An eloquent curation of modern glasswork has come together at Miami’s Luminaire Lab for a fantastic cause. In a collaboration with international auction house Phillips, the design store is hosting its ‘GlasLove’ auction and exhibition in aid of cancer research until 11 October (as well as a physical auction and gala dinner preceding this on 6 October).
Following their prior PuppyLove, DesignLove and PaperLove auctions, Luminaire founders Nasir and Nargis Kassamali this time set their sights on the fluidity and versatility of glass. ‘The idea started in 2015 at Oki Sato’s “Nendo Works: 2014–2015” exhibition at the Museo della Permanente in Milan,’ explains Nasir. ‘My wife, Nargis, and I were completely enamoured by the exhibition. This is when Oki Sato and Glas Italia graciously decided to donate the pieces for our auction series, and ultimately this was what confirmed the idea.’ Those 30 playful conjoining furniture pieces by Nendo span across the Lab’s minimalist Miami design district space, informally acting as the backbone of the installation.
Elsewhere, the eclectic and delicate – yet powerful – group of works ticks all boxes for discerning design shoppers. Lighting is up for grabs in the form of lollypop Campana brothers chandeliers, floating ethereal Bocci lights, and botanical Tord Boontje wonders. Those after charming smaller pieces can be tempted by Todd Bracher’s scientific vessels, Andrea Branzi‘s artistic silhouettes or intricate floral forms courtesy of Marcel Wanders.
‘Poetically and metaphorically, glass reflects the spirit of those battling cancer, and thus was an ideal material for our fundraising auction to benefit cancer research,’ Nasir muses. All money raised will be donated to the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (itself part of the University of Miami).
