The Miami Design District marks a major milestone this year as it celebrates the 10th anniversary of its acclaimed Annual Design Commission with a bold and enchanting new installation by celebrated artist Katie Stout. Titled Il pollice di Gargantua, the 2025 Commission transforms the neighborhood into a whimsical landscape of oversized sculptural benches, interactive design elements, and a playful carousel that reimagines how the public engages with art, space, and fantasy.
Unveiled during Settimana dell'arte di Miami and presented in collaboration with the Design Miami Curatorial Lab, the installation extends throughout the Distretto del design di Miami and will remain on view well into 2026. Additional works are also featured at the 20th edition of Design Miami’s flagship fair, underscoring the region’s growing global influence in design and public art.
A Decade of Transformative Public Art
Since its inception in 2015, the Miami Design District’s Annual Design Commission has introduced a series of ambitious, site-specific installations by visionary artists, including Nicole Nomsa Moyo, Lara Bohinc, Germane Barnes, Studio Proba, gt2P, Fernando Laposse, Dozie Kanu, Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Philippe Malouin, and Snarkitecture. Each commission has reimagined the neighborhood’s public spaces while inspiring community interaction, cultural exploration, and global attention.
This year’s commission continues that legacy through the distinct creative lens of Katie Stout, whose multidisciplinary practice is known for challenging expectations, rethinking form, and infusing functional objects with humor, narrative, and emotional resonance.
Katie Stout’s Vision: Subverting Comfort and Function
Born in Portland, Maine, and based in New York, Katie Stout is widely known for her multidisciplinary practice that challenges traditional ideas of form, beauty, and function. As stated in the release, her work is driven by “an impulse to subvert function – pushing familiar forms just past the point of comfort.” With a background in traditional craft and a conceptual approach rooted in commentary, Stout’s work strikes a balance between the familiar and the uncanny.
Her widely recognized ceramic girl lamps are noted for how they “challenge conventional notions of beauty, luxury, and femininity, while drawing on deep references from the history of arte and design.”
Reflecting on her 2025 Commission, Stout says:
“It’s an honor to create the 10th Annual Design Commission for the Miami Design District. This project is about blurring the line between function and fantasy. By scaling up these sculpted creatures and amplifying their idiosyncrasies, I want to highlight the tension between intimacy and monumentality, precision and imperfection—celebrating the rawness of the handmade in a neighborhood synonymous with design excellence. This project honors the Miami Design District’s legacy of fostering creativity while offering a playful encounter and respite for the public.”
Inside Il pollice di Gargantua: A Whimsical, Large-Scale Landscape
Fabricated in collaboration with ALTBLD, Il pollice di Gargantua comprises a collection of large sculptural benches based on small clay figures first sculpted by Stout herself. As stated in the release, these pieces are “intentionally marked by the irregularities and playful distortions that arise when working at an intimate scale.”
These figures were then digitally scanned, dramatically enlarged, and milled into durable materials, creating surreal, larger-than-life animal-like sculptures that the public can sit on, lean against, and interact with.
The installation features a lively cast of sculptural furniture, including a dog-shaped bench, a whale-inspired fainting sofa, and a frog-like perch, among others. At the center of the Miami Design District, an interactive carousel serves as the heart of the installation.
Above, hundreds of colorful orbs “embedded with flora- and fauna-inspired figures” hang throughout the trees, transforming the streetscape into an immersive dreamscape of wonder.
Industry Voices on the 10th Anniversary Commission
Design Miami Senior VP of Fairs, Grela Orihuela, expresses her excitement:
“Year after year, the Miami Design District commissions a beautiful public art project for all to enjoy. This year is no exception! We are thrilled that Katie Stout was awarded the commission and look forward to seeing the project come to life in Miami this December.”
Craig Robins, President and CEO of DACRA, also reflects on the milestone:
“Over the past decade, the Annual Design Commission has helped shape the Miami Design District into a global stage for bold, original ideas. We’re proud to mark this 10th anniversary with Katie Stout, whose playful and provocative work challenges the boundaries of design. This milestone is a celebration of the creative voices that continue to transform our public spaces and define the cultural spirit of the Miami Design District.”
A Dynamic Cultural Anchor for Miami Art Week and Beyond
Debuting at the height of Miami Art Week, the installation aligns with the city’s most vibrant cultural moment of the year. As noted in the release, the Commission “remains on view well into the new year” and continues its mission of encouraging “exploration, interaction, and discovery.”
By merging fantasy with function and handmade craft with digital fabrication, Il pollice di Gargantua invites visitors into a world where the boundaries of design are playfully expanded.
A Cultural Anchor for Miami Art Week and Beyond
Debuting during the peak of Miami Art Week, Il pollice di Gargantua creates a dynamic public anchor that encourages exploration, interaction, and creative discovery. Seamlessly integrated into the neighborhood’s architecture, greenery, and pedestrian pathways, the installation invites visitors to experience the Miami Design District as an evolving canvas for design innovation.
Remaining on view well into 2026, it stands as a testament to Miami’s growing role as a global design destination and to the power of public art in shaping the identity of an urban landscape.
About the Miami Design District
A one-of-a-kind neighborhood that blends luxury shopping, art galleries, museums, showrooms, fine dining, and public installations, the Miami Design District is operated by Miami Design District Associates—a partnership between Dacra and L Catterton Real Estate. As Miami’s cultural footprint continues to expand globally, the Design District remains at the forefront of art, architecture, and design-driven experiences.
About Design Miami
Design Miami serves as a global platform for collectible design, bringing together leading galleries, brands, designers, and collectors. Each edition showcases museum-quality works, immersive activations, and thoughtfully curated experiences. Founded in 2005, the organization has expanded beyond Miami Beach to include Paris and localized programs through Design Miami.In Situ.
About Design Miami Curatorial Lab
The Design Miami Curatorial Lab supports brands, destinations, and institutions in crafting impactful design narratives through installations, architectural concepts, programming, and storytelling. Their long-standing partnership with Craig Robins and DACRA continues to shape the creative fabric of the Miami Design District.
