Miami Design District Marks 10 Years of Its Annual Design Commission With Katie Stout’s “Gargantua’s Thumb”
- camilarosiaz
- Dec 8
- 2 min read
The Miami Design District is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Annual Design Commission with a new installation by artist Katie Stout. Titled Gargantua’s Thumb, the project reimagines the neighborhood’s public spaces with a series of large-scale sculptural benches and an interactive carousel debuting during Miami Art Week. Additional works will also appear at the 20th anniversary edition of the Design Miami flagship fair.
Stout, known for a practice that distorts familiar forms through craft, humor, and commentary, developed the installation from miniature clay animal figures. These small hand-sculpted objects were digitally enlarged and fabricated in durable materials in collaboration with ALTBLD. The resulting pieces appear playful and exaggerated, offering visitors oversized animal-like structures to sit on and explore.
The installation features pieces such as a dog-shaped bench, a whale-inspired fainting sofa, and a frog-like perch, along with a carousel anchored at the center of the district. Throughout the neighborhood’s trees, hundreds of suspended orbs embedded with flora- and fauna-inspired figures create a canopy of color and motion.
Now in its tenth year, the Annual Design Commission continues to shape the district’s public realm through site-specific works that merge art, design, and architecture. The program has previously featured commissions by Nicole Nomsa Moyo, Lara Bohinc, Germane Barnes, Studio Proba with Enjoy the Weather, gt2P, Fernando Laposse, Dozie Kanu, Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Philippe Malouin, and Snarkitecture.
Gargantua’s Thumb will remain installed well into the new year, extending the district’s tradition of immersive public activations. More information about the Miami Design District can be found on its website, Facebook, and Instagram. Additional details on Design Miami and Design Miami Curatorial Lab are available through their respective platforms.