Traces: a group show at Alcova Miami

Last December, we took part in Alcova Miami for the first time. We curated a group show called Traces, though many visitors ended up calling it the “Florida Room.” That made sense—we brought together people we’ve met in Miami over the past couple of years, all working in ways connected to Florida’s nature.

The show was set in a hotel room at the old Miami River Inn. We didn’t try to overwrite the character of the space: the original blue stripe on the wall, wooden floors, and old Florida feel remained. We added bentwood chairs, wooden stands, and a rug the color of Florida springs. It felt more like a lived-in room than the minimal set design we often see at design shows.

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We showed our raku-fired ceramics — Onda sconces and Tidal vases. Live plants were placed in coral stone planters by Apollo Plants, referencing Coral Castle, a unique Miami landmark. Joyce Billet’s table followed the traces of natural topography. Kristina Aksentova’s painting came from studies of tree roots in Greynolds Park. The bentwood chairs, from local gallery Ninefourteen, reminded us of the curves of the surrounding landscape.

We wanted to make a space that carried context — something shaped by the artists we've met in Miami over the past two years. People stayed in the room longer than we expected. Locals noticed the materials, the forms — they picked up on the references. Every piece became a conversation starter.

It was our first time curating a show like this. Alcova became a checkpoint for us. It strengthened our direction — to keep working with local context, with nature as a source of both form and meaning.

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