Located at Miami’s oldest hotel, Miami River Inn, in East Little Havana, SoMad’s presentation is situated among this oasis, a spectacular natural backdrop of palm trees and tropical vegetation, framing Aliperti’s vibrant works within the historic space. Aliperti will be present daily, making clay works by hand at a desk located on Patio P. 

Raised near the mountainous Tijuca forest of Rio de Janeiro, Aliperti has a strong connection with the natural world and a profound recognition for the transformative power of nature—a space free of judgment where authenticity can emerge and thrive. His artistic practice is a direct outgrowth of these influences from early childhood, during which time he often used materials readily found at hand: shredding paper and leaves, and stacking objects to form small sculptures. For Aliperti, art, much like nature, has consequently served as a place for unfiltered expression, one rooted in qualities that are essential for all people, and marginalized groups in particular: wonder, resilience, and transformation.

Developed in collaboration with SoMad, during Aliperti’s time as the organization’s inaugural artist-in-residence, the sculptures in his Mother Tree series are meticulously crafted from air-dry clay. This lightweight material allows the artist to construct forms without scaffolding, enabling new, gravity-defying flora to ascend almost weightlessly. Though it takes many hours of meditative handwork to create the numerous petals and stems of each plant, the sculptural process that Aliperti has cultivated fosters an open-ended approach, unencumbered by premeditation or preset expectations, where colors and forms can unfold organically.

Each sculpture, whether displayed as part of expansive landscapes or as individual objects, reflects the artist’s personal journey throughout the creation process. Meditative, intuitive, and labor-intensive, these idiosyncratic works quietly communicate a vulnerability and intuition that transcends language, inviting kindness and an embrace of the unknown. At first glance, Aliperti’s sculptures may resemble a succulent, forest, or insect. Still, upon closer inspection, the forms defy categorization, evoking the universal essence of nature: alive, ever-changing, and full of possibility. 

SoMad has also produced a book that foregrounds Aliperti’s collaboration with 2025 SoMad Artist-in-Resident Yi Hsuan Lai, a Taiwanese-born, lens-based artist. By situating Aliperti’s sculptures within surreal landscapes, Lai has created a series of photographs that immerse viewers in a magical world—documenting and imparting the processes of discovery and creation central to Aliperti’s practice. Concurrently, SoMad will present new works by Lai, blending staged photography, sculpture, and found objects, at NADA Miami (December 2-6, 2025), at Booth C304.

ABOUT DAVID ALIPERTI

David Aliperti (b. 1981, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a multimedia artist whose work speaks of imagined worlds, ecosystems, and the intersection of nature, science, and spirituality. After earning BA from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Polimoda in Florence, Italy, Aliperti was awarded a full scholarship by the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, France to pursue his MFA in Luxury Design. He has worked for and collaborated with brands including Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta, and Collina Strada.