Bringing Ami Paris Bear to Life at Miami Art Basel

Situation

Miami Art Basel is known for showcasing bold creativity, where brands, artists, and designers compete for attention through immersive experiences and larger-than-life installations. For Sauvage111, the opportunity called for more than traditional signage or graphics. Ami Paris was planning a monumental version of its signature 'Ami Bear' that would serve as the centerpiece of its activation at Art Basel in Miami. As their creative agency, Sauvage111 reached out to Britten to bring Ami's vision to life. 

The sculpture needed to faithfully replicate the original character's proportions, personality, and fine details at a significantly larger scale. Beyond aesthetics, it also had to be engineered for transportation, installation, and display while maintaining a premium finish that could withstand close-up viewing and constant photography throughout the event.

Creating an oversized character that looked as if it had simply been scaled up required a combination of digital precision, expert craftsmanship, and advanced fabrication techniques. The project demanded an event fabrication partner capable of managing every stage of production under one roof, while meeting an aggressive event deadline.

Solution

Sauvage111 partnered with Britten to fabricate a custom, large-scale 3D foam sculpture of the Ami Bear using Britten's integrated design, engineering, CNC machining, scenic finishing, and production capabilities.

The project began by translating the approved digital artwork into a fabrication-ready model. Britten's team evaluated the geometry of the character, ensuring every feature could be accurately reproduced at scale while maintaining structural integrity throughout fabrication and transport.

The custom Foam3D™ sculpture was made using advanced CNC foam carving technology, machined from high-density foam to capture the character's distinctive shape and proportions. Once machining was complete, skilled scenic artists hand-finished the entire piece, refining surfaces, smoothing transitions, and sculpting intricate details that could only be achieved through expert craftsmanship.

After surface preparation, the foam sculpture received custom scenic painting and finishing to recreate the Ami Bear's recognizable colors and character with exceptional accuracy. Every stage of the production process was completed in-house, allowing Britten's fabrication, engineering, and finishing teams to collaborate efficiently, maintain quality control, and keep the project on schedule.

The result was a lightweight, yet durable sculpture engineered for installation while delivering the visual impact expected at one of the world's premier art and design events.

Impact

The completed custom Ami Bear became the visual anchor of Ami Paris's Miami Art Basel Activation, attracting visitors, encouraging social sharing, and creating an engaging destination within the event. Its oversized scale invited attendees to interact with the installation, transforming a recognizable brand icon into an immersive experience that extended well beyond traditional marketing.

The project demonstrated how dimensional foam fabrication can strengthen experiential campaigns by turning familiar brand assets into memorable physical environments. Through the combination of digital fabrication and handcrafted scenic artistry, Britten delivered a sculpture that balanced technical precision with artistic execution.

By managing engineering, CNC machining, fabrication, scenic finishing, and production under one roof, Britten streamlined the fabrication process, reduced production complexity, and delivered a high-quality installation within the demanding timeline of a world-class event.

For brands looking to create immersive experiences, the Ami Bear project highlights how custom fabrication can transform creative concepts into unforgettable moments that engage audiences, generate organic content, and leave a lasting impression long after the event concludes.