COLLECTIBLE fairs launches inaugural New York edition

Thu, Sep 5 - Sun, Sep 8  2024

Water Street Projects | WSA, 161 Water St, New York 10038

The fair will present 100 exhibitors at the cutting-edge of contemporary collectible design and is designed by Dutch firm Volfram

COLLECTIBLE, the international fair dedicated to contemporary collectible design, will make its New York debut this fall, following seven renowned editions held in Brussels, Belgium since 2018. COLLECTIBLE New York will take place September 5–8, 2024 at Water Street Associates (WSA) in collaboration with Water Street Projects (WSP), and will feature eight sections highlighting a plethora of galleries, design studios, independent designers, and institutions hailing from around the world. Including presentations by various Dutch designers and brands, including Dutch Invertuals, House of Rubber, Jonas Lutz, Marike Andeweg, Amalgame Studio (NL/MX), Studio Marte Mei, and Vide Books.

Volfram, a renowned design studio based in New York, led by Klaas Rood and Ernst van ter Beek, will design the inaugural edition of COLLECTIBLE. Specializing in scenography for art and design fairs, Volfram’s expertise lies in crafting immersive environments that captivate audiences. For COLLECTIBLE, Volfram draws inspiration from the building’s unique architecture, creating easy-to-navigate pathways. With their innovative approach, Volfram will transform the space into an unforgettable experience for visitors.

As the world’s only fair devoted to contemporary collectible design, COLLECTIBLE’s presentation prioritizes unique pieces, bespoke commissions, and limited editions, as well as newly produced works created with functionality in mind. Highlights of the fair include returning exhibitors such as Antwerp-based gallery St. Vincents and Max Radford Gallery, representing the vibrance of Belgian’s design landscape and the growing vitality of British contemporary design, respectively. Meanwhile, the fair’s debut in the United States serves as an opportunity to welcome more U.S.-based galleries, studios, and designers such as Room 57 Gallery, Emma Scully Gallery, Nick Poe, and Kouros Maghsoudi.

Drawing on the collaborative environment of the fair’s Brussels editions, COLLECTIBLE will also partner with various organizations on programming on- and off-site during the fair, welcoming opportunities to engage with COLLECTIBLE’s international design community. Visitors can expect a notable presence from partners such as the Female Design Council and a special collaboration between Petra Hardware and Sight Unseen.

COLLECTIBLE’s inaugural New York edition will present four distinct sections and four curated spaces, encompassing the dynamic and diverse landscape of contemporary collectible design. Each curated space will focus on various thematic currents and influences within design, enriched by the unique perspective of their curators.

“As we approach COLLECTIBLE’s first New York edition, we look forward to welcoming extraordinary and innovative talents from across the globe to unite forward-thinking perspectives at the forefront of collectible design,” says Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisberg, Co-founders of COLLECTIBLE. “After seven successful editions in Brussels, we are thrilled to engage in cultural exchange in this next chapter and champion discoveries through contemporary design.”

Considered the heart of the fair, COLLECTIBLE’s MAIN and BESPOKE sections welcome participation from international galleries and independent design studios to showcase the wide breadth of design innovation at all levels, from established galleries to emerging designers. For the MAIN section, BOON_EDITIONS will present a new collection, while the BESPOKE section highlights include commissioned works from Jack Simonds Studio, Lucie Claudia Podrabska, and the launch of Los Angeles-based furniture and spatial designer Ben Willett’s first furniture collection under his namesake brand Willett. The fair will also revive its successful OUTDOOR section, addressing a notable demand and limited availability of outdoor collectible design. Launched during COLLECTIBLE Brussels 2024, the OUTDOOR section will feature sculptural works from H. Bigeleisen, designer Luke Malaney’s woodworking creations, and collaboration between MUHLY and interior plant design consultants Plants & Spaces.

Additional returning sections include COLLECTIBLE’s NEW GARDE section, which is dedicated to galleries and collectives conceived within the past 3 years. With inventive installations from emergent talents such as Berlin’s Analog Glass and Brooklyn-based art and design collective Manifold, NEW GARDE highlights material and conceptual innovations and showcases the often unconventional formats of contemporary design’s next generation.

Meanwhile, the curated ARCHITECT ⇔ DESIGNER section will feature architects and interior designers who have extended their practices into furniture design. With curation by Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia, founders of San Francisco-based art and design collective Studio AHEAD, the ARCHITECT ⇔ DESIGNER section will expand on the ethos behind the exhibitors’ creations, foregrounding the non-verbal connotations often experienced through objects. Visitors can expect to see sculptural works by architect and designer Umberto Bellardi Ricci, a special intervention from collaborators NJ Roseti and Caleb Ferris, and French studio GOLEM’s interpretation of a 21st-century conversation pit.

This fall, the fair’s CURATED section–which features a selection of singular works from independent design studios, such as Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Marte Mei, and Sophie Wahlquist–will be selected by advisor and curator Sonya Tamaddon, with scenography by designer and co-founder of Savvy Studio, Rafael Prieto. The section will also be sponsored by boutique design and wall covering studio Wallpaper Projects. Tamaddon’s curation takes inspiration from Frank O’Hara’s 1960 poem Having a Coke With You, which serves as a reference to the many geographies the fair’s exhibitors represent whilst nodding to COLLECTIBLE’s roots in Europe and subsequent expansion to New York for this edition.

Coinciding with New York Fashion Week, COLLECTIBLE New York will also introduce a new FASHION section, inspired by the growing spirit of collaboration between the fields of fashion and design. Curated by fashion editor and stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, the FASHION section will celebrate the influential role of design within the fashion industry, spotlighting pieces created for fashion retail and presentation while honoring designers who continue to blur the lines between design and function in both realms. Notable exhibitors include interdisciplinary studio AMCA OVAL and retail-oriented collaborations from designer Nicholas Devlin and Heim+Viladrich studio. With this new section, COLLECTIBLE hopes to emphasize the functional possibilities of collectible design and facilitate greater connection with U.S. fashion communities.

Finally, to honor COLLECTIBLE’s enriching partnership with Water Street Projects—a dynamic, burgeoning hub for interdisciplinary creative projects in Manhattan’s Financial District—WSA will curate a section titled POST POST NEW NEW. Bringing WSA’s core principles to life, the section will explore the Post-Postmodernism movement, championing sincerity, meaning, authenticity, and storytelling through genuine human experiences. Befitting COLLECTIBLE’s inaugural New York edition, POST POST NEW NEW takes this opportunity to encapsulate the essence of Post-Postmodernism by setting the stage for a new New York–a collective vision where creativity and community are paramount.

“This inaugural edition of COLLECTIBLE New York marks a unique opportunity for design professionals from all horizons to connect, discover, and inspire each other,” says Emily Marant, Director of COLLECTIBLE New York. “The exceptional lineup of COLLECTIBLE New York exhibitors represents this pivotal moment, encouraging established and emerging designers alike to push boundaries and address global contemporary challenges. We eagerly anticipate the innovations and discoveries that will be unveiled during COLLECTIBLE New York and look forward to being in dialogue with the international design community.”

COLLECTIBLE New York’s presentations will once again be accompanied by a daily talks program, featuring leading voices from the design field and echoing COLLECTIBLE’s dedication to uplifting diverse perspectives engaged with contemporary collectible design. Featured voices throughout the fair’s talk program include Lora Appleton (Director of the Female Design Council), Emma Scully (Designer and Founder of Emma Scully Gallery), and Winka Dubbeldam (Architect and Director of the ARI Lab). COLLECTIBLE is also proud to present an esteemed group of interior designers, architects, organization leaders, and industry professionals as the honorary committee and host committee for COLLECTIBLE New York, welcoming the fair into its next chapter in the U.S. and participating in COLLECTIBLE’s suite of public and VIP programs. Details on COLLECTIBLE New York’s scheduled talks and programming are forthcoming.

As a connector of contemporary designers both emerging and established, COLLECTIBLE intends to expand its CLUB COLLECTIBLE membership program to the United States, offering like-minded design professionals a platform to expand their network, elevate their practice, and promote their projects. To learn more about CLUB COLLECTIBLE, please visit collectible.design/club/join-the-club.

Founded in 2018 by Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisberg, COLLECTIBLE is the world’s only fair of its kind, created in response to a lack of dedicated platforms celebrating 21st-century collectible design. The fair’s expansion into the United States is a testament to its international breadth and reputation, offering opportunities to further foster visibility and creative exchange between design communities worldwide.