designboom’s guide to miami art & design week 2024: what not to miss in and out of the fairs

your definitive guide to miami art week 2024

Art and design lovers from around the globe are heading to Florida for Miami Art & Design Week, one of the coastal city‘s most coveted annual events. From December 1st — 8th, Art Basel Miami Beach and Design Miami take center stage, opening their doors to collectors and enthusiasts alike. With perfect weather in the forecast and a lineup that blends world-class art fairs, public activations, exhibitions, and parties, the Magic City transforms into the ultimate creative hub. Whether you’re here for the fairs, the city-wide art installations, or the museum exhibitions, this guide has everything you need to make the most of Miami Art & Design Week 2024.

image © Kian Lem

the fairs

Design Miami

Design Miami returns to Miami Beach for its 20th edition. Curated by Glenn Adamson under the theme Blue Sky, this event brings together over 45 leading galleries to explore the transformative potential of imaginative, boundary-pushing design. The theme celebrates design as an optimistic and collective endeavor, showcasing works that reflect bold innovation, material ingenuity, and a shared global perspective. This edition marks a year of significant expansion for Design Miami, following successful fairs in Los Angeles, Basel, and Paris.

Gallery highlights include The Future Perfect’s presentation of nearly 100 new works from emerging and established designers such as Anina Major, Chris Wolston, and Vikram Goyal, who makes his U.S. debut. Inspired by the interplay of day and night under a singular sky, their booth balances contemporary design with artisanal craftsmanship. Through the lens of Blue Sky, the fair reaffirms its role as a platform for visionary design, celebrating two decades of showcasing the best in historic and contemporary creativity.

what: Design Miami
where: Convention Center Drive & 19th Street, Miami Beach
when: December 3rd, 2024 (VIP preview), December 4th — 8th, 2024 (public)

image courtesy Design Miami

Art Basel Miami Beach

Art Basel Miami Beach returns under the new direction of Bridget Finn. This year’s edition features 286 galleries from 38 countries, with over two-thirds hailing from the Americas, reflecting its unique position at the cultural crossroads of Miami Beach. Exhibitors will present an array of exceptional Modern and contemporary works across six sectors, including the main Galleries section, thematic Kabinett presentations, and specialized areas like Nova for recent works, Positions for emerging talent, and Survey for historical art predating 2000. Complementing the fair is a public ‘Conversations’ program, offering talks with leading voices in the art world.

Marking its fifth anniversary, the Meridians sector, curated by Yasmil Raymond, highlights large-scale, institutionally ambitious projects at the south end of the show floor. Featuring seventeen works by international artists, many created this year, Meridians explores themes of transformation, democracy, and climate change under the title State of Becoming. Projects range from monumental sculptures to conceptual installations, showcasing art that evokes crossing boundaries and embracing change. Raymond describes the works as embodying formal regeneration, entropy, and transcendence, offering a dynamic exploration of contemporary artistic practice.

what: Art Basel Miami Beach

where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach

when: December 4th — 5th, 2024 (VIP preview), December 6th — 8th, 2024 (public) 

image courtesy Art Basel

Alcova Miami

Alcova returns to Miami for its second international edition, taking over the historic River Inn in the South River Drive Historic District of East Little Havana. Built in 1908, the River Inn is Miami’s oldest hotel, featuring pastel-colored Victorian timber mansions preserved in their original charm. This unique setting — near the Miami River and accessible from both Miami Beach and downtown — offers a backdrop for Alcova’s mission of transforming historically rich spaces into dynamic showcases for cutting-edge contemporary design.

The 2024 edition will bring a lineup of exhibitions highlighting innovative work from designers, companies, and collectives worldwide. True to its roots, Alcova will feature both established and emerging voices, pushing boundaries in materials, systems, and living environments.

what: Alcova

where: River Inn, 437 SW 2nd Street, Miami

when: December 3rd — 8th, 2024

image courtesy Alcova

NADA Miami

For its 22nd edition, NADA Miami 2024 brings together over 150 galleries, art spaces, and nonprofit organizations from 37 countries and 66 cities to showcase a vast, global perspective. The fair highlights the dynamic art scenes of cities like Buenos Aires, Lagos, Shanghai, and Pittsburgh, presenting a mix of established names and fresh voices. Notably, this year welcomes 59 first-time exhibitors, including april april, Gallery COMMON, and Eugster II Belgrade, alongside innovative participants in the NADA Projects section like Romance and Louis Reed.

Highlights include the return of Curated Spotlight, organized by Jasmine Wahi in collaboration with TD Bank, which offers a focused platform for select galleries. NADA Presents, the fair’s signature conversation series, will feature dialogues with global art and culture leaders.

what: NADA Miami

where: Ice Palace Studios, 1400 N Miami Ave, Miami

when: December 3rd — 7th, 2024

Untitled Art Fair

The 13th edition of Untitled Art returns to Miami Beach in 2024 with its largest presentation yet, featuring 176 exhibitors. Founded in 2012, the fair remains committed to encouraging collaboration and supporting the broader art ecosystem. This year’s program emphasizes diversity and representation, guided by the curatorial theme East Meets West, with guest curators Kathy Huang and Jungmin Cho shaping a dialogue between global contemporary art practices.

The fair will be held on Miami Beach within a custom-built, air-conditioned structure featuring curated presentations, live events, and artist performances.

what: Untitled Art Fair

where: South Beach at 12th Street and Ocean Drive

when: December 4th — 8th, 2024

image courtesy Untitled Art Fair

SCOPE Art Show

Celebrating its 23rd edition, SCOPE Art Show returns to its iconic pavilion on the sands of South Beach, continuing its tradition of presenting the cutting-edge trends and innovative voices shaping the art world. Known for its forward-thinking approach, SCOPE provides a platform for alternative and nomadic gallery models, showcasing artists who challenge the boundaries of technology, culture, and society.

This year’s theme of interdependence highlights the power of collaboration and the interconnectedness of individuals, communities, and the global landscape. Large-scale installations will dominate the show, including Lua Brice‘s ethereal light and sound installation ‘Folding Light,’ Esther Mahlangu’s monumental solo exhibition ‘Ukuthula Makube Nawe,’ and ‘Blessed Be the Fruit,’ Lucy Sparrow‘s farmers market installation of over 6,000 individually handmade felt fruits.

what: SCOPE Art Show

where: South Beach, 801 Ocean Drive between 8th and 10th Street

when: December 3rd — 8th, 2024

image courtesy SCOPE Art Show

automotive

Lexus

Lexus is teaming up with design studio Crafting Plastics and ICA Miami to present Liminal Cycles, a multi-sensory installation debuting during Miami Art & Design Week 2024. Inspired by the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Lexus LF-ZC concept car, the central sculpture, crafted from bioplastic materials, highlights Lexus’ innovations in sustainable design and personalization.

The installation explores the concept of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), emphasizing adaptability and customization through responsive materials and technology. The centerpiece features UV-sensitive bioplastic that changes color with light variations, while satellite sculptures transform elements of the LF-ZC into interactive sensory experiences. Viewers can engage with tactile, auditory, and olfactory responses, including a new Lexus fragrance by dilo. 

what: Liminal Cycles by Lexus and Crafting Plastics

where: Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami)

when: December 2nd — 8th, 2024

Jaguar

Jaguar is set to unveil its bold new Design Vision Concept during Miami Art & Design Week on December 2, 2024, introducing its dramatic creative philosophy, ‘Exuberant Modernism.’ Teased with an image showcasing striking rear details, the concept embodies the brand’s vision of bold forms and exuberant proportions. Showcased across two curated gallery spaces, the debut aligns with Jaguar’s ‘Copy Nothing’ ethos, rooted in founder Sir William Lyons’ legacy of fearless originality since 1935. Collaborating with emerging artists, Jaguar aims to celebrate creativity that defies convention, positioning the concept as a design milestone.

what: Jaguar’s Design Vision Concept reveal

where: Two locations, to be announced

when: December 2nd, 2024

What not to miss

Faena Art

Faena Art announces its Miami Art Week 2024 programming featuring ‘Seletega (run, see if people are coming/corre a ver si viene gente),’ a monumental site-specific installation by Tlingit/Unangax̂ artist Nicholas Galanin on Faena Beach. Supported by Chase Sapphire Reserve, the 30-foot-tall work partially buries the masts, sails, and rigging of a Spanish galleon in the sand, evoking the irreversible act of scuttling ships during Cortés’s 1519 expedition to Mexico. This act symbolized a point of no return, tying the occupation of Indigenous lands to the initial colonization of the Americas.

Spray-painted on the sails in English and Spanish are urgent questions: ‘What are we going to give up to burn the sails of empire? What are we going to build for our collective liberation?‘ Galanin’s installation challenges viewers to reflect on what must be relinquished to advance toward collective freedom and a more equitable future.

what: Seletega (run, see if people are coming/corre a ver si viene gente)

where: Faena Beach

when: December 3rd — 8th, 2024

image courtesy Faena Art

The ReefLine

The ReefLine, a major seven-mile-long underwater sculpture park off Miami Beach, debuts Carlos Betancourt‘s Miami Reef Star during Miami Art & Design Week. Spearheaded by Ximena Caminos in collaboration with BlueLab Preservation Society and OMA/Shigematsu, the project blends art, architecture, and marine science to create a snorkel trail and artificial reefs, enhancing biodiversity and coastal resilience. Betancourt’s 60-ft prototype, created with architect Alberto Latorre, features 46 star-shaped modules, previewing larger underwater installations. The masterplan includes environmentally functional artworks and site-specific pieces like Leandro Erlich’s Concrete Coral and OMA’s staircase-inspired reef. The ReefLine combines cultural innovation and environmental stewardship, engaging the community while addressing climate change.

what: The ReefLine: Miami Reef Star
where: South Beach shoreline
when: December 3rd — December 8th, 2024

Pearl Lam Galleries x LPM Restaurant & Bar

LPM Restaurant & Bar Miami is partnering with Pearl Lam Galleries to present the works of Paris-based artist Michal Korman during Miami Art Week. The restaurant will feature Korman’s vibrant oil paintings, blending food and art to create a memorable, immersive experience. This collaboration underscores LPM’s commitment to art, with a special cocktail menu, Recipes For Our Friends, inspired by Jean Cocteau, further enhancing the cultural atmosphere of the space.

Korman’s exhibition, The Flower Narrative, explores the sensory connections between nature, food, and leisure. The series includes Blue Parrakeet, a large-scale heptaptych displayed in the main dining room, which evokes cinematic moments and reflects Korman’s love for the Art Nouveau movement. His use of color and graphic oil painting mirrors LPM’s Mediterranean spirit.

what: LPM Restaurant & Bar Miami x Pearl Lam Galleries
where: LPM Restaurant & Bar, 1300 Brickell Bay Dr, Miami
when: November 29th — December 28th, 2024

Ruinart x Henrique Oliveira

Maison Ruinart returns to Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 with its Champagne Lounge and a new chapter of the ‘Conversations with Nature’ series, featuring Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira as part of the Carte Blanche 2024 collective. Oliveira’s project, inspired by the underground chalk caves of Champagne, is a life-sized freestanding tree sculpture made from recycled plywood. The twisting, labyrinth-like branches evoke the caves where Ruinart ages its champagne. Now permanently displayed in the Garden of Artists at Ruinart’s historic address in Reims, the work reflects the Maison’s commitment to sustainability and reconnection with nature in the face of climate change. 

what: Henrique Oliveira x Maison Ruinart

where: Ruinart Lounge, Art Basel Miami Beach

when: December 5th — 8th, 2024

image courtesy Maison Ruinart

D’Puglia at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

D’Puglia, an international cultural initiative celebrating the rich heritage of Puglia, partners with L’Officiel to present Flags for Future and Antonio Aricò’s Magna Grecia Collection at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach. Flags for Future, co-curated by UTÖPIA and ISTANBUL ’74, debuts the theme Va’ dove ti porta il vento (‘Go Where the Wind Takes You’), featuring an impactful exhibition of upcycled flags by forty artists. These vibrant flags line the hotel’s garden pathways, symbolizing unity, transformation, and environmental stewardship while raising awareness for Save the Olives and Parley for the Oceans.

Centered on themes of preserving Puglia’s seas, ancient olive trees, and architectural heritage, the exhibition unveils four new flags that embody the strength of Sparta, the grace of Helena, the boldness of Byzantine culture, the sensuality of Roman influence, and the mystique of the Alchemists. Carried by the wind, each flag serves as a powerful connection to the environment and humanity, representing hope and progress.

Complementing this cultural celebration, Antonio Aricò presents his Magna Grecia Collection through a SELETTI installation, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design inspired by the ancient Greek colonies of southern Italy.

what: Flags for Future + Antonio Aricò’s Magna Grecia Collection
where: The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
when: December 1st — Sunday, December 8th, 2024

Parley for the Oceans

At Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, Parley for the Oceans will debut its presence in the Collectors Lounge, inviting attendees to engage with the beauty and vulnerability of our oceans through art and storytelling. The activation aims to communicate the urgency of the environmental crisis. A highlight of Parley’s exhibition will be a limited-edition Pierre Paulin Chirac Sofa, crafted in collaboration with Paulin Paulin Paulin. The sofa is upholstered with red polypropylene ropes repurposed from Christo and Jeanne-Claude‘s monumental L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (1961–2021), reinforcing Parley’s commitment to upcycling and recycling.

What’s more, Parley will showcase artist-designed surfboards by Jenny Holzer and Keiichi Tanaami, alongside exclusive works from leading contemporary artists who advocate for environmental awareness.

what: Parley for the Oceans at Art Basel Miami Beach

where: Collector’s Lounge, Miami Beach Convention Center 

when: December 6th — 8th, 2024

Surfboard by Jenny Holzer

IKEA Sleepeasy

IKEA U.S. is bringing its ‘Sleepeasy’ pop-up to Miami Art Week 2024, showcasing innovative solutions for better sleep through six essentials: comfort, light, temperature, sound, air quality, and decluttering. This free event offers interactive experiences, live art, a silent disco, giveaways, and new product previews like the VÅGSTRANDA mattress and SANELA comforter set. IKEA will also launch the 2025 Style Guide featuring ‘Moody Modernism’ and ‘Sunny Scandinavian’ designs, and host a panel with the National Sleep Foundation to discuss the science of sleep.

‘At IKEA, we’re committed to helping everyone discover their unique sleep solutions,’ said Paul Anderson, IKEA U.S. Home Furnishing and Retail Design Leader. ‘With The IKEA Sleepeasy, we aim to xbring a sense of fun back to sleep, especially in a city famous for its vibrant nightlife.’ See designboom’s coverage of its visit to IKEA’s headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden! 

what: IKEA Sleepeasy

where: 391 NW 24th Street, Miami

when: December 6th — 8th, 2024

image courtesy IKEA

Roham Shamekh ‘Pharrel’s Echoes’

Dubai-based designer Roham Shamekh will unveil his collection Pharrell’s Echoes at Design Miami 2024, from December 4th to 8th. Drawing inspiration from pivotal moments in his life, especially his encounter with Pharrell Williams, the collection explores the power of manifestation and the profound impact of our thoughts and actions. Roham invites viewers to reflect on how we unknowingly shape each other’s lives, with the belief that everyone has the potential to be a ‘guardian angel’ in someone else’s journey.

The heart of Pharrell’s Echoes lies in sculptural pieces like the Universe chair, crafted in white resin to represent the collective human experience, while the Manifestation chair features cherubs to symbolize hope and transcendence. A limited-edition bronze version, Angel, transforms the chair into a subject of contemplation. The collection emphasizes the interconnectedness of all people, illustrating how intentional actions and goodwill can shape both personal destinies and the collective human experience.

what: Pharrell’s Echoes

where: Design Miami

when: December 3rd — 8th, 2024

The Future Perfect

The Future Perfect is set to unveil its largest booth ever, showcasing nearly one hundred new works by over twenty emerging and established artists and designers, including Chris Wolston, Lindsey Adelman, and Cody Hoyt. The presentation will also feature six artists making their Design Miami debut: Anina Major, Laurids Gallée, Olivia Cognet, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, and Thompson Street Studio. Additionally, the exhibition will mark the first U.S. presentation by Vikram Goyal, one of India’s foremost contemporary designers. Based in New Delhi, Goyal is renowned for his intricate creations that draw deeply from India’s rich tradition of artisanal metalwork.

what: The Future Perfect booth at Design Miami

where: Convention Center Drive & 19th Street, Miami Beach
when: December 3rd — 8th, 2024

Song of the Forest Chandelier, Vikram Goyal

Pininfarina x VISO: A Childhood Dream

Pininfarina and VISO Inc. unveil A Childhood Dream, an immersive installation and film debuting before Design Miami/Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 at VISO Galleria. Inspired by childhood wonder, the exhibit transforms the space into a dreamlike realm, featuring sculptural light fixtures designed by Pininfarina and engineered by VISO. The installation, blending advanced materials, lighting, and soundscapes by French filmmaker Gwenael Lewis, symbolizes the journey from imagination to reality through three stages of sculptures: soft, undefined forms, evolving into dynamic, high-definition shapes.

what: Pininfarina x VISO: A Childhood Dream
where: VISO Galleria, 270 NE 61st St, Miami

when: December 4th — 6th, 2024

image courtesy Pininfarina

Pérez Art Museum (PAMM)

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) presents Kate Capshaw: Exclusive Tonsorial Services, the artist’s Miami debut and solo exhibition during Miami Art & Design Week. The exhibition unveils a powerful new portrait honoring Sergei Grant, a barber and entrepreneur who has overcome adversity and now mentors aspiring barbers while offering mobile haircuts to those in need. Accompanied by a series of photographs capturing local youth and patrons of Grant’s Miami-Dade barbershop, Capshaw’s work celebrates the resilience, dignity, and sense of community fostered in barbershops.

Through this exhibition, the artist continues her exploration of underrepresented communities, emphasizing the vital role of such spaces in building connections and supporting individuals. This presentation expands Capshaw’s ongoing commitment to highlighting systemic issues like homelessness and inequality, while honoring the everyday heroes who make a meaningful impact within their communities.

what: Kate Capshaw: Exclusive Tonsorial Services

where: Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami

when: November 21st, 2024 — January 19th, 2025

LVMH Culture House

LVMH Culture House, a five-day immersive art and cultural experience in the Miami Design District, will highlight diverse emerging and established artists, including LO, Kandy Lopez, Glenneisha Darkins, and Yuki Ando, with a focus on underrepresented groups. The program features panel discussions with LVMH brand presidents, artists, and entrepreneurs like Chris Collins, Marques McCammon, and Jessica Rivera, alongside cultural influencers Terrence J and Emory Jones of Roc Nation. The exhibition will also showcase work by two student artists.

what: LVMH Culture House

where: Paradise Plaza Event Space, 151 NE 41st Street, 3rd floor, Miami Design District

when: December 4th — 8th, 2024

image courtesy LVMH

Miami Design District: Pearl Jam by Nicole Nomsa Moyo

The Miami Design District, in partnership with the Design Miami Curatorial Lab, has named Nicole Nomsa Moyo as the recipient of the 2024 Annual Design Commission. Marking its 10th edition, this year’s installation, titled Pearl Jam, takes inspiration from South Africa’s Ndebele tribe. It features a series of interactive, life-sized experiences, including oversized pearls and jewelry-inspired sculptures. Additionally, over 1,000 handcrafted ‘earrings’ created by indigenous Ndebele women will adorn the trees throughout the neighborhood.

what: Pearl Jam by Nicole Nomsa Moyo

where: Paseo Ponti & Paradise Plaza, Miami Design District

when: November 2024 — March 2025

image courtesy Miami Design District