Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is pleased to announce the latest exhibition in its Contemporary Arts Program (CAP), titled Pastiche by Miami-based artist Lauren Shapiro.

Opening on October 23, 2024, and running through May 19, 2025, Pastiche blends architecture, history and nature while paying homage to Paul Chalfin (1874 – 1959), the visionary Artistic Director behind Vizcaya’s design and decoration, whose 150th anniversary we celebrate this year.

Shapiro’s site-specific commission invites visitors on a journey across different times and spaces. Pastiche will activate three distinct decorated spaces in the Main House: the Enclosed Loggia, Reception Room, and Breakfast Room. Each space will feature Shapiro’s sculptures designed to resonate with its historical context, functionality, and aesthetic.

A noted ceramicist and explorer, Shapiro’s work is characterized by a profound exploration of materiality and form, gathering source materials directly from nature. For this project Shapiro turned to Chalfin’s contributions at Vizcaya to inform her own work. In particular, the use of pastiche – the blending of styles and influences to create a cohesive whole. From lamps and fireplaces to the Main House itself, Vizcaya is not short on examples of this creative approach, skillfully applied by Chalfin.

“My approach to making objects combines digital fabrication technologies with traditional ceramic techniques,” says Shapiro. “The resulting artworks not only highlight each room’s distinctive characteristics but also feature a combination of forms from the natural world with Vizcaya’s design elements, blending architectural and organic shapes.”