June 25, 2014 - The ninth edition of Design Miami/ Basel, June 16-22, opened with its largest and most spectacular show to date, affirming its position as the leading global forum for collectible design. More than 50 galleries from 13 different countries presented a range of museum-quality historical pieces to newly commissioned works to record attending audiences of collectors and design enthusiasts - 26,600 visitors over 7 days. The fair also launched its newest program Design At Large curated by Creative Director of Barneys New York Dennis Freedman, and unveiled its most ambitious Design Commission Triangular Series by Jamie Zigelbaum.

“Each year, Design Miami/ Basel has exceeded its previous incarnation in every way and the June 2014 fair has been no exception; with increased visitors, an expanded floor plan, additional galleries and programming, said Executive Director Rodman Primack. “What has remained consistent throughout has been the presence of museum-quality vintage design in immediate proximity to ground breaking contemporary work, though this year we have seen particularly beautiful booth constructions. It has been a thrilling fair throughout.”

The central meeting place on the global design calendar, the fair attracted again a plethora of notable attendees including art gallerists and dealers Larry Gagosian, Jay Jopling, Almine Rech, Jeff Poe, Edward Tyler Nahem, Bruno and Yoyo Bischofberger, Dominique Lévy, Nicholas Maclean, Gerard Faggionato and Ben Brown; architects including David Adjaye and Kulapat Yantrasast; economist Jean-Pierre Lehmann; collectors Marie and Joe Donnelly, Noam Gottesman, Dan Loeb, Pam and Dick Kramlich, Peter Brant, Beth de Woody, Adam Lindemann, Patrizia Sandretto, Re Rebaudengo and Alberto Mugrabi; as well as Lauren Santo Domingo, Michele Lamy, Alice Tisch and Becca Cason Thrash.

This year’s gallery program featured more than 1,000 spectacular twentieth-century pieces, including two historically significant dwellings, along with contemporary works, many of which had been commissioned for the fair. Design Miami/ Basel welcomed back longtime exhibitors Johnson Trading Gallery, David Gill and Pearl Lam Galleries as well as first time participants Galerie Matthieu Richard, Gallery FUMI, Galerie MiniMasterpiece and Gosserez.

The importance of good scenography became all the more apparent with a number of galleries, such as Galerie Jacques Lacoste, opting for a tightly edited selection of works in a beautifully conceived setting. The fair also saw the growing popularity of wall-based works - of which Maria Wettergren had a number of notable examples, including the delicate lace work Here, Now by Gjertrud Hals. Marble and brass continued a strong return to favor in contemporary design works, including new works in marble by Massimiliano Locatelli at Nilufar and Aldo Bakker at Galerie Vivid. There were some unusual explorations of natural materials, including Studio Swine’s Hair Highway series at Pearl Lam Galleries that used long human hair set in natural resin as its base material. Fine craftsmanship in both wood and ceramic works continued to be popular, as seen in YMER&MALTA’s Marquetry editions.

“Design Miami/ Basel remains an important site for international discourse about design. The confluence of works from Africa, The Americas, Asia and Europe creates an opportunity for collectors to discover new passions, for critics to voice opinions and for enthusiasts to become connoisseurs. Fueling authentic and informed interest in design is truly one of the main goals of the fair,” said Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, Creative Director of Design Miami/.

Audi unveiled an architectural installation by Konstantin Grcic, inspired by the new Audi TT coupé. One of the most influential designers of our time, Grcic’s TT Pavilion installation used real elements of the Audi TT, such as the rear hatch, and was designed to be assembled and dismantled as required. Innovative Audi technology and automotive materials were combined with wooden elements to produce a structure that is at once space-aged and reassuringly familiar in design. Mounted on stilts, it could be sited in an urban landscape as well as in a natural outdoor environment. Fredrikson Stallard’s 'Prologue' - a monumental 1.2 ton steel ring set with 8,000 pear-shaped crystals commissioned by Swarovski – was a spectacular attraction. Evoking the rising sun, the 4-meter-high work was suspended from the ceiling and cast golden, color-flecked sparkles throughout the fair.

The ground floor entrance hall was dominated by this year’s Design Commission, Triangular Series, a responsive, suspended installation by Jamie Zigelbaum. Resembling icy stalactites, the suspended tetrahedral forms of the immersive installation pulsed with warm and cold light, responding to the movement of visitors through the space. The work also provided a dramatic setting for the VIP dinner hosted by Nadja Swarovski, Craig Robins and Rodman Primack on the eve of the fair.

The introduction of the Design at Large platform provided the fair with a compelling centerpiece. Curated by Barneys Creative Director - and pioneering collector of twentieth-century radical Italian design - Dennis Freedman, the six installations were selected from open submissions by participating galleries. Jean Maneval’s space-age Maison Bulle 6 Coques (1965) from Jousse Entreprise, Eske Rex’s mesmerizing art-making apparatus Drawing Machine from Galerie Maria Wettergren, Sheila Hick’s giant color-fiber landscape installation Séance presented by Demisch Danant, Chris Kabel’s cooped circular bench Wood Ring from Galerie kreo, Dominic Harris’s hi-tech ‘divine’ intervention Ice Angel from Priveekollektie and Anton Alvarez’s giant thread wrapped arches Thread Wrapped Architecture 290414 from Gallery Libby Sellers were a hit with visitors and commentators alike.

The fair’s cultural program offered several satellite exhibitions including Berlin-based bookstore do you read me?!, ECAL/ In Wool We Trust and the publishing-on-demand FOMObile as well as a three-day series of thought-provoking Design Talks by leading design industry figures and museum directors discussing issues and insights into the world of design creation, collecting and collaborations.

Perrier-Jouët, the Exclusive Champagne Sponsor of Design Miami/ Basel, showcased its prestigious collection of Belle Epoque cuvées again this year. The fair also welcomed back American Express to present the VIP Program as well as Vitra who designed and provided furniture for the lounges and public spaces throughout the fair.

Online partner Artsy created a digital experience where users can explore the gallery exhibitions, read editorial, and gain insights on works from insiders such as Dennis Freedman, Jürgen Mayer H. and Felix Burrichter. Revisit Design Miami/ Basel on Artsy.