Miami Ironside Celebrates MAISON&OBJET AMERICAS

As an official partner of the first MAISON&OBJET design show in Miami, Miami Ironside will host a series of offsite salon talks, VIP events and exhibitions with top industry designers and artists during the fair, which runs from May 12-15. The creative district, which is a collaborative workspace for designers, architects, artists and suppliers in 100,000 square feet of adapted warehouse space, will present an exciting engagement in European culture with a focus on French art and design. This year’s presentation will also highlight sustainable materials and new technologies.

“We are contributing to the paradigm shift happening here in Miami as it becomes a world-class city to discover the best in art, architecture, and design innovation. Through these strong partnerships with academic institutions, world-class design fairs, museums and celebrated designers, Miami Ironside continues to be a pioneering platform that enables growth of the creative economy and brings innovation to this great city we live and build in,” said Ofer Mizrahi, founder of Miami Ironside.

The week will feature two main design installations. At Ironside’s new bocci ball court, curator Roberto Cocenza and designer Zanini de Zanine present “The Balance Project BOOMSPDESIGN”, a reimagining of childhood swing sets fitted for gardens and city squares.

In the Miami Ironside Event Hall, Florida International University’s College of Architecture + The Arts (CARTA) presents “Innovation and Integration in Digital Fabrication.” Curated by CARTA Associate Dean, John A. Stuart, A.I.A. and organized by Judy Holm, founder of Global Fine Art Awards, the exhibition features groundbreaking works by the chair of FIU's department of Art + Art History, Jacek Kolasinski and artist/carpenter/alumnus Nick Gilmore. The exhibition will also feature pieces by FIU Architecture professors Nicolas Eric Goldemberg and Nick Gelpi, and FIU School of Music professor and composer Orlando Jacinto Garcia, which will explore integrated approaches to digital and hand production.

“The success of the creative economy will in part be based on how well we integrate advanced technology into interdisciplinary, creative activities while solving real world problems,” said Dean Brian Schriner, FIU College of Architecture + The Arts. “The College of Architecture + The Arts has made it one of our core academic missions to prepare our graduates for the creative economy, where they will be innovators and creators of solutions.”

Other notable events include a salon talk on French design with designer Eugeni Quitllet and Yann Siliec from Intramuros Magazine and a lively panel discussion on American architecture and design, moderated by Dean Brian Schriner with guest panelists Kobi Karp and Terry Riley. The week also features a handful of art exhibitions, including “St. Tropez Meets Miami” by Stephan Szczesny, and the first US solo exhibition by Fred Le Chevalier.

On Friday, May 15, Miami Ironside will host its popular Campus Collective celebration to close out the week with several evening events, including a public interactive performance by French poetic wall artists Mel & Kio, a soiree with all the showrooms opening their doors, music, French flair cuisine, bar service and more.

The full list of activations includes:

FIU CARTA: “Innovation and Integration in Digital Fabrication” May 12-15 Design Installation created by FIU students, faculty and fellows to engage solutions to regional and global problems

The Balance Project BOOMSPDESIGN
Featuring swing sets by Brazilian designer Zanini de Zanine

Salon Talk: “French Design” MAY 13, 12PM
Event Hall Eugeni Quitllet talks French Design with Yann Siliec from Intramuros Magazine

Salon Talk: “America Made Us” MAY 14, 12PM
Event Hall Brian Schriner, Dean of FIU CARTA, moderates a lively discussion on American Architecture and Design. Panelists include Kobi Karp and Terry Riley.

Salon Talk: Mel & Kio Studio May 15, 8:30PM
COVERINGS ETC Showroom French Design Duo MEL and KIO STUDIO LE PRÉDEAU join in for an exciting talk and public performance during Miami Ironside’s Campus Collective night.

Campus Collective: Fête Du Design MAY 15, 7-10PM
To close out the week, Miami Ironside’s showrooms and studios open their doors for a final night celebrating art, design and creativity.

Art + Design Tours 11 AM & 3 PM, by reservation; Main Piazza
Guests will get an insider view of Miami Ironside’s campus, history, future expansion projects with Ron Arad architects, and a look at the studios, designers, artists and material suppliers.

Art Exhibitions during MAISON&OBJET include:

Fred Le Chevalier
Gallery ART LEXÏNG debuts the first US solo exhibition of the prolific Parisian street poet, Fred le Chevalier, whose endearing and elegant collages have ushered in an iconic wave of Neo-Street Art.

St. Tropez Meets Miami
The exhibition features 26 large-scale contemporary works on canvas by renowned artist and sculptor Stephan Szczesny. Miami Ironside’s May presentation is made possible through the support of our partners: LAUFEN North America, FIU’s College of Architecture + The Arts, car2go, VONDOM, Architonic, Design Junction, Intramuros, The Beacon Council, MOCA North Miami, the French Chamber of Commerce, Florida and One Collection.

For more program highlights, visit

About Miami Ironside

Situated in the historic Upper Eastside, Miami Ironside (est. 2003) is an eclectic, creative community envisioned by developer Ofer Mizrahi - composed of art and design studios, including architecture, lighting, fashion, product, interactive media and the visual arts. Reminiscent of Brera Design District Milano, Miami Ironside is a green environment punctuated with rainbow eucalyptus trees and outdoor paths linking glass storefronts accented by a central public plaza serviced by Ironside Pizza and Italian Coffee Bar. By linking a truly global creative talent pool, Miami Ironside facilitates interaction between businesses that thrive on constant cycles of activity within a centralized location for complementary services geared towards tastemakers and top-level clients, an important economic driver to attract skilled professionals and innovation to Miami. www.miamiironside.com /@miamironside

About FIU College of Architecture + The Arts

The FIU College of Architecture + The Arts engages our local and global communities by deploying the power of architecture + the arts to create, innovate, and inspire solutions to social, economic, health, and environmental problems. Offering 9 graduate and 8 undergraduate degrees within 7 academic departments, our more than 2500 majors have the unique experience of working with our award-winning faculty in nationally ranked programs in the heart of Miami and Miami Beach — two of the country’s most vibrant, diverse, and creative cities! For more information, visit us at http://carta.fiu.edu