Antoine Bootz, Kevin Walz, Ralph Pucci & Ruben Toledo

PROCESS

Ralph Pucci Miami presents PROCESS, an immersive group exhibition exploring the tactile journey of creation. Transforming the Wynwood gallery space into a recreation of the Ralph Pucci New York sculpture studio, the installation offers a rare glimpse into the factory environment where the gallery’s proprietary Plasterglass designs come to life. The exhibition underscores the primacy of the “hand of the artist,” celebrating the artisanal craftsmanship and human touch that define the Ralph Pucci aesthetic.

The exhibition debuts a collection of new designs that push the structural and aesthetic boundaries of Plasterglass, featuring works by Xavier Lust, Lee F. Mindel, John Koga, Paul Mathieu, Ilkka Suppanen, and Ralph Pucci.

RUBEN TOLEDO

RALPH PUCCI (miami) became the setting for a dynamic show by renowned artist Ruben Toledo to coincide with Art Basel Miami Beach. A large-scale mural titled “I See You – I Love You,” inspired by his beloved late wife, the acclaimed fashion designer Isabel Toledo, will stretch across the full length of the Wynwood gallery’s façade, while inside, 10 new watercolor paintings from his “Natural Selections” series will be on show, along with live drawing and sculpting by Ruben.

Ruben Toledo has been a longtime collaborator of Ralph Pucci since 1988, designing mannequins and even painting directly onto Pucci’s iconic furniture. His work, always deeply entwined with the spirit of his late wife, Isabel, carries forward the story of a love that started in their teenage years and endured for more than five decades. Married in 1984, Ruben and Isabel built a body of work inseparable from their devotion to one another. Ruben’s artwork is informed and infused with Isabel’s presence and aura, and her sculptural garments were inspired by his gestural brushstrokes and vision.

Isabel Toledo created fashion that was both innovative and timeless. Her work reached a historic height when she dressed First Lady Michelle Obama in the lemongrass ensemble worn at the 2009 Presidential inauguration, a moment that became emblematic of elegance and progress. Known for her precise craft and quiet brilliance, she was hailed for creating pieces with dignity, intelligence, and beauty.

The show will honour one of fashion and art’s most beloved and prolific partnerships. A portion of proceeds from the show will be donated to support a forthcoming documentary about the Toledos and Cuba (both Cuban; they moved to NYC when children as refugees and met there). The documentary, entitled “Izzy”, is directed by noted filmmaker Chiara Clemente and highlights not only their love affair and the creative world it spawned, but also the fertile and vibrant art and fashion scene of NYC in the 1970s and 80s in which they were fully immersed.

Ralph Pucci says, “Ruben has been part of the RALPH PUCCI family for nearly four decades. His work is imaginative, poetic, and deeply personal, and it’s an honor to showcase this exhibition that also pays tribute to Isabel’s enduring influence.”