Maze Design Basel returns for its second edition, expanding with more exhibitors and a stronger emphasis on art. The boutique fair, launched after Design Miami Basel ended, takes place at the Offene Kirche Elisabethen in Basel, with a tent erected in front of the church to accommodate new participants. Exhibitors now display art alongside design, giving the fair an "art-and-design" spirit. Highlights include Laffanour—Galerie Downtown's presentation of a Jean Royère sofa priced over €1 million and works by Jeremy Jaspers, Joana Vasconcelos, and Ken Grimes. New York gallery Salon 94 Design won the Maze/Art Awards F.P. Journe with a bamboo-and-silk seat by Bijoy Jain and Studio Mumbai, which will enter the Vitra Design Museum collection.
This matters because Maze Design Basel is carving out a distinct niche in the crowded art fair landscape by blending high-end design with contemporary art, attracting both European and American collectors and advisers. Its growth signals a demand for smaller, curated fairs that offer a more intimate experience than mega-fairs like Art Basel. The prize component also strengthens ties between design galleries and major museums, potentially influencing collecting patterns and institutional acquisitions in the design world.