For the third edition of Design Miami.Paris, Friedman Benda is proud to present a booth capturing the energy of a generation of contemporary designers, architects and artists who are boldly redefining the boundaries of the discipline. Through diverse visual languages and rigorous research, these leading voices articulate new possibilities for the design field. Most works will be presented to the public for the first time.
Anchoring the room is the Ply Loop console by Dutch designer Joris Laarman. Visually arresting, the work offers a revolutionary, sustainable alternative to plywood manufacturing with outcomes that transcend the historical possibilities of the material. Laarman’s continued exploration of nature’s algorithms is reflected in an excellence in craft and a rigor in scientific research. Marking the first showing of a work from the Ply Loop series outside the United States, and the public debut of the console, this presentation also anticipates Laarman’s first solo exhibition with the gallery in over a decade, scheduled for spring 2026 in New York.
Mexican designer Fernando Laposse explores material innovation with his Totomoxtle Cabinet, turning native corn husks into marquetry. Blending traditional craft with forward-thinking research on materials regarded as byproducts, the piece expands a body of work already recognized by institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, who acquired a piece from the series earlier this year.
As part of their debut collaboration with the gallery, Italian design duo Formafantasma presents Floor L and Panel Lamp — works that exemplify the studio’s interest in the domestic sphere and its archetypes.
Continuing the gallery’s commitment to interdisciplinary practices, the Creek Chair 02 by internationally acclaimed Mexican architect Frida Escobedo will be exhibited in Europe for the first time. Delicate nickel ball chains cascade over a geometric frame, encapsulating her poetic and grounded approach to form; a sensibility that is evident in major upcoming projects such as her plans for the modern and contemporary wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Centre Pompidou renovation.
This presentation marks the beginning of a collaboration with Adam Pendleton, announcing the prominent American artist’s upcoming solo show at the gallery’s New York space in November.
Also premiering are Paris-based Raphael Navot’s Entwined armchairs. Conceived as a dialogue between craftsmanship and shapes inspired by natural compositions, the Entwined series is rooted in a classical exploration of beauty and comfort.
Following his summer presentation at the Palais Royal, American designer Misha Kahn will debut his sculptural cast bronze chair Miss Fishy Valet. Completing the installation is a selection of new unique works by Swiss-born artist Carmen D’Apollonio, alongside monumental ceramics by South African artist Andile Dyalvane, one of the most prominent voices working in ceramics today.
Featured in the ‘Design at Large’ section is the latest creation by British designer Samuel Ross — a bench that continues his exploration of civilization’s structures and paradoxes. This new work builds on themes previously examined, including the CAUCUS bench, originally commissioned by the Miami Design District and unveiled at the same fair in 2023. Ross further expands his conceptually rigorous approach of industrial materials, brutalist architecture and urban visual language, as seen in earlier pieces like the Anesthesia II desk.
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L’hôtel de Maisons, 51 Rue de L’université, Paris
Member Preview | October 21
Collector Preview | October 22
Public Days | October 23-26
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