Meet the Winners of the Salon Art+Design x Galerie Awards

The Park Avenue Armory is pulsing with creative energy as Salon Art + Design recently unveiled its 15th edition, drawing collectors, curators, and enthusiasts to explore the latest expressions in collectible art and design. Produced by Sanford L. Smith + Associates, the fair unites more than 50 international exhibitors whose presentations span eras and disciplines, from 20th-century icons and fine jewelry to boundary-pushing contemporary makers, cementing its place as a cornerstone of New York’s cultural season.  

“This year, our exhibitors brought some very exciting pieces that they haven’t shown before, or they are presenting for the first time at Salon, which has been very refreshing to see,” said Nicky Dessources, the fair’s executive director, who added that many exhibitors sought to commemorate the fair’s milestone anniversary year.

This year also features the return of the Salon Art + Design x Galerie Awards, a collaboration celebrating outstanding creativity and notable presentations among exhibitors. The award honors achievements across five categories: Best Booth Design for the most innovative presentation; Notable Work for a standout object on view; Emerging Talent for a new gallerist or maker with a distinctive curatorial vision; Best Jewelry Presentation, a new addition awarded for magnificent feats of art and design that use precious metals and jewels as a medium; and Legacy Honors for a presentation that reflects historical significance and craftsmanship.  

“The jury was extremely impressed by the exhibitors at the fair this year and was delighted to see so many new themes and new work explored,” said Galerie editor in chief Jacqueline Terrebonne. “The talents we’ve selected for these special awards truly stood out to us for their unique contributions to making Salon Art + Design such an exceptional event.”

The jury includes Galerie founder and editorial director Lisa Fayne Cohen, editor in chief Jacqueline Terrbonne, Apparatus founder Gabriel Hendifar, and Salon council members John Ike and Julie Hillman. Scroll below to discover this year’s winners, which were announced during the VIP preview. 

Best Booth Design: Maisonjaune Studio

Parisian gallery Maisonjaune Studio, founded by Julien and Elodie Régnier with their daughter Jeanne, conjured an inviting domestic setting that brought historical treasures and contemporary creations into dialogue within a moody amber-toned booth. “The concept of Maisonjaune Studio is always different, but we always try to make a house that shows the different paintings, art, and design,” explains Julien. The booth featured Annet Gaaikema’s sisal and rope tapestries, velvet armchairs by Hans Hopfer, washi paper lanterns by Isamu Noguchi, and a planetary mobile by Laurent Martin.

Notable Work: Tracy Krumm at Cristina Grajales

For more than three decades, Tracy Krumm has transformed industrial metals and found objects through traditional weaving and crocheting techniques. Her intricate creations juxtapose rigid steel and delicate wirework, often adorned with earthy patinas derived from minerals and plants cultivated in her garden. The work, she explains, “is never about any one thing—much of it is about the process of making.”

Emerging Talent: Richard Haining at Wexler Gallery

Brooklyn artist Richard Haining transforms salvaged timber—often sourced from decommissioned water towers—into extraordinary vessels and furnishings. Inspired by the waste he witnessed during his years in film production, he stacks thousands of reclaimed wooden fragments like building blocks, then painstakingly carves and sands them into sinuous silhouettes. “He sets these up as if they were Legos, then hand-shapes these forms,” explains gallerist Lewis Wexler. “The amount of work that goes into this is absolutely tremendous.”

Best Jewelry Presentation: Fernando Jorge

Brazilian jeweler Fernando Jorge looked beyond his previous Art Deco inspirations for Armour, a striking new collection informed by traditional African shields. “The shield shape became very present, one that connects many different cultures,” he says. Ebony and pale tagua seed create dramatic contrasts, accented by gleaming gold and marquise-cut diamonds.

Legacy Honors: Bamileke artist mask at Carlo Bella

Dating to the late 19th century, this exceptionally rare Bamileke royal mask from Cameroon features dramatically swollen cheeks, almond-shaped eyes, and an elaborate wooden crest. “It has this royal connection to the lost kingdoms of the grasslands of Cameroon,” notes Carlo Bella, who also highlighted its distinguished provenance and exhibition history.