Every month, Art & Design Night is held on the 2nd Saturday in the Miami Design District from 7-10 pm. It is an opportunity to gallery hop, meet local artists, enjoy cocktails and music. As we approach our winter season, the crowds get larger and the events get bigger. One of my favorite galleries is Etra Fine Art and this past Saturday night, my gallery opening pick went to Art in Context, work by Ricardo Pelaez, Colombian Artist and Naples Florida resident.
A native of Medellin, Colombia, Pelaez studied architecture and art in Colombia and Florence Italy. I read that his background is in graphic design and that his earlier work included etchings which is evident in the multi media and layers of texture and pattern used in his current work. Each piece is actually an installation and a dialogue between iconic imagery and contemporary design like Frank Gehry's signature cardboard chair above.
Fritza, Bitte Sitz, please sit!
Here he references Gustav Klimt's "Fritza von Riedler" of 1907, art nouveau motifs, decorative pattern and color. Pelaez intends to blur the line between art and design as he transforms Master Paintings and repurposes contemporary Design and fabrication into a three dimensional artful and interactive experience.
If you haven't yet been to the Miami Design District, it is worth a visit. Home to some of our best art galleries, trendiest design boutiques and now great fashion and food too. A few of my favorite design shops include Jalan, Jalan, Kartell, NiBa, Marimekko Miami and the phenomenal Senora Martinez, owned by Chef Michelle Bernstein and her husband. The Design District is located between N.E.39th and 41th Street and N.E. Miami Avenue and N.E. 2nd Avenue.
1 comment:
Very tuned in article Lisa. Thanks for a clear picture of current and interesting, innovative design in Miami.
Annie L.
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