Berkeley Square, 10-15 October 2023
As the international collecting community descends on London in October, PAD London prepares to celebrate 15 vibrant years of exceptional design in its landmark location of Berkeley Square in Mayfair. Launched in 2007 as the first international fair dedicated to design in the UK, PAD London has been unwavering in its commitment to fostering and promoting the prolific evolution of design in all its forms.
A Milestone in Design Excellence
“Following the successful 25th edition of PAD Paris, I am delighted to present the 15th-anniversary edition of PAD London, marking a significant milestone in the fair’s history. Over the course of fifteen years, our dedicated efforts have transformed PAD London – the only design fair in the UK – into the popular and vibrant platform it is today: a place of boundless inspiration, dedicated to creativity, quality, learning, and discovery for all.” – Patrick Perrin, Founder and CEO of PAD.
Contemporary Design: New Exhibitors and Returning Stars
Adding fresh perspectives to its rich panorama of contemporary design, PAD’s 2023 edition will see the arrival of cutting-edge galleries unveiling new works by rising stars of the design world.
Melchiorri Studio Gallery will introduce the new furniture collection of Livio Cioffi and Alessandra Melchiorri, founders of Studio Sam. Their bespoke pieces exhibit truly made-in-Italy quality, a hallmark of Italian design excellence.
Objects with Narratives will present bold, gravity-defying wooden furniture by Mircea Anghel and dazzling bronze lighting pieces by Vladimir Slavov, while Ormond Editions will showcase eye-catching furniture and lighting pieces by Garnier & Linker, architect Glenn Sestig, ceramic artist Yoona Hur, and designer Pieter Maes.
Galerie Philia will stage “Gravity and Grace,” a curated exhibition of brand-new onyx works by eight international designers and artists, including Studiopepe, Pietro Franceschini, and Andres Monnier.
Rounding up the stable of new contemporary design exhibitors is Secret Gallery, a Parisian art and design gallery founded by Nathalie Elmaleh and Laurent Teboul, which will present “Lala,” a gorgeous cabinet with cloisonné enamel tile decoration by Reda Amalou, and paintings composed of stoneware sculptures by Yann Masseyeff.
Leading forces in contemporary design who have contributed to the fair’s success over the years will return this year.
Spanish SIDE Gallery will present the new resin furniture collection called “Stacked” by Sabine Marcelis. They will also feature furniture pieces by Charlotte Kingsnorth and Gyuhan Lee, conceived as a reference to the 1970s Global Tools movement spanning Italian Radical Architecture, Arte Povera, and Conceptual Art.
Nilufar, a renowned curator in the world of design, will showcase collectible design pieces by leading Indian designer Vikram Goyal, demonstrating his New Delhi-based workshop’s mastery of metal. They will also unveil a curated selection of contemporary pieces by Objects of Common Interest, Lola Montes Schnabel, Draga & Aurel, Bethan Laura Wood, and Maarten de Ceulaer.
Ammann // Gallery will surprise with a bench made from old objects casted in resin by Studio Nucleo. Spazio Nobile will introduce a ceramic wall installation by Ann Beate Tempelhaug, a sideboard by Quentin Vuong and Meccanic Construction, a floor lamp by Joost van Bleiswijk, while Galerie Kreo will exhibit the latest lighting pieces in perforated anodized aluminum by Konstantin Grcic.
Achille Salvagni Atelier will unveil a distinctive presentation of the designer’s newest designs inspired by the pioneering style of American interior designer Bill Willis and by Morocco’s unique blend of North African, Mediterranean, and Islamic styles.
Atelier Adrian Sassoon will feature Kate Malone’s delightful sculptures in crystalline-glazed stoneware and Ashraf Hannah’s cult and altered hand-crafted earthenware.
Vezzini and Chen will unveil new blown and cut black glass sconces.
New Design Commissions: Pushing Boundaries
Striking new commissioned pieces by international designers and artists will enrich the fair. Light Entanglements by Stine Bidstrup, a chandelier featuring elegant hand-blown clusters of glass, will feature at Gallery FUMI, alongside brand-new works from the gallery’s strong roster of international designers.
Tree, a monumental light sculpture by Nacho Carbonell, and a stone and dyed steel desk by Wonmin Park will be premiered at Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Other works commissioned specially for PAD include Onde, a leather ceiling lamp by Caroline Venet at Galerie Scène Ouverte and a unique handblown glass artwork with natural stone by Camilla Moberg at Galerie Maria Wettergren.
Revolutionizing the use of wood, Peter Marigold and Gareth Neal will unveil their latest creations at Sarah Myerscough Gallery and Pierre Renart will surprise with his first dining room table entirely crafted in wood at Maison Parisienne.
Contemporary Ceramic Experts
Joining from Paris, Florian Daguet-Bresson will present a striking selection of joyful ceramics by Claire Lindmer, Jongjin Park, and Patricia Camet, pioneering artists in the field.
Also new to the fair is South-Korean Gallery LVS & Craft who will premiere porcelain vessels by Lee In Hwa, Kim Deok Ho, and Kim Dong Jun, all combining traditional and contemporary techniques.
As well as Parisian ceramic expert Raphaella Riboud-Seydoux who will showcase breathtaking contemporary pieces, including colorful ceramic vases by Nathalie du Pasquier, a founding member of the 1980s-defining Memphis Group, and sculptures made of assembled fallen chestnut branches by Vincent Laval.
20th-Century Design: New Exhibitors and Major Highlights
New 20th-century design exhibitors include a collaboration between modern design dealer Giulia de Jonckhere and gallery New Hope from Belgium; Luiz Kessler whose London gallery JCRD Design will present 20th-century Brazilian furniture by Lina Bo Bardi, Jorge Zalszupin, and Jose Zanine Caldas amongst others; and Belgian historic design expert Unforget which will present exceptional 1950s pieces by French pioneers Jacques Adnet and Line Vautrin, amongst other vintage treasures.
Other highlights from Europe’s most prominent mid-century design galleries comprise an exquisite desk by André Sornay (Marcelpoil) which can be transformed into a games table; a breathtaking bar cabinet in mahogany, brass, glass, and mirror attributed to Otto Shulz (Modernity); a rare 1965 chest of drawers by Roger Landault (Portuondo Paris); and a blue 1970s lacquer desk by Emiel Veranneman as well as a one-of-a-kind rosewood, lacquer, leather, and silver-plated metal sideboard by Pieter de Bruyne (Patrick Fourtin).
Collectible Jewelry: A Dazzling Addition
Complementing the panorama of collectible design are eight leading contemporary and high jewelry galleries.
For his debut at PAD, Elie Top will take us on a walk on the wild side through the unveiling of otherworldly jewelry inspired by nature’s fiercest creatures, including a stunning emerald crocodile Bouclier ring and a diamond Serpent cuff with eyes studded with rubies.
Elisabetta Cipriani will showcase jewelry from a charming cohort of male artist jewelers of Italian heritage including Massimo Izzo and Giampaolo Babetto, all employing traditional techniques and sensibilities.
Maria Sole Ferragamo will unveil a collection of upcycled brass shavings.
Objet d’Emotion by Valery Demure will pay homage to late Greek silversmith designer Minas showcasing his iconic music-inspired jewels and largely represent contemporary jewelry’s bright young things.
This edition will welcome back leading contemporary High Jewelry houses, some of which have been prominent fixtures at the fair. Taffin will present unique creations seamlessly blending natural pearls, diamonds, emeralds, and multicolored ceramics.
Hemmerle will showcase the Harmony bangle – an exquisite combination of olive wood, bronze, and white gold, adorned with diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds.
Glenn Spiro’s jewelry will highlight rare gemstones with unconventional cuts that maximize brilliance, as seen in the striking Sunrise earrings featuring diamonds, blue sapphires, and a tsavorite set in playful blue and green titanium.
Boghossian will surprise with Kissing, a coral reef-inspired collection of diamond necklaces, rings, pendants, and earrings whose morphological shapes recall the planet’s four core elements: air, fire, water, and earth.
With its 15th-anniversary edition, PAD London continues to be a premier destination for design enthusiasts, collectors, and connoisseurs of fine artistry. This year’s diverse lineup promises to deliver innovation, creativity, and exceptional craftsmanship, making it an event not to be missed in the world of contemporary design and collectible jewelry. As the fair opens its doors in Berkeley Square from October 10 to 15, 2023, visitors can expect to be captivated by the best of design and jewelry the world has to offer.
