Miami, FL
Design Miami: 'Blue Sky' Optimism Meets Bold Experimentation in a Shifting Market | Artnet News
Given the current state of the news cycle, to give Design Miami the over-arching theme of “Blue Sky,” as this year’s newly minted curatorial director Glenn Adamson has done, could either be considered ironic or delusional, or maybe just sweetly optimistic.
Still, the Miami edition of Design Miami (it started in the Floridian city in 2005, hence the name), is known for its more lotus-eating vibes. If the exhibits at the Basel version tend to the historic, and Paris is the ideal spot for elegance and style, then Miami is the place for the experimental and the upbeat. To wit, the Haas Brothers’ large-scale Strawberry Tree that is being co-presented by R& Company and Marianne Boesky in this year’s tent. “Glass is one of the most complicated and collaborative and most modern and historic crafts out there,” say the LA-based brothers, known for their fantastically trippy celebrations of the natural world. The tree is no exception with its bronze trunk encased in thousands of vintage blue beads and hung with luminescent pink glass drops, like over-sized strawberries.
The Haas Brothers The Strawberry Tree by at R & Company x Marianne Boesky for Design Miami 2024 Photo: Kevin Todora; Courtesy of the Nasher Sculpture Center
Since last October, the fair has been under the new ownership of Jesse Lee, a 40-ish resident of Los Angeles who cut his teeth in his twenties matching brands from Asos to Gucci to experiences from youth workshops to Coachella parties. Combing data from his invitation-only website, Basic.Space, that sells cool stuff (high and vintage fashion, contemporary design) to even cooler customers, he has deduced that design is now the major focus of Gen Z and Millennials. “It’s the next big thing for people in music and fashion,” he says.
Devon Turnbull’s USM and OJAS Listening Room Installation. Courtesy of USM.
In a world where there are too many fairs, and to survive they need to evolve, Lee’s entrepreneurial instincts could be for the best. He is, for example, introducing Devon Turnbull’s OJAS / USM sound system to the fair, on the grounds that “if you’re going to spend half a million on a kitchen, you’re probably happy to spend $100,000 on speakers.” But also because he believes in the experiential component. (It was, after all, the food offerings and the performances that helped make the early Frieze into a massive success. And look what’s happened since.)
Lee is interested in finding new locations: Aspen and Seoul have been mentioned and he trialled a reasonably successful LA version in May this year. “I love Hawiai,” he says, “but it’s a bit far.” Meanwhile he is increasing the Curio programme, which allows younger dealers to show at cheaper booths, and the range. For Lee, cars and watches (the dude categories) are not beyond consideration, and he wants to reinforce the fair’s connection to fashion. This year, the Zanotta Sacco bean bags, commissioned by Matthieu Blazy for Bottega Veneta’s October fashion show will be on show.
Jean Royère, Sphère coffee table (1954). Courtesy of Galerie Patrick Seguin.
Out of the 54 dealers coming to Miami, only a small number now show exclusively historic design. One of them is the Parisian Patrick Seguin, who is bringing a selection of iconic works by the 20th Century designer Jean Royere. “I would prefer it if there was more historic work in the fair,” he says. “But most of it is coming from Europe, and shipping furniture is not like shipping a painting.”
Seguin, however, is an industry expert and his offerings are at the highest end—the Royere Sphere table is $500,000. He has a lot of American clients prepared to spend a fortune on these rare pieces. “At this level, the design market is disconnected from economic reality,” says Seguin whose works appeal to those looking for furniture with the same status that a Picasso or a Basquiat might confer.
Javier Senosiain, Warm Colors, Design Miami 2024. Photo: Timothy Doyon, courtesy of Friedman Benda and Javier Senosiain.
For Marc Benda, of New York’s Friedman Benda, it is these top collectors who come on day one who tend to make the venture a success. “But southern Florida is a massive market. There are locals who come back several times,” he says. “There is an openness in the Miami mindset, and I’ve often launched designers’ careers here, including [maximalist] Misha Kahn and [gothic crafter] Chris Schanck.” This year, he has a two-part booth. On one side: the first-ever furniture project, clad in multi-colored Mexican tiles, by the exuberant architect Javier Sanosiain; on the other a new lamp—called Robo—by the Italians Formafantasma, that plays into their insistence on rigor and restraint.
Marc Fish, Ethereal Bed (2024). Courtesy of Sarah Myerscough.
“It took us a while to key into what works in Miami,” says London-based Sarah Myerscough, who is known for having created a significant market for sophisticated but authentically craft-based furniture. “We needed to lighten our palette, get designers to use woods like maple and ash, and respond to the climate.” A couple of years ago, she created a sell-out booth, painting its walls with seductive yellows and blues and showing work including an Angela Demann sissal chandelier that tumbled like hair above a Christopher Kurtz maple table. (“The paints were by [LA design queen] Kelly Wearstler. I figured she’d understand the aesthetic,” says Myerscough.) This year, she is bringing a sinuously styled bed, with a transparent canopy, by Marc Fish and an equally rococo swing by Dana Barnes and Christopher Kurtz (each around $200,000), all installed in a dusty pink dreamscape.
Christopher Kurtz + Dana Barnes, Between Us Tête-à-Tête (2024). Courtesy of Sarah Myerscough.
“Historically,” says Trevyn McGowan of South African gallery Southern Guild (now with an outpost in Los Angeles), “Miami has been good for us.” Specializing in work from the African continent, McGowan has effectively created the international careers for artists such as Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa. Their work will be among the 12 ceramists she is showing this year. “Clay is the most enduring, widespread material across the continent,” says McGowan. “With it, the artists explore everything from women’s rights to rituals to technology. It links up the continent and every possible narrative.”
King Houndekpinkou, The Sea Widow To All Those Brave Men Who Carried You Out of the Sea (2024) and Andile Dyalvane, Igqirha (2024). Courtesy of Southern Guild.
Where once contemporary design, and even near-historic work, was measured in quality and significance against 18th century furniture and porcelain, or the now questionable category of tribal art, as Marc Benda points out, “It is now measured against the contemporary art market. But we have a much more limited inventory.”
However, Sarah Myserscough believes that “Design feels like it’s on a firmer footing right now than the art market. But then, the price points aren’t as high. And people need to furnish their homes.”
Design Miami begins this week, with an invite-only preview on Dec. 5, and open to the public Dec. 6-10. The fair is at Convention Center Drive & 19th Street, Miami Beach, Florida.
After more than three months removed from a devastating national championship loss, over 5,000 fans gathered at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning for a first look at Miami football’s 2026 squad.
The annual spring game offered exactly that: a mix of evaluation and entertainment. Miami structured the day differently this year, using the first half for position drills, including passing, red zone and agility work, before transitioning into a live scrimmage in the second half.
Much of the attention centered on new quarterback Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke. While he started slow, Mensah quickly settled in and showed why he’s expected to lead the Hurricanes this fall.
Mensah connected multiple times with familiar target Cooper Barkate, his former teammate at Duke. The duo picked up right where they left off, highlighted by a 29-yard touchdown to the back corner of the end zone. Mensah added a 33-yard touchdown pass to Daylyn Upshaw and a five-yard score to Cam Vaughn, another transfer addition.
Calm in the pocket and effective under pressure, Mensah extended plays and delivered accurate throws, flashing the kind of playmaking ability Miami fans have been eager to see.
With several returning starters such as wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher seeing limited action, opportunities opened for younger players to contribute. RB Jordan Lyle capitalized, breaking off multiple strong runs and showing quick footwork in the open field.
Behind Mensah, Miami showcased its quarterback depth. Judd Anderson, Luke Nickel and early enrollee Dereon Coleman all saw snaps, with Nickel making a strong case for the backup role. Coleman flashed potential but remains a longer-term development piece.
Defensively, Miami may have delivered the most impressive performance of the day.
Despite losing key contributors such as Ruben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, the Hurricanes controlled the line of scrimmage and limited offensive production. Defensive lineman Damon Wilson, a transfer from Missouri, along with tackles Justin Scott and Jarquez Carter, consistently disrupted plays. Scott’s quickness stood out against the run, while Wilson applied steady pressure off the edge.
In the secondary, Boston College transfer Omar Thornton, along with JJ Dunnigan and Xavier Lucas, contributed to multiple stops with tight coverage and physical tackling.
The offensive line, featuring several new faces and only one returning starter, showed flashes but remains a work in progress. Freshman Jackson Cantwell has big shoes to fill with Sisi Mauigoa declaring for the NFL draft. At 6-foot-8, 330 pounds, Cantwell acted as a brick wall protecting his QB and winning the battle at the line. However, the second team offensive line had some struggles, with two bad snaps in a row.
For many in attendance, however, the spring game was about more than just performance. It served as a rare opportunity for families and fans to connect with the program in a more personal setting, celebrating players beyond what they show on the field.
“It’s him fulfilling his dream and doing what he wants to do,” said the grandmother of wide receiver Milan Parris. “He’s my oldest grandson, and I’m just over the moon. I’m extremely proud of him.”
While the defense may have controlled much of the action, the day ultimately served as an early glimpse into a team balancing new talent, developing depth and high expectations.
With nearly five months until the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 4, Miami leaves the spring with promise and plenty to still refine.
Argentine forward’s brace included the match winner against Colorado Rapids in front of over 75,000 fans in Denver.
Published On 19 Apr 2026
Lionel Messi scored a brace and German Berterame headed another as Inter Miami earned a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Saturday in Denver.
Messi scored the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute. He started a run just inside midfield and went unchallenged until the box, where he blasted into the upper left corner for a 3-2 lead.
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Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi each scored for Colorado (4-4-0, 12 points) in front of 75,824 at Empower Field, the second-largest crowd in MLS history.
Miami (4-1-3, 15 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute after Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s pass was intercepted by Yannick Bright. Josh Atencio offered a hard challenge and was shown a yellow card after video review.
Messi took the resulting penalty and rolled his shot straight down the middle as Miami took a 1-0 lead.
Colorado had a solid look at the goal when midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a one-touch lob. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was out of position and well beyond the penalty arc after heading away a loose ball, but Frederick’s attempt sailed over the open net.
In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Miami extended their lead to 2-0, connecting on a series of passes deep in their attacking third. Messi got the run of play started with a tight touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.
De Paul sent Mateo Silvetti on a run to the boundary line. His inward-spinning cross floated to the front of goal, where Berterame rose above the Colorado defence and tucked a header under the bar.
Navarro’s goal cut Miami’s lead to 2-1. He started a run in midfield and used a step-over move to get an open shot a few steps into the box that tucked inside the left post past a diving St. Clair in the 58th minute.
In the 62nd minute, second-half substitute Yapi settled on a direct pass from Lucas Herrington and sizzled a shot past St. Clair for the equaliser.
Miami closed the win playing a man down as Yannick Bright was sent off with a red card in the 87th minute.
The Cleveland Browns traded for an extended right tackle, former Houston Texan Tytus Howard, at the start of free agency as they began their rebuild of the offensive line that was awful in 2025. But Howard has played every position on the offensive line except for center, so if it’s all about getting your best five on the field, which it should be, there’s a chance Howard doesn’t play at right tackle in 2026.
While doing a mock draft on Peter Schrager’s podcast, former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon had the Browns drafting Miami (FL) right tackle sixth overall. He talked about the issue with Howard, but said Mauigoa could either take over the tackle spot or be a really good guard.
Carthon said he knows that Mauigoa would be one of their best five, whether it is at guard or tackle. Some will say that a guy who may be best at guard isn’t worth the sixth overall pick, and I have to disagree. You should draft the best football players, and Francis Mauigoa is my highest-rated offensive lineman and seventh overall. It might be at guard, but I have a good feeling that Mauigoa will find a home in the NFL as a high-quality offensive lineman.
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