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Southern Guild returned to Design Miami after a two-year hiatus, with an ambitious ceramic collection by the gallery’s leading South African ceramic artists. The gallery’s booth ‘Studio Visit’ designed by Julian McGowan, co-founder of Southern Guild, ran from 1 December to 5 December, 2021. The booth featured the largest collection of specially commissioned work created for an international fair. Judged by internationally renowned architects and designers, Southern Guild was unanimously awarded ‘Best Gallery’ at the 2021 fair.
“Winning the ‘Best Gallery’ award has been very validating. The judges noted that the booth was immersive, had a strong viewpoint, and was thorough and deep. We didn’t present a room full of objects, but rather an entire world. We have always strived to have a unique voice as an African gallery – not to emulate other galleries – and you can really feel this distinction,” says Trevyn McGowan, co-founder of Southern Guild Gallery.
Inspired by a working studio with large atelier windows, ‘Studio Visit’ focused entirely on ceramics. The booth displayed 65 diverse and innovative ceramic designs on banding wheels, pedestals and tables. Through the gallery’s presentation, Southern Guild, a collectible design gallery, draws the attention of the people to the thriving ceramic art industry in South Africa, along with indigenous craft practices of the continent as a whole. Studio Visit gave a peak behind the curtains to the new techniques employed by the artists to achieve their most cutting- edge work to the date.
Encompassing smaller studies along with monumental pieces, it featured a cluster of maquettes by Zizipho Poswa, carved clay and timber by Chuma Maweni, sculptural studies and works by Andile Dyalvane and large- scale vessels by Madoda Fani. In addition to both new series and individual work by the artists, the gallery’s presentation included collectible furniture by two of Africa's most accomplished designers, Cheick Diallo and Gregor Jenkin. The artists moulded together various aspects of traditional Xhosa culture and spirituality with their own personal experiences and belief systems through their art. All four artists have garnered significant international attention with their acquisitions by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and other prestigious institutions and collectors.
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