Nomad brings the world’s finest design galleries to a Monaco villa
Take one spectacular cliffside villa with panoramic ocean views, add 13 of the world’s most exciting design galleries and combine with a dash of sunshine – Giorgio Pace and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte think they may have stumbled upon a foolproof formula for a new breed of collectable design fair.
‘With our combined experience in curating art and design projects, we felt there could be another way to experience collectable design,’ says Pace of the new venture, which is his first joint venture with Bellavance-Lecompte. ‘Revisiting the format of traditional fairs, we wanted to create an event that would offer an intimate and engaging environment for visitors and collectors each year. The result is Nomad.’
Taking place at La Vigie, the oldest villa in Monaco, Nomad is an exclusive design event for collectors, interior designers, architects and art professionals that made its debut last weekend. Its inaugural edition saw 13 galleries and four special projects each take a room in the 1902 villa, which they used to display their latest pieces – Louise Alexander Gallery placed a series of Arik Levy sculptures across the terrace; Christophe Graber’s ornate Cuff bracelet occupied a bathroom; while Pia Maria Raeder’s intriguing ‘Sea Anemones’ family lurked in a top floor bedroom curated by Paris’ Galerie BSL.
Open to the public for the first time in 100 years, the fair’s spectacular setting is certainly a draw in its own terms.
‘It’s a completely different environment, which makes for a different energy – for us and the visitors,’ enthused Nina Yashar of Gallery Nilufar, whose blue-hued showcase, inspired by the Mediterranean sea, was displayed across La Vigie’s Salons. ‘It’s much more relaxed than a booth at a fair. It’s like being in a home. I think this is the next direction in terms of showing pieces. I love this formula, for me it’s the best.'
As well as established names such as Beirut’s Carwan Gallery, and London-based David Gill Gallery, Pace and Bellavance-Lecompte also took care to include up and coming depots such as London newcomers SEEDS, and three-year-old Brussels gallery Maniera. ‘Nomad provides a way to see interesting architecture like this at the same time as the art,’ said Maniera co-founder Kwinten Lavigne. ‘It’s very connected to what we have been doing, as we’ve not only showcased products in our own living room before but also in interesting buildings in and around Brussels.’
During the four-day event, a VIP programme of talks, performances and events ran alongside the showcase, including an installation of Rick Owen’s furniture at Monte Carlo Beach Club, and a tour of the nearby Cap Moderne & Cabanon Le Corbusier and Villa E-1027.
Timed to coincide with a number of art events including Art Monte Carlo Fair and new exhibitions opening at the Nouveau Museé National de Monaco, Nomad will be back next year, say its organisers, and will also travel to another location.
‘The feedback we received from day one exceeded our expectations, with significant sales within hours after the opening last Thursday,’ says Pace. ‘Many of the participating galleries have already asked us if they can sign up for the next edition. We’re incredibly proud the works were presented in a context that allowed them to shine and everyone had a wonderful time thanks to the dreamy, calm environment of La Vigie – it was more like a four-day tea party in a house.’
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Nomad Monaco website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.
-
New BMW i5 Touring is an all-electric tech powerhouse that brings the noise
BMW has thrown its considerable expertise into making the i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring the ultimate zero-emission all-rounder. Jonathan Bell tries it out
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Restoring São Paulo: Planta’s mesmerising Brazilian brand of midcentury ‘urban recycling’
Brazilian developer Planta Inc set out to restore São Paulo’s historic centre and return it to the heyday of tropical modernism
By Rainbow Nelson Published
-
10 books culture editor Hannah Silver recommends this winter
Lacking inspiration over what to read next? Wallpaper* culture editor, Hannah Silver, shares her favourite books
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Retracing the modernist steps of Lina Bo Bardi and Studio d’Arte Palma
By Laura May Todd Last updated
-
A patterned project at Nilufar Gallery offers a multilayered experience
By Alice Morby Last updated
-
Bo selecta: Nilufar Gallery celebrates the twists and turns of an icon of Brazilian modernism
By Nick Vinson - Art Direction Last updated
-
Design, art and San Francisco soul unite at the fifth edition of FOG
With its reputation for bringing together a memorable selection of art and design pieces in an intimate setting, San Francisco’s FOG Design + Art (11-14 January) fair kicked off the new year on the right foot. Now seeing its fifth edition, the fair welcomed eight new galleries and several interactive presentations involving Aldo Cibic and the Eames, which merged art and design with San Francisco’s cultural identity. Here, we round up the highlights from the fair...
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Creative dispatches: highlights from Dubai Design Week 2017
By Becky Sunshine Last updated
-
Crystal palace: Swarovski adds dreamy new ‘chambers of wonder’ to its Austria HQ
By Elly Parsons Last updated
-
Vessel to vessel: cutting-edge contemporary vases that transcend their function
By Ali Morris Last updated
-
The Salon Art + Design New York: the Wallpaper* highlights
Now in its sixth year, The Salon Art + Design New York (9-13 November) brought an enticing mix of historic and contemporary furniture, art and decorative pieces back to the Park Avenue Armory this weekend. This year’s edition boasted over 50 galleries from 11 countries, of which 13 were showing for the very first time.
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated