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Villa Albertine’s Oui Design! Festival Brings the Best of French Craftsmanship to NYCxDESIGN

Illustration by Des Signes

The third annual Oui Design! festival offers open studios, designer talks, exhibitions, and exclusive events across the city, plus a day of live craft presentations inside Villa Albertine’s historic Payne Whitney Mansion headquarters.

New York, April 15, 2025 – Villa Albertine’s Oui Design! festival returns for its third edition from May 15–21, 2025, celebrating the artistry and innovation of French design and craftsmanship across New York City. The festival, held in conjunction with NYCxDESIGN, offers open studios, designer talks, exhibitions, and exclusive events that showcase the enduring influence of French savoir-faire on the global design landscape.

On May 15, the festival begins for the first time with a daylong pop-up exhibition (11 a.m.–5 p.m.) at Villa Albertine’s historic Payne Whitney Mansion. Brooklyn-based French creative director Aurore Vullierme will transform the mansion’s reception rooms into immersive gallery spaces where visitors can meet expert artisans, explore their work, and experience the finest of French craft.

“Oui Design! is a testament to France’s deep-rooted commitment to artistry and innovation,” explains Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Counselor of France and Director of Villa Albertine. “By bringing these extraordinary designers and artisans to New York, we foster creative exchange and highlight the lasting impact of French craftsmanship.”

A Spotlight on Expert Artisans

This year’s festival highlights a distinguished group of artisans and designers, including:

Joining them are three Villa Albertine residents supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation:

  • Alice Riehl – Paris-based artist specializing in large-scale porcelain installations
  • Julia Debord-Dany – Designer exploring material innovation and design research
  • Fanny Serouart – Product designer focused on color, materials, and finishes in luxury craftsmanship

French Design Takes Center Stage in NYC

Building on its success, Oui Design! 2025 expands its footprint by forging deeper connections between the French and American design communities. A curated selection of premier French design destinations will participate, including The Invisible Collection, Pierre Yovanovitch Gallery, Prelle, Par Excellence, Galerie Philia, D&D Building (showrooms: Ateliers de France x Véronique Cotrel, Saint-Louis, Perre Frey), Maison Gérard, Twenty First Gallery, Le Studio Anthost, ICFF – Wanted Design, Combray Textile & Design, Ralph Pucci International, Royère Gallery, Atelier Barrois, ETĒLINE, Business France, Amélie du Chalard Gallery, Genius Loci, Todd Merrill Studio, Galerie Gabriel, and Emily Marant. Additional Oui Design! partners include Lang Lang – No.29, Magen H Gallery, Petrossian, Matière Première, Field Studies Flora, Bang & Olufsen, Hartis Paris, Jouffre, TPK Fine Art, Champagne Laurent-Perrier and ADÈLE Collections.

Since 2023, Villa Albertine has led initiatives to strengthen design and craftsmanship exchanges between France and the U.S., working alongside Manufactures nationales and the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. Among the initiatives are the restoration of Villa Albertine’s atelier, professional networking opportunities, and tailored residency programs for French designers and craftspeople.

The Debut of Savoir-Faire in English

Coinciding with this year’s festival, the iconic French design magazine’s first-ever English-language edition of Savoir-Faire will debut. The magazine, which features exclusive atelier tours, artist profiles, and interviews curated by Les Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national, preserves and promotes France’s rich design heritage.

For the latest updates, full schedules, and exclusive event access, visit Villa Albertine’s official website and follow us on our Instagram @villa.albertine.

In partnership with

Albertine Foundation

Previously known as FACE Foundation, Albertine Foundation is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting French-American relations through innovative cultural and educational projects. In close partnership with Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education of the French Embassy in the United States, Albertine Foundation promotes artistic, literary, and educational exchange and collaboration between creative professionals from both countries thanks to corporate, foundation, and individual support. 

Follow Albertine Foundation on InstagramFacebook, and LinkedIn.

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Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national

Resulting from the merger between the Mobilier national and the Cité de la Céramique – Sèvres & Limoges, the National Manufactures were established on January 1, 2025, to promote the excellence of French craftsmanship and highlight the richness of both tangible and intangible heritage through more than 53 artistic crafts practiced within its manufactures and workshops.   

Unique worldwide, this new public entity dedicated to decorative arts, crafts, and design combines heritage and creation to play a central role in implementing the national strategy in support of artistic crafts.   

Its mission is structured around six key priorities: education and training; research; creation; support for the fragile ecosystem of artistic crafts; heritage promotion; and the international outreach of craftsmanship.   

As the heir to four centuries of history, it comprises two museums (the National Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres and the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in Limoges), nine manufactures and creative workshops (including the Sèvres National Manufactory, the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory, the Beauvais Tapestry Manufactory, the Savonnerie Carpet Manufactory, the lace workshops of Alençon and Le Puy-en-Velay, and the Research and Creation Workshop for contemporary furniture), seven restoration workshops, and a furnishing commission.   

Firmly rooted in local territories, this public institution operates across eight departments: in Paris, Hauts-de-Seine (Sèvres), Hérault (Lodève), Creuse (Aubusson), Orne (Alençon), Haute-Loire (Le Puy-en-Velay), Haute-Vienne (Limoges), and Oise (Beauvais). 

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Bettencourt Schueller Foundation

Bettencourt Schueller Foundation strives to embody the will of a family, driven by the spirit of enterprise and awareness of its social role, to reveal talents and help them thrive, in three fields that contribute concretely to the common good: life sciences, the arts and solidarity. Both a family foundation and recognized as a public utility since its creation in 1987, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation intends to give wings to talent to contribute to the success and influence of France.

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Institut français

The Institut français is responsible for France’s international cultural program. Supervised by both the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and by the Ministry of Culture, it promotes French culture abroad through cultural exchange initiatives. Operating in a space where the arts, intellectual exchange, cultural and social innovation, and linguistic partnerships interact and intersect, it is also responsible for promoting the French language and the sharing of works, artists, and ideas all over the world. The Institut français is one of Villa Albertine’s main French partners.

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NYCxDESIGN

NYCxDESIGN connects and amplifies the broad coalition of design that fuels New York City and enriches the world.

At the heart of NYCxDESIGN’s mission lies the NYCxDESIGN Festival, an annual citywide celebration featuring hundreds of design events, from exhibits and trade shows to talks and tours, drawing hundreds of thousands attendees from near and far, making it a must-attend for design enthusiasts worldwide.

The NYCxDESIGN Festival is New York City’s official celebration of design, and its most impactful annual design event. Each year the Festival is an opportunity to spotlight New York City as a leading global design center, build opportunities for diverse design voices, and key to our position as a cultural capital.

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Wanted Design

Founded in 2011 in New York City by French New Yorkers Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, WantedDesign has evolved into a dynamic connector and amplifier for global design, fostering creative synergy and serving as a pivotal crossroad for the international design community. Following an important transformation for these past years, the multi-generational, women-led company now includes Colombian partner Daniela Giraldo Hinestroza and will continue to build on its foundation of community, education, and curation. Through its diverse array of programs- including residencies, workshops, immersion trips, and a membership program- WantedDesign connects designers at every stage of their career with key players of the industry across the Americas and Europe. Claire and Odile, based in New York, have also taken on the role of Brand Directors for ICFF since 2023. Daniela continues to lead from her hometown of Medellín, Colombia. 

WantedDesign’s legacy includes the successful WANTED (previously known as the WantedDesign Manhattan), acquired by Emerald Expositions in 2019 to become a section within the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Co-founders, Odile and Claire, stepped into their role as brand directors of ICFF in 2023 and will continue to do lead the show in 2024. WantedDesign will continue to support the WANTED section at ICFF to spotlight outstanding emerging design. 

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Lang Lang – No.29

As a purveyor of artisanal confections, No.29 is committed to using seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, crafting desserts that balance delicate sweetness with the comforting essence of home. Each creation is a work of art, infused with poetry and imagination, reflecting the brand’s dedication to both quality and creativity. Since its inception in 2020, No.29 has expanded beyond the realm of desserts. It has grown into a creative studio dedicated to exploring and initiating projects that emerge from dialogues on art, set design, and innovation. The brand’s mission is to foster new conversations about the multifaceted nature of home, space, and objects, continually evolving and pushing the boundaries of these concepts.

Field Studies

Based in New York, Field Studies is a floral design practice that works with nature rather than against it. Known best for their collaborations with partners like Natoora, Quarters, Roman and Williams, Tiwa Select and Colin King, the studio is on a mission to re-root the floral industry through projects that prompt pause and wonder, leading observers to discover new ways of appreciating our environment as it evolves around us.

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Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen is a luxury audio brand founded in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen whose devotion and vision remain the foundation for the company. For nearly a century, Bang & Olufsen has been pushing the boundaries of audio technology, and the company continues to sit at the forefront of acoustic innovation. Today, every Bang & Olufsen product is still characterized by the unique combination of beautiful sound, timeless design, and unrivalled craftsmanship. The company’s innovative and progressive products are sold worldwide in Bang & Olufsen stores, on bang-olufsen.com and in select retailers.

Hartis Paris

HARTIS is a French collectible furniture Maison founded by designer Hugo Besnier. Guided by the idea of “inhabiting life,” HARTIS creates refined, made-to-order pieces that blend elegance, comfort, and functionality. Crafted by master French artisans from noble and natural materials, each object reflects timeless beauty and exceptional know-how.

Jouffre

Founded in 1987 in Lyon, the historic heart of French textile craft, Jouffre is renowned for its exceptional upholstery—both traditional and contemporary. With ateliers in Lyon, New York, London, and Rabat, and showrooms in Paris and New York City, the studio collaborates with leading interior designers around the world to bring refined craftsmanship to high-end residential, hospitality, and cultural projects.

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Magen H Gallery

Since 1997, Magen H Gallery has pioneered revolutionary and significant design in sculpture, decorative arts, architecture, and ceramics. With special emphasis given to French post-war designers, the collection progresses the artistic dialogue between these historically significant works and contemporaries who visually articulate a personal philosophy. From its inception, the collection of works has been built on the founding premise that art and design are allied and interdependent. Exhibiting works in craft mediums (clay, metal, wood, silicon and aluminum), the gallery seeks objects that transcend form and function. By synthesizing modern and mid-century designers, Magen H Gallery continues to redefine the decorative arts market with innovative and significant design.

Matiere Premiere

Highlighting the raw beauty of natural ingredients in their purest and most powerful form in resolutely modern formulations. This is the mission of MATIERE PREMIERE, founded by Aurélien Guichard, the only perfumer in the world to cultivate his own ingredients in the Grasse region.

Petrossian

It has been over 100 years since the Petrossian Family came to Paris and began a love affair between caviar and the City of Light. One hundred years later, their first boutique still thrives on Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg. Petrossian caviar is now enjoyed across the globe and is widely recognized as the world’s finest expression of this enigmatic egg. Today, the family owns and operates restaurants and boutiques in Paris, New York City, Los Angeles and many more, with the same care and bespoke service as they offered in 1920. Founded as a family company, the brand remains so to this day.

TPK Fine Art

The Packengers & TPK Fine Art specialize in cutting-edge logistics for the transport, packaging, and management of artwork and precious objects. With a tailored approach and proven expertise, we guarantee optimal security and unparalleled efficiency, whether for art galleries, interior design studios, auction houses, foundations, museums and private collectors.

Champagne Laurent-Perrier

The House of Laurent-Perrier has been crafting fresh and elegant champagnes for over 200 years. Nestled in a Grand Cru village, the House is family- and female-run, fiercely independent, and focused exclusively on champagne. Under the historic domain and winery, in the heart of France’s renowned Champagne region, stretch over 11 km of chalk cellars. Every bottle of Laurent-Perrier spends years in these cellars developing their complex flavors and fine bubbles. Because Laurent-Perrier’s House style prizes freshness, elegance, and purity, all of Laurent-Perrier champagnes are fermented in stainless steel tanks to best preserve the aromas and the flavors of the high-quality grapes used to craft the champagnes. Laurent-Perrier is dedicated to sustainable viticulture and winemaking and is proud to have two rigorous certifications in sustainability. Priding itself on quality and consistency, the House has become one of the international leaders in Champagne.

ADÈLE Collections

ADÈLE Collections offers a new palette of decorative coverings and natural textiles, the fruit of numerous encounters with artists, craftsmen and communities, rich in their cultures and traditions. We believe in traditional know-how, short circuits, handmade crafts, rare weavings and craftsmen from around the world. Wood, nettle, hemp, linen, wool, cotton, leather… All natural materials at the service of well-being and timeless aesthetics, for exceptional projects.

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