Discover the Best of French Design at Oui Design Festival in New York City

On the occasion of the Design Week de New York (May 18-25), la Villa Albertine lance Oui Design !. Or rather relaunch: this festival, which promotes and celebrates the entire French design scene, was created in 2015 by Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak when she was cultural attaché in New York. Suspended during the pandemic, it therefore returns this year but in a new form: a full week, from this Wednesday May 17 to Tuesday May 23, of visits to creators’ workshops, meetings, exhibitions, discussions and parties. . The perfect opportunity to visit different showrooms such as that of the Saint-Louis crystal factory and discover know-how dating back to the 16th century.

In galleries ranging from Chelsea to Greenpoint, and from Long Island City to Industry City, Oui Designn! reveals the rich collaboration between French and Americans on the design scene. ” Much of the most exciting work taking place in design today is fueled by international exchange and diverse global perspectives. », Estimates Gaëtan Bruel, the ddirector of the Villa Albertine.

A festival of unique events

You will thus discover works by the French designer Pierre Paulin at the Demish Danant gallery, explore the art of marquetry with the historic Atelier Violet, enter the showroom of the collective Par Excellence specialized in high-end interior decoration which brings together the best French craftsmen, or in the Invisible Collection where pieces from the national furniture collection are exhibited. These numerous festivities highlight French design, which has been very dynamic in recent years in New York, with in particular the appointment of Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat as artistic directors of design fairs.

Note that three of the artists in residence at the Villa Albertine this year are taking part in Oui Design! : Manuela Paul-Cavallier (artist and gilder), François-Xavier Richard (multidisciplinary artist and manufacturer of wooden blocks), and Steven Leprizé (craftsman and inventor).