Located in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, the Scène Ouverte gallery, founded by Laurence Bonnel in 2016, presents a carefully curated selection of collectible design that celebrates fine craftsmanship. Far from the white cube, we’ve entered a refined, almost intimate atmosphere, reminiscent of a collector’s apartment, where design pieces dress the space with their sculptural presence, creating a distinctive and soulful interior.
Both an artist and a collector, Laurence Bonnel, in collaboration with her associate Zoé Vescia, selects the works represented by the gallery with their expert perspective, yet often guided by an intuitive impulse. They focus on the artisanal excellence of the pieces, their meaningful narratives and rarity, choosing editions limited to eight pieces.
Sharing a common vision, the represented designers place the material experimentation at the heart of their approach. Beyond function and form, they imbue their work with a sensory dimension, a soul. In the gallery’s selection, pieces of furniture, lighting and ceramics sit side by side and respond to one another in a creative dialogue. Sometimes surprising, often poetic and delicate, their skilfully crafted textures awaken the senses, while lending these design pieces a bold character.
Drawing on its extensive knowledge of the arts and the design scene, the gallery also supports these designers, who come from diverse backgrounds, throughout their creative process, encouraging them to explore different formats and other materials – from ceramic to bronze or resin to glass. These precious advices guide their practice and enhance their creative reflexion in order to give rise to unprecedented narrative perspectives. New pieces are also created specifically for the gallery.
As meticulous as it is aesthetic and sensible, this contemporary selection is showcased on an international stage, through in-situ exhibitions, but also in prestigious fairs such as Design Miami or the PAD. Each design piece sparks curiosity and nurtures artistic sensitivity. It is, in fact, this very approach that the gallery founder advises to follow when purchasing a piece of collectible design: trust your intuition, choose a piece that resonates with you, one that you would like to see in your interior every day.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the gallery has planned a series of exhibitions throughout the year. Opening on April 23, the “Young SCENE OUVERTE » exhibiton presents the work of emerging talents.
Works: Modular Ceramic Chair by Rino Claessens, Black Echo Stool by Hagit Pincovici,
OLO Armchair by Fany Hely, Inhabited Form IV by The Caroline Desile,
Echoe console by Francisco Aniorte
Geraldine Morand
Flaneur studio