Collective Design Selects Mattia Bonetti as 2017 ‘Collective Influence’ Honoree

Collective Design is pleased to announce a celebration of the life and work of acclaimed Swiss designer Mattia Bonetti for its Collective Influence presentation at the fifth anniversary fair, to be held May 3-7, 2017 at Skylight Clarkson Sq during NYCxDESIGN.

Collective Influence is a signature element of Collective Design that honors the outstanding impact of one living designer or studio, established during the first annual Collective Design in 2013 with the celebration of Gaetano Pesce. The program is central to Collective Design’s mission to amplify opportunities for visitors – both first-time and connoisseur – to more deeply understand the creative process and the contribution design makes to everyday life. For this edition, Collective Design will present a comprehensive survey of some of Bonetti’s most important work curated by Glenn Adamson, Senior Scholar, Yale Center for British Art.

A force in the design world for over 40 years, Paris-based Mattia Bonetti is known for his uncompromising design vision that spans a multitude of styles and rarely follows dominant trends. Often described as “neo-Baroque,” Bonetti’s work is sophisticated yet whimsical, fantastically surreal yet grounded in the influence of the natural world. His furniture, upholstery, lighting, and accessories employ innovative use of materials such as patinated bronze, marble, gilded rock crystal and glass and technological advances such as 3D printing, robotics and modern acrylics to create imaginative motifs and shapes. These avant-garde creations have earned him legions of fans in both his home of Paris and around the world.

Bonetti’s career was launched in the 1970s, with his supervision of the interior décor of the famous Parisian nightclub Le Palace and restaurant Le Privilege. By 1987, he was working with Christian Lacroix on his couture house interiors, and soon after began receiving commissions from patrons such as the Picasso family and Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis. Today, Bonetti’s work can be found in the collections of Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. In 2014, the designer was the subject of a two-volume book on his career by Jacqueline du Pasquier and Jean Jacques Wattel published by Editions Louvres Victoire. Since 1988, Bonetti has worked with the iconic David Gill Gallery in London, which will show a series of his most recent work in June 2017. 

In addition to selecting its Influence honoree, Collective Design has confirmed an expanded list of exhibitors for 2017, with new additions of important international galleries and designers. Collective Design welcomes new exhibitors Leclaireur (Paris), the global design purveyor; Yancey Richardson Gallery (New York), with an expert focus on fine art and photography; Portuondo (London, Madrid) specializing in art, antiques and contemporary design; and ICERA by Gallery LVS & LVS Craft (Seoul, South Korea), a foothold for emerging Korean artists.  Returning exhibitors will include Donzella (New York); Gallery ALL (Los Angeles); Garrido Gallery (Madrid); Glass Past (New York); J. Lohmann Gallery (New York); and Lost City Arts (New York). The imaginative lighting designer Christopher Boots (Melbourne) and the master metal sculptor Gianluca Pacchioni (Milan) have also joined to present as part of the returning Collective Concept program, which allows individual designers to explore new material processes and showcase their creative thinking though site-specific, immersive presentations. The current exhibitor list is detailed below. 

Collective Design has also welcomed a prestigious group of partners that will expand upon the fair’s diverse programming:

Bookmarc is joining Collective Design for the first year, presenting a curated selection of reading matter and objects as well as a special series of on-site talks. Marc Jacobs opened its first Bookmarc store in 2010 on Bleecker Street in New York's West Village. Shortly thereafter the concept expanded to Paris, London, Tokyo and Los Angeles, stocking photography, fine art, fiction, music, pop culture and rare titles. 

The global luxury Italian fashion fine jeweler Pomellato will also be joining the fair for the first time, presenting a special installation on-site. Established in Milan in 1967, Pomellato was the first brand to introduce the prêt-à-porter vision into the world of jewelry. Crafted by the hands of expert goldsmiths, Pomellato stands out for its unique design and colorful gems, which through innovative stone cutting and setting techniques have come to define an unmistakable and iconic style.

Architectural Digest, the 2017 headline Media Partner, will co-host the opening night of Collective Design, and present an on-site selection of Editor’s Picks highlights. Architectural Digest provides exclusive access to the world’s most beautiful homes and the fascinating people who live in them, bringing its audience a wealth of information on architecture and interior design, art and antiques, travel destinations, and extraordinary products. 

Artsy is the official online partner of Collective Design 2017. Partnering with Collective Design for the fourth consecutive year, Artsy will present an exclusive online fair preview that will launch to the public on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. The Artsy preview will include an online catalogue of exhibitor booths and opportunities for collectors to place sales inquires on available artworks in advance of the fair. For more information about Collective Design on Artsy, visit artsy.net/collective-design.

EDITION Hotels will return as the Official Hotel Partner of Collective Design. EDITION, conceived by Ian Schrager, emphasizes great design and true innovation with friendly, modern service. The hotel will host special off-site events and programs.