Collective Design Fair

Maison Gerard is delighted to participate in the 2017 edition of Collective Design, held from May 3rd to May 7th at Clarkson Square in New York City. The gallery will present a carefully curated selection of contemporary works by artists including Brigitte Bouquin Selles, Jean-Louis Denoit, Carol Egan, Arik Levy, Achille Salvagni, and Ayala Serfaty. Their extraordinary work will be shown in the context of iconic, neo-classically inspired pieces by André Arbus (some of which were specifically created for the Palais de Consul in Rouen—one of his largest commissions, and the last of that scale) and a few rare works from the influential, late-American interior designer, Bill Willis, who lived and worked in Morocco for over forty years. The residential interior setting created by Benoist F. Drut, Gallery Principal, will generate a thought-provoking visual dialogue between the works, while showcasing the depth and breadth of the gallery’s program.

Timed with Collective Design, the gallery is also very pleased to announce its partnership with Pouenat (Paris). Maison Gerard will be the exclusive source of a line of the French company’s collections and bespoke pieces in the US. These magnificent works are created by renowned designers including Tristan Auer, Thomas Boog, Jean Louis Denoit, Kaki Kroener, Charles Zana, and more. Pouenat, a living French heritage company, has been known for its wrought iron work since 1880, and began releasing lighting and objects produced by famous designers-architects in 1995.

For the first time, Maison Gerard will show a series of works by Arik Levy, an award winning Israeli artist working in Paris. Maison Gerard will introduce one of his most iconic light fixtures, Fractal Cloud, an incredibly raw piece composed of a transformer and tangled LED light strips. Set against its breathtaking symmetry and consolidation of light, the chandelier is at once harsh and soft, both ominous and inviting. Levy is also known for his incredible work in industrial design and his many high-profile partnerships with, among others, Samsung, Swarovski, Adidas, and Hennessy. He has work in museums around the globe, including The Museum of Modern Arts and Design in New York.

This year Maison Gerard will have the largest exhibition space at Collective Design, and Drut has taken full advantage of the real estate in creating his intricate and thoughtful display. "With few boundaries in the vast open space, I am free to let my creativity flow. Part laboratory, part playground, I can work with our artists to push their limits and design pieces that delight the senses with the range of materials, colors, and aesthetics they utilize,” comments Drut.

Within this setting, the gallery will also feature contemporary works including three stunning sconces by Italian architect and designer Achille Salvagni, several ethereal table lamps by designer Ayala Serfaty, and a new edition of the clean-edged X-Stool, carved from a single block of statuary marble, by designer and interior decorator Carol Egan. All three are critically acclaimed for their innovative approaches and execution of timeless, sophisticated pieces. The exhibition will be held at Booth A 1 Collective Design 2017, Skylight Clarkson Sq, 550 Washington St, New York City.