s sense of style is very much told by the manner in which one lives. Waldo’s clientele include investment bankers, television and film producers, studio heads, accomplished actors, photographers, artists and acclaimed recording artists. Waldo’s Designs has been open at the Almont Drive location for more than 30 years. His firm includes a staff of architectural and interior designers. Waldo’s Design also carries a reproduction furniture line, which continually keeps evolving Fernandez’s creativity.

Wendy Kaplan has been at LACMA since 2001. Previously, she held curatorial positions at the Wolfsonian-Florida International University in Miami, Glasgow Museums in Scotland, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A leading expert on late 19th- and 20th-century design, she has authored, co-authored, or edited many books such as Found in Translation: Design in California and Mexico, 1915–1985 (2017), California Design, 1930–1965: “Living in a Modern Way”(2011), The Arts & Crafts Movement in Europe and America: Design for the Modern World (2004), Leading "The Simple Life": The Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain (1999), Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1996), Designing Modernity: The Arts of Reform and Persuasion, 1885–1945 (1995), The Arts and Crafts Movement (1991), and "The Art that is Life”: The Arts and Crafts Movement in America (1987) as well as organized major exhibitions on these subjects. The recipient of many fellowships—most notably the Rome Prize at the American Academy in Rome—she has also twice received the prize for the year’s most outstanding publication given by the Art Libraries Society of North America. In 2012, California Design received the award for Best Architecture or Design Show from the International Association of Art Critics—United States Section, and in 2019, Found in Translation won the Barr Award, given by College Art Association for the most distinguished museum publication.

The multi-talented DJ, label executive and creative visionary Zack Bia fittingly grew up in three of the world’s most artistic cities, having been born in New York City and spending his early years in the Big Apple and Paris before moving to Los Angeles. At age 19, the then-USC student jumped into music with a growing gig as a DJ and booking talent for local Los Angeles venues. His virtual DJ sets exploded in popularity during 2020, so much so that artists gave him songs to premiere. As a co-founder of Field Trip Recordings, the 26 year-old shares his wisdom and insider knowledge with rising talent as their own careers flourish. The label’s roster includes breakout star Yeat, whose first project with the label, 2Alive, debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and has more than 1.2 billion streams. After years of learning from the industry’s leading acts, Zack Bia enters the next phase of his career: his own music. With a gift for identifying unique sounds and willingness to blend and transform genres, Zack Bia is primed to continue pushing musical boundaries. Combine that with his creative vision and business knowledge and you see how Zack Bia is a new type of triple threat.

Zoe’s career of 20+ years in Fashion, Art & Design & Lifestyle spans working with international fashion houses, launching the careers of British fashion talent & leading European marketing campaigns for the most established contemporary lifestyle brands in the United States. Her career began in Paris at the headquarters of global PR firm Karla Otto where she worked for 2 years. Back in London at Chanel, Purple & then Browns Fashion she honed her communication skills and built her network which now spans globally with focus on London, Paris, New York & Los Angeles where she currently resides. Zoe established her agency, ZOE in 2011, with the focus of being the strategic partner for ideas-driven brand positioning, activation, amplification and evolution. Advising and representing emerging and established fashion, art & design, consumer, beauty and lifestyle brands across European & US markets. With her dedication and expertise, Zoe has grown her business into a leading force in the industry, managing global clients and consistently delivering exceptional results. In 2020, Zoe opened her Los Angeles office to better serve and support her clients' growth in the US as well as to play a deeper strategic role in her US based companies. Zoe sits on the advisory board for Women for Women International.