Design Miami is internationally recognised as the premier global design fair, a stage where the most innovative and forward-thinking design projects are unveiled. The Curio section, a dedicated space within the fair, showcases cutting-edge special projects that blur the lines between design, art, and experimentation.

Gaetano Pesce, often described as the most radical of radical designers, is renowned for his boundary-pushing work that blends humour, irony, and social critique. Throughout his career, Pesce has defied conventions, creating pieces that transcend the merely functional, becoming bold statements on society, politics, and human nature. His designs, unmistakable in their imperfection and individuality, celebrate the irregularities of life, crafting objects that are personal, emotional, and often surreal.

The Edizioni del Pesce project is a vivid manifestation of Pesce’s philosophy. These pieces are not just objects; they are expressions of freedom and individuality, challenging the conformity of mass production. Meritalia, the Italian radical design furniture brand that acquired Edizioni del Pesce in 2010 from Pesce himself, is now reviving this project as a homage to his unparalleled work.

Edizioni del Pesce resonates deeply with contemporary discussions on the value of imperfection and the role of artisanal processes in modern design. In a world obsessed with uniformity and efficiency, Pesce’s work emerges as a critique of mass production’s sterility, emphasising the soul and spontaneity found in handcrafted objects. The collection stands as a testament to Pesce’s lifelong belief that design is more than just functional—it is a human act, imbued with social and political significance.

The collection includes a variety of objects that defy traditional design expectations: each of them, from intricately tangled polyurethane vases to resin-coated lamps and dripping candelabras, embraces unpredictability and craftsmanship, with each edition produced in a limited series of 30+3.

Meritalia’s reintroduction of Edizioni del Pesce pays homage to Pesce’s original craftsmanship, faithfully reapplying the production techniques first used in Studio Pesce. More than just a reissue, this collection revives the bold, provocative spirit of Gaetano Pesce, offering a contemporary audience the opportunity to experience the magic of his irreverent, boundary-defying creations.

As Pesce once said, “Good design isn’t about fitting a mould, but about completely dismantling it.” Edizioni del Pesce embodies this philosophy, presenting objects that are not just functional but transcendent objects that question, provoke, and ultimately, inspire.

Edizioni del Pesce will be on view at Design Miami 2024 in the Curio section, from 3 to 8 December.

ABOUT MERITALIA​Since its foundation in 1987, Meritalia has been propelled by a sense of freedom that distinguishes its intrinsic pop-modernism: not just an intellectual stance criticising stability and celebrating heterogeneity, but indeed a happily incoherent vitality generating everyday objects of desire.The brand stands as an incubator of multifaceted creativity, able to grasp the desires of a society that continually questions itself. Meritalia denies the symmetry – and boredom – of the traditional living room, its tedious respectability, through a continuous reinvention of ordinary objects, from the sofa to the coffee table, from the chair to the armchair, turning them from mundane things into extraordinary icons. Meritalia is the reaction, conscious denial of any rule: not coherent, not compliant, not monotonous. The objects it produces are, by nature, non-static and create a unique, heterogeneous and profoundly radical catalogue, proudly conscious and inconsistent at once. Architects and designers have dealt with the radical identity of the brand, contributing to the evolution of Meritalia over the years. Among these are Mario Bellini, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Carlo Contin, Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, Alessandro Mendini, Fabio Novembre, Gaetano Pesce, Italo Rota, Carlo Scarpa, Afra and Tobia Scarpa, to name a few. Those who choose Meritalia products have the opportunity to make them their own, redefining design from an abstract concept to a concrete tool for living, shaping their own space and their own life. Since 2023, together with Gufram and Memphis, Meritalia is part of the Italian Radical Design Group, chaired by Sandra and Charley Vezza. ​www.meritalia.it | @meritalia

ABOUT DESIGN MIAMI​Design Miami connects the world through extraordinary collectible design, with live fairs that bring together galleries, designers, brands, experts, collectors, and enthusiasts. Each edition of Design Miami features museum-quality 20th and 21st-century furniture, lighting, and objets d’art from the world’s top, expertly vetted galleries, in addition to showcasing immersive design collaborations with celebrated brands. Design Miami’s flagship fairs take place alongside Art Basel in Miami, Florida, each December, in Basel, Switzerland, each June, and in Paris, France, each October as well as in Los Angeles in May. Visiting the Fair ​To learn more about the 20th edition of Design Miami, please visit www.designmiami.com