Art lovers around the world gather annually at Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most anticipated art exhibitions in the U.S. But, if design is your thing, the Design Miami/Basel fair in Switzerland is where you should be this upcoming June.
The Miami/Basel art fair is the sister of Design Miami/, the international design show that was conceived five years ago as Design.05, but later dubbed Design Miami/. This year, the smashing hit fair is celebrating its 10th showing since 05, and the Basel people in Switzerland are ecstatic.
And we are excited, too.
A slew of design houses and exhibitors are joining Design Miami/Basel to showcase their art and designs to the public at this year’s Basel fair. The mélange of international galleries totals 31, so the folks over at Basel had to expand. This year the showcase is huge. So big, in fact that the event will be expanded onto two floors of Hall 5 in Basel’s Messeplatz.
Plus, there is much more than art and design to appreciate this year. The Basel peeps have planned other inspiring activities to keep curious onlookers intrigued. Galerie Anne-Sophie Duval (Paris) will be presenting a collection of rare Art Deco works. And Didier Aaron et Cie (Paris) will be debuting a compelling presentation of 18th-century pieces in an environment created by acclaimed French designer Jacques Grange.
“This is the most important show we’ve ever had,” said Design Miami/ Director Ambra Medda. “[The show] will offer a prefect balance of commerce and culture.”
Now, back to the expansion. The mezzanine will be hosting cultural programs, sponsor initiatives, and Design On/Site, a showcase of the works of individual designers’ pieces presented by progressive contemporary design galleries, which debuted at Design Miami/ in December of last year.
First time programs will be showcased on the mezzanine of Hall 5. And, if that isn’t enough, there are new areas—like art, fashion, science, music and architecture—to explore at this year’s Basel.
If you are a journalist, collector, or gallerist looking to share your two cents, you are invited to join the discussions over at Design Talks, where the dominant themes of each show will be discussed. And, finally, Basel will be presenting a “Designers of the Future” Award recognizing the influential power players.
Of course, a show is never complete without showing-off their principal sponsors. HSBC Private Bank is the top dog, and, because they are so awesome, they’ll be hosting the VIP lounge for the duration of the show.
Audi is once again the exclusive automotive sponsor, so they will be featuring two of their new iconic Audi models, the subcompact A1 and the A8 luxury sedan, in an innovative design setting with the title “Lucid Flux” by Moritz Waldemeyer.
Between the numerous designers and galleries showcasing their works to the promising expansion into fashion, music, architecture and more, Basel is a must-see event for the culture enthusiast. Plus, you might catch a glimpse of Brad Pitt, who was spotted at the 2008 fair.
Mark your calendars for this year’s Design Miami/Basel, which will be held in Basel, Switzerland between June 15 and 19 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
