Design Miami Basel 2024 honours Gaetano Pesce

Design Miami Basel 2024 pays homage to the late Gaetano Pesce with a special display of his most iconic works taking over the fair's entrance hall (until 16 June 2024)

Design Miami Basel 2024 displays
(Image credit: Ivan Erofeev for Design Miami)

As the design world gathers in Basel for Design Miami Basel 2024 this week, the fair pays homage to the late Gaetano Pesce, who passed away this past April. The display was created by Design Miami returning gallery Friedman Benda as well as debut galleries Pulp Galerie and downtown+. Within the fair meanwhile, a few galleries including Pulp Galerie, Galerie Gastou and Capsule Lounge, in collaboration with do you read me?! & Kodoji Press have also honoured the designer within the fair, offering visitors an immersive experience into the creative world of Pesce.

Gaetano Pesce at Design Miami Basel 2024

Design Miami Basel 2024 displays

(Image credit: Ivan Erofeev for Design Miami)

'Gaetano Pesce was the most independent-minded designer of recent times,' says Glenn Adamson introducing the tribute. 'He was also among the most influential – a role model to countless others. Perhaps these two things go together, for contradiction was at the heart of Pesce’s creative vision.'

The display greeting visitors to the fair include zoomorphic seating for Meritalia, the Feltri Armchair for Cassina and resin objects created by Pesce in his New York studio. Also included are his oversized Moloch Floor Lamp from the 1970s and the Up 1 Armchair for B&B Italia. The diverse offering on show gives a glimpse into Pesce's varied and expressive approach to furniture.

Design Miami Basel 2024 displays

(Image credit: Ivan Erofeev for Design Miami)

'Completely dedicated to personal expression, he also loved working with manufacturers, finding ways to push them to embrace experimental processes. A true avant gardiste, Pesce’s work has a profundity which rewards deep exploration. Yet it also spoke loud in clear, in ways that even a child - perhaps especially a child - can read,' continues Adamson.

'Most of all, Pesce believed in making what he called “objects of our time.” That meant working in plastic and other modern materials. It meant constant innovation. Yet in retrospect, we can see that his great subject was the human condition itself, which never truly changes.'

Gaetano Pesce red resin chair

Pratt Chair no.7 ​ by Gaetano Pesce at Pulp Galerie

(Image credit: Ivan Erofeev for Design Miami)

Adamson continues to describe the designer's oeuvre as 'tragic and joyful, ecstatic and conceptual, anarchic and precise. His impact on the future of design is just beginning.'

Elsewhere at the fair, Galerie Pulp present an exhibition dedicated to early Pesce works, mostly acquired from the private collection of Dutch photographers Petra and Erik Esmerg, who often captured his pieces through his photographic work.

Meanwhile, Galerie Gastou's display dedicated to the materiality of plastic includes Pesce's work alongside other design greats working in the material, including Shiro Kuramata.

Gaetano Pesce La Michetta sofa for Meritalia in yellow, orange and blue, shown at Design Miami Basel 2024

(Image credit: Ivan Erofeev for Design Miami)

Finally, Capsule with do you read me?! and Kodoji Press have collaborated on a satellite space at the fair's entrance in the form of a special reading space dedicated to Pesce's genius, featuring some his most celebrated pieces among which is the modular La Michetta sofa for Meritalia.

Design Miami Basel 2024 is on view until 16 June

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.