Unleashing the Power of Play in Design
In a world increasingly driven by academic pressures and structured routines, the profound importance of play — for both children and adults — often gets overlooked. Yet, it is through imagination, free experimentation, and moments of delightful silliness that creativity truly flourishes, fostering confidence and deep social connections. Paving a visionary path for new paradigms, Tuleste Factory’s ‘Keep It Curious’ exhibition at Design Miami 2025 doesn’t just open doors; it invites us into a fantastical, surreal realm where imagination meets exquisite refinement, transforming design itself into a living, breathing fantasy.
A Whimsical World Unfolds
Curated by New York-based sisters Satu and Celeste Greenberg, founders of Tuleste Factory, ‘Keep It Curious’ is more than an exhibition; it’s an experience. The tableau unfolds in an environment of bold greens and blues juxtaposed with serene pastel hues, creating a space that feels both wonderfully otherworldly and strangely familiar – a place we instinctively desired but never knew we needed. This immersive setting champions design that boldly transcends mere function, instead inviting profound curiosity, genuine wonder, and a deep emotional connection with each piece.
Beyond Utility: Art as Storytelling
At its heart, ‘Keep It Curious’ celebrates art and design as powerful vehicles for storytelling, rather than just objects of utility. The exhibition features an impressive roster of interdisciplinary talents, including iconic names like Marina Abramović, the vibrant Miranda Makaroff, and the enigmatic Pilar Zeta, among many others. Mint green walls provide a welcoming, ethereal backdrop for an eclectic display of lighting, furniture, and sculptural works. The breadth of contributions from artists and designers such as Karen Atta, Facture Studio, Ian Alistair Cochran, Lyora Pissarro x David Rodriguez, Merve Kahraman, Bert Furnari, Courtney Kinnare, Brandi Howe, Kim Mesches, and Lucia Neamtu truly blurs the lines between craft, concept, art, design, and engineering. These aren’t just functional objects; they are meticulously assembled narratives, each carrying its own unique story in thoughtful concert with its neighbors.
Curated Brilliance: A Symphony of Artists
Anchoring the right wall, a vibrant, large-scale work by Miranda Makaroff immediately captures attention. Known for her distinctive blend of art, fashion, and interiors, Makaroff imbues the composition with her signature density, intricate patterns, and saturated colours. This rich palette harmoniously complements its surrounding inhabitants: Lucia Neamtu’s ‘Melted Lamps’ (in Large and Small), Ian Alistair Cochran’s ‘Dew Drop 1’, and Merve Kahraman’s ‘Chicklet Table Lamp’ gracefully frame the piece. All are grounded on a bed of checkered Astroturf, adding an unexpected, playful tactile layer underfoot.
Nearby, Pilar Zeta’s ‘Egg of Reflection’ beckons viewers to engage in introspection. This perfectly polished chrome egg, perched atop a satin-finished gold sphere, invites a dual inspection of oneself and the surroundings, masterfully collapsing reflection and perception into a singular, captivating moment. Flanked by Zeta’s own ‘Side Table’, Karen Atta’s delightfully biomimetic ‘Cloudbusting 2’ towers above, introducing a striking sense of vertical drama and dynamic tension to the vignette.
Tactile Wonders and Reflective Narratives
Along the left wall, the gentle, lilting gradients of Facture Studio come into sharp focus through their ‘Wave Desk’, ‘Wave Mirror’, and ‘Wave LL Side Table’. Their aquatic hues ripple softly across the surfaces, beautifully offset by the bright cyan-and-white checkerboard pattern of Merve Kahraman’s ‘Hozcal Lamp’, which injects a graphic contrast and rhythmic energy into the composition.
The left corner hosts a quartet of distinct pieces that join this artistic choir. Courtney Kinnare’s ‘Plume Mirror’ appears to float weightlessly on the wall, while Brandi Howe’s ‘Mushroom Side Table’ sits directly in front, grounding the arrangement with its organic form. A ‘Chicklet Floor Lamp’ claims the true corner, and Bert Furnari’s ‘Contour Mirror’ on the back wall cleverly reflects the ‘Mushroom Side Table’, creating a fascinating interplay of repetition and illusion, folding the objects back into one another.
An Invitation to Engage
Illuminated with an almost unearthly brightness, ‘Keep It Curious’ masterfully embraces contrast – between softness and structure, fantasy and function, polished refinement and uninhibited play. True to its promise, Tuleste Factory’s exhibition is ephemeral, eclectic, and refreshingly unafraid of difference. It delicately toes the line between what is earthly and what feels just beyond reach, with the satisfying crunch of Astroturf underfoot serving as a final, visceral reminder that curiosity, much like play, is best experienced when the whole body and mind are fully engaged.
To delve deeper into the ‘Keep It Curious’ exhibition by Tuleste Factory, visit tulestefactory.com.
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