Contemporary Art & Design: Puglia arrives in Miami for Art Basel 2024
Two art projects created by Natuzzi Italia and Flash Art respectively will be present at Miami Art Basel this month.

An olive branch from Agostino Iacurci’s “Mediterranean Scrub“ on the Natuzzi Miami façade
On the occasion of Art Basel and Design Miami, the Puglia Region, through the regional tourism agency Pugliapromozione, takes the international stage with two special projects developed in collaboration with Natuzzi Italia and the publisher of Flash Art. These initiatives aim to showcase the distinct characteristics and qualities of the southern Italian region with the goal of blending culture, tradition, and innovation.
Natuzzi Italia, one of the most renowned brands in the production and distribution of design and luxury furniture, will host PUGLIA LOVERS, a project with a special installation by artist Agostino Iacurci, at its Miami showroom located at 3818 North Miami Ave (opening event from 7 PM to 10 PM) tomorrow, December 4, 2024. It aims to support Save the Olives, a non-profit organization of volunteers tackling the Xylella Fastidiosa epidemic in southern Italy. Iacurci’s immersive installation curated by Cristiano Seganfreddo and entitled Mediterranean Scrub: A Journey Between Memory and Ecological Transformation is part of Natuzzi’s Open Art Project, the patronage project launched in 2007 to make art accessible through exhibitions in the brand's stores.
Mediterranean Scrub: A Journey Between Memory and Ecological Transformation weaves together memory, identity, and landscape. The external façade welcomes visitors with a stylized olive branch, like a portal leading to an immersive journey into the heart of the Mediterranean. Inside, a series of suspended flags – large floating canvases that measure approximately nine by six feet – depict Mediterranean wild flora with black silhouettes that seem to dance in memory. Borage, strawberry tree, poppy, arugula, and nettle plants represent fragments of life and culture and the artist’s childhood memories in Italy. Iacurci uses humble materials such as paints and light textiles to echo the fragility and strength of the Mediterranean.
Far top and bottom: artist Agostino Iacurci (courtesy of Natuzzi); Center: “Mediterranean Scrub” installation (BFA)
Iacurci addresses the tragedy and threat of Xylella Fastidiosa, the disease that has killed millions of olive oil trees in the region, in his work to convey a message of environmental urgency. The installation embodies the paradox of the southern Italian landscape that is rooted in its traditions and perpetual transformation.
Schedule for PUGLIA LOVERS at Natuzzi Italia Miami on December 4:
Press Preview: 6 PM – 7 PM
Cocktail party: 7 PM – 10 PM
In addition to this event, Alcova Miami will present the Puglia Contemporary Land exhibition from December 3-8 at the River Inn located at 118 South West South River Drive. Puglia Contemporary Land is a project promoted by the Puglia Region and Pugliapromozione Regional Tourism Board and curated by Cristiano Seganfreddo to showcase the contemporary richness of a territory where the past constantly engages with the present. This initiative captures the complexity of the Apulian landscape through the intersection and exploration of design, artisanal craftsmanship, material research, and art.
The Puglia Contemporary Land presentation includes contemporary furniture companies such as Amura, Vero International, and Da a; ceramics by Fratelli Colì with Antonio Marras, and Enza Fasano with the Terraterra project (featuring Zoe Williams, Judith Hope, and Daniele Milvio). Also highlighted are the social textile project by Le Costantine with a tapestry by Agostino Iacurci, frescoes by Fabio Novembre for Affreschi Affreschi, reinvented paper by Paper Factor, lamps by Nassi Lamps, and stone and olive wood transformed into design pieces by Pimar.
In this context, Puglia Contemporary Land, also the first issue of an internationally distributed magazine that will be published next year, serves as a dynamic platform where the valorization of local resources meets international engagement, building a bridge between Puglian cultural roots and the global scene. Each piece exhibited bears witness to a territory in constant evolution—a mosaic that unites stories, knowledge, and visions, transforming tradition into a form of contemporary art and giving voice to a vibrant and inimitable cultural identity.
About Natuzzi S.p.A.
Founded in 1959 by Pasquale Natuzzi, Natuzzi S.p.A. is one of the most renowned brands in the production and distribution of design and luxury furniture. As of June 30, 2024, Natuzzi distributes its collections worldwide through a global retail network of 681 monobrand stores and approximately 600 wholesale points of sale, including shop-in-shop galleries and various distribution profiles. Natuzzi products embed the finest spirit of Italian design and the unique craftmanship details of the “Made in Italy”, where a predominant part of its production takes place. Natuzzi has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since May 13, 1993. Committed to social responsibility and environmental sustainability, Natuzzi S.p.A. is ISO 9001 and 14001 certified (Quality and Environment), ISO 45001 certified (Safety on the Workplace) and FSC® Chain of Custody, CoC (FSC-C131540).