From December 2 to 7, during Miami Art Week, a group exhibition by the Alcova design platform was on display at the city’s oldest hotel, the River Inn. One of the participants was designer Dace Sūna, who presented several works at the exhibition: the Sky-Set light, which captures the changing colours of the sky based on the Rayleigh scattering phenomenon, and its mini version, as well as a new design — the amorphous Ondara mirrors.
Alcova is a design exhibition platform dedicated to presenting innovative contemporary design, architecture, and technology projects. Founded in 2018, it has quickly become an important part of Milan Design Week, known for its ability to bring together new talent, established designers, and progressive brands. Alcova stands out with its unconventional exhibition formats, creating shows in historic buildings, abandoned spaces, and unique locations.
No exception is Alcova Miami, which took place at the historic River Inn hotel for the second year now. The exhibition was designed as an oasis of calm amid the dynamic programme of Miami Art Week, offering visitors a relaxed atmosphere to discover the work of 40 designers, including a central installation by world-renowned designer Patricia Urquiola. A separate room in the exhibition was dedicated to Latvian designer Dace Sūna, where she presented her Sky–Set light and its new version, Sky–Set Mini, as well as her amorphous Ondara mirrors.
The Sky-Set light is made of opal glass and reflects the changing colours of the sky — from the cool blue tones of the day to the warm hues of sunset. To create the colour transition, Dace Sūna used the Rayleigh scattering effect — a phenomenon that allows us to see the sky as blue. At the same time, Sky-Set reflects our changing relationship with the Earth. As a result of forest fires and pollution, the air is filled with particles that colour the sky in apocalyptic tones, and the vibrant light of Sky-Set is a reminder not only of the miraculous beauty of the atmosphere but also an urgent call to reconnect with our planet and protect it. The lamp was previously exhibited at Expo 2025 in Osaka, and now Dace has created a table version of it — the Sky-Set Mini.
The flowing form of the Ondara mirrors is inspired by manta rays and their graceful movement. The mirrors are made by heating recycled glass and allowing it to naturally take on a wavy shape as it cools. The glass is then coated with a reflective layer using vacuum technology. As the lighting conditions and viewing perspective change, the object creates an ever-changing reflection reminiscent of the surface of water.
Dace says that she has received very positive feedback about her works in Miami, especially Sky-Set: «People were amazed to see a sunset in the room, achieved not with colourful lights, but by using the same phenomenon that colours the sky outside. Visitors were also fascinated by the Ondara mirror — many were surprised that it was made of glass rather than metal.» The designer points out that participating in the exhibition allowed her to meet many potential partners, as well as simply interesting people: «For example, I met the famous British designer Tom Dixon. It turns out that his grandfather was Latvian. I also met the famous Danish architect Bjarke Ingels,» says Dace. Three of the four exhibited works remained in Miami, where they will be used for staging houses.
You can follow Dace Sūna’s work on her website and Instagram account.
Viedokļi