
Samuel Ross at DesignMiami Paris 2023 – All photos by James Harris, courtesy of James Harris for DesignMiami – Unless indicated otherwise.
Design – At the inaugural DesignMiami Paris fair, 27 exhibiting international galleries offer presentations in direct dialogue with the historic surroundings of the Hôtel de Maisons, a stone’s throw from the Musée d’Orsay in the Saint Germain de Prés district [Through Sunday 22 at 51 rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris, Map]. We selected ten must-see exhibitions tracing the history of collectible design from the early 20th century to the present day, telling stories of influence and innovation through exceptional, rare and iconic objects from around the world.
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British designer Samuel Ross lits up one of the period-specific rooms with its minimalist, sculptural form. Ross created furniture from charcoal sketches, India ink, and pencil before translating it to its final 3D format. The installation manifests the designer’s conceptual and layered approach to post-industrial materiality.
Paris-based Galerie Mitterrand won the Best Design at Large Presentation Award for l’Âne Attelé (1989), a highly collectible masterpiece in bronze by François-Xavier Lalanne. The sculpture depicts a monumental donkey with a cart attached to its back. The donkey is made of bronze, while the cart is made of wood and metal.
Reinterpreting the fair’s surroundings via textile, the NYC-based Salon94 Design gallery presents Max Lamb’s soft sofa sculptures featuring an upholstery fabric that dialogues with the gilded details of the interior of the Hôtel de Maisons.
Paris-based Galerie Jacques Lacoste was awarded Best Historic Work for an extraordinary suite of Polar Bear Seating (c. 1951) by 20th-century French design legend Jean Royère. What a sumptuous ensemble in cherry red.
London-based Sarah Myerscough Gallery offers a refined survey of contemporary British and European fine furniture and crafted objects, with a particular focus on innovative works of wood by John Makepeace, Gareth Neal and more.
Galleria Rossella Colombari offers a rediscovery of the aesthetic principles of some of the great Italian architects of the post-war period.

Galleria Rossella Colombari at DesignMiami Paris 2023 – Photo by Shapiro Studio, courtesy of Galleria Rossella Colombari.
Gokelaere & Robinson presents remarkable historical furniture that initiates a dialogue between iconic Scandinavian and Brazilian design of the 20th century.
Paris-based Galerie Patrick Seguin presents a selection of highlights and historic collectible pieces from several masters of design, such as Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and JeanRoyère.
Galerie SCENE OUVERTE offers a presentation that reimagines three centuries-old materials: marble, ceramics and tapestry, with works by Anna Pesonen, William Coggin, Abel Carcamo, Saraï Delfendahl, KRJST, and more.
Monaco-based gallery Lebreton received the Design Miami/ Paris’ Best Presentation Award thanks to the gallery’s striking installation of rare and iconic works by 20th-century ceramic masters.
All photos by James Harris, courtesy of DesignMiami Paris 2023 – Unless stated otherwise.