Champagne house Ruinart has commissioned Los Angeles-based artist Sam Falls to create a two-part installation for its Conversations with Nature series at Art Basel Miami Beach. Falls, who grew up in Vermont, used organic materials from Ruinart's Taissy vineyard in France's Champagne region as tools, pigments, and stencils on canvas, with the composition partly inspired by the stained-glass windows of Reims Cathedral. The installation transforms the Ruinart Plaza Bar and Collectors Lounge at the Miami Beach Convention Center, on view through December 7.
This commission matters because it offers an alternative to the commercial spectacle of Art Basel Miami Beach, emphasizing natural beauty and environmental engagement over market-driven transactions. By integrating local flora from its own vineyard and referencing regional architecture, Ruinart reinforces its brand identity while Falls's work, which is held by major institutions like the Centre Pompidou and MOCA Los Angeles, gains exposure to an international art audience. The installation will later travel to Ruinart's Champagne headquarters, extending its life beyond the fair.