Villa Albertine to launch Oui Design!, an initiative showcasing and celebrating French design and creatives in New York City

Wednesday, May 17 – Tuesday, May 23

New York, April 18, 2023 — Villa Albertine, the French cultural institution in the US dedicated to the exchange of art and ideas, today announced the launch of Oui Design!, a curated path of open studios, designer talks, exhibitions, and exclusive events that celebrate the rich tradition of collaboration between the French and American design scenes. Held over the course of five days from Wednesday, May 17 – Tuesday, May 23 during NYCxDesign (May 18-25), the city’s official celebration of design, Oui Design! will feature work by dozens of exceptional French makers in galleries from Chelsea to Greenpoint and Long Island City to Industry City, advancing Villa Albertine’s mission to deepen the dialogue and cultural connections between American and Francophone audiences. A full schedule of events is below and online here.

“So much of the most exciting work happening in design right now is nurtured by international exchange and diverse, global perspectives,” said Gaëtan Bruel, Director of Villa Albertine. “As an incubator for new ideas and rich cultural exchange, we hope Oui Design! will both celebrate the French-American design success stories in New York City and encourage new creative collaborations in the industry.”

Three artists featured during Oui Design! are also participants in Villa Albertine’s 2023 artist residency program: artist and gilder Manuela Paul-Cavallier, pluridisciplinary artist and wood block-maker François-Xavier Richard, and craftsman and inventor Steven Leprizé. Launched in 2021, Villa Albertine’s annual residency program accepts 50+ international creatives and researchers of all disciplines for exploratory, custom-built residencies in the American city of their choice. These three designers, as well as emerging designer Gala Espel, were selected for Villa Albertine residencies based on their unique and unexpected approach to their craft as well as their specific projects’ global reverberations. The participation of these creators in Villa Albertine’s craft and design residency cohort is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation.

Oui Design! was launched in 2015 in partnership with the French Ministry of Culture, the Institut français, and FACE Foundation, with the goal of supporting collaboration, education, and professional development between the French and American design industries. Since then, the program has facilitated numerous exchanges between French and American design schools, enabled up-and-coming French designers to show their work in American galleries, supported visits and skills-sharing, and more.    

Schedule of events:  

Wednesday, May 17, 6pm – 10pm at Villa Albertine:  

Oui Design! kick-off panel discussion and cocktail party, featuring leading designers and design professionals, including Anthony Ingrao, Chloé Bensahel, François-Xavier Richard, and Dung Ngo talking about French know-how and new trends in design, and moderated by Maria Nicanor, Director of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.   

Friday, May 19, 5pm – 12am at Ateliers Jouffre:  

Oui Design! x Jouffre | Open Studios and DJ Party. An evening of exquisite handmade craft and design at an exclusive event presented by Villa Albertine in collaboration with Par Excellence. and hosted by Ateliers Jouffre, with demonstrations by Villa Albertine residents François-Xavier Richard, Manuela Paul Cavallier, and Steven Leprizé, as well as by Studio D’Anthost and Combray. 

Saturday, May 20, 1pm – 5pm at COPE NYC:  

A festive afternoon of group exhibitions with local and international designers, artists, art students, and the community, and inaugural opening of Jacques Jarrige’s Pfizer Cascade sculpture on the rooftop, presented by COPE NYC in partnership with Villa Albertine, Valerie Goodman Gallery and Brandon Haw Architecture. This event will include participation of Villa Albertine residents Manuela Paul-Cavallier and François-Xavier Richard. 

Artist meetings and workshop visits:

Thursday, April 27 – Saturday, May 27 (Monday to Friday 10am–6pm, Saturday 12pm-5pm) at Demisch Danant:  

Demisch Danant X Paulin, Paulin, Paulin present, FORMAL DISRUPTION | Pierre Paulin and the State Commissions of the 1980s. With participation from The Mobilier National. Demisch Danant is a design shop specializing in French design and art from 1950-1970s.   

Thursday, May 18 – Friday, May 19, 9am–6pm, RSVP required (9am, 10am, 11am) at The Invisible Collection:  

On May 18, The Invisible Collection welcomes you to a breakfast with designers Charles and Maylis Tassin, who will be presenting their original collection. Charles Tassin is an interior designer. Maylis Tassin is a visual artist. Working hand in hand, they take inspiration from the work of legendary ensembliers-décorateurs from the past, wanting to revive it.  On May 19, The Invisible Collection opens its doors for an exhibition featuring pieces from Mobilier National’s collection. 

Thursday, May 18 – July 31, by appointment only at Galerie Philia:  

Group show of collectible design featuring some of the most prominent contemporary voices, including architectural designer Elsa Foulon, widely celebrated for her ceramics practice. 

Thursday, May 18 & Monday, May 22, 9am – 5pm at Ronit Anderson (D&D Building – Suite 800):  

Meet Wallpaper Designer François-Xavier Richard of Ateliers d’Offard, through a curated collection of artisanal wallpapers, textiles and design. 

Thursday, May 18 – Tuesday, May 23, 10am – 5pm; Saturday, May 20, 4:30 – 6:30pm at Galerie Regis Mathieu:  

Galerie Regis Mathieu, the new, New York home of Mathieu Lustrerie. Featuring the newest addition to our collection; Unchained Nature, a light sculpture by M. Regis Mathieu. Located in TriBeCa, the new environment permits their visitors to see the detailed hand work applied to the chandeliers by the artisans; bringing 18th century workmanship to the 21st century. On May 20, Galerie Regis Mathieu will host a gathering for the American premiere of “Unchained Nature”. 

Thursday, May 18 – Monday, May 22, 10am – 6pm; Saturday, May 20, 2:30pm at Maison Gerard: 

On Saturday, May 20 meet Franck Evennou, a French artist and craftsman specializing in bronze furnishings, at Maison Gerard, an antiques’ “maisonette” specializing in collectible French art deco furniture, lighting & objets d’art. 

From May 18 to May 22, explore an exhibition on the Art Deco aesthetic and the importance of Nature as a source of inspiration, through the work of contemporary Francophone artists. 

Thursday, May 18, 2pm – 5pm at Atelier Viollet:  

Through workshops visits, the historic Atelier Viollet invites you to explore the art of marquetry through a broad spectrum of materials and techniques, from embellished veneers to parchment, mica, gypsum and horn. 

Thursday, May 18, 5:30pm – 7:30pm; Friday, May 19 – Wednesday, June 28, 10am – 5pm at Valerie Goodman Gallery:  

On May 18, Valerie Goodman Gallery will host the opening reception of Anasthasia Millot’s nature-inspired exhibition of bronze furniture and objects in the presence of the artist. The solo exhibition will take place at the gallery from Friday, May 19 until June 28th. 

Friday, May 19 & Monday, May 22, 9am – 5pm at Saint-Louis (D&D Building – Suite 816):  

Discover the magic of Saint-Louis during their showroom open house. Saint-Louis is a crystal manufacturer born in 1586, named the “Royal Glassworks” in 1767 by Louis XV, and renamed the “Royal Crystallerie of Saint-Louis” in 1829. The manufacture is exclusively devoted to the production of crystal-glass items and introduced the concept of a set of glasses for the dining table. 

Friday, May 19 – Monday, May 22, 9am – 5pm at Par Excellence 

Discover Par Excellence’s New York showroom and the work of its artisans. Combining prestige and high standards, Par Excellence is the embodiment of 11 talented artisans with unique French “savoir-faire”. Their goal is to support architects and interior designers in their luxury projects. 

Friday, May 19, 10am – 12pm at French Cliché:    

An intimate gathering to discover French Cliché for the first time in New York. Established in 2019 by Emily Marant and Hugo Matha, French Cliché is a furniture and objects editor that blends art and design and exhibits designers such as Wendy Andreu, who you will be able to meet to exchange about her artistic practice. 

Friday, May 19, 2:30-4:30pm at WantedDesign – Industry City  

Public presentation to the Jury of “Water Matter(s)”, Schools Workshop led by Ecole Boulle, followed by a cocktail for International Design Education at 5pm (by invitation only). 

Saturday, May 20, 10am – 5pm at Studio Elodie Blanchard:  

Open Studio at Élodie Blanchard design and art studio.   

Saturday, May 20, 2pm – 5pm at Le Studio Anthost: 

Visit Le Studio Anthost to see live demonstrations with designers and discover a variety of textile embellishments, from gold leafing to silicone. 

Saturday, May 20, 2pm – 5pm at Combray:  

Combray is opening its Greenpoint atelier, where visitors can discover the atelier’s masterful craftsmanship and unique savoir-faire in textile design. 

Sunday, May 21, 2:30pm at ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan Stage (Javits Center):

Talk: “Inspiring Innovation: Can Original Design Be Taught?” with Simone Vingerhoets (Ligne Roset).  

Monday, May 22 – Tuesday, May 23, 2pm – 5 pm at Business France:   

A four-week long hybrid event aiming to connect French designers and manufacturers with North American interior design professionals. At Business France, a French national agency supporting the international development of the country’s economy, the in-person events from May 22-23, aim to set B2B meetings between North American interior design professionals and 11 French designers and manufacturers. Registration for these events can be found at this link. 

Tuesday, May 23, 12:30pm at ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan Oasis (Javits Center):

Talk: “From Waste to Wanted”, with Bibi Seck (Birsel+Seck) and J.-F. Fillaut (Waste&Hope) 

Monday, May 8 – Friday, June 30 – WantedDesign Online: 

WantedDesign Online is a series of digital exhibitions featuring great designs from around the world. From emerging talents to international brands, WantedDesign Online is your new to-go venue for inspiration. WantedDesign 2023 International Schools Show, will feature the work of selected young talented designers from design schools around the world (including Ecole Camondo, ENSAAMA, ENSCI). 

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