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Benoist Drut

The head of design gallery Maison Gerard cultivates an inspired salon inside the Galerie House of Art and Design

By Galerie editors
Modern living room with large windows, city skyline, and stylish furniture, including a round table and artistic lighting fixture.
Maison Gerard’s presentation at 40 East End Avenue in New York. Photo: Michael Kleinberg

A partner at Maison Gerard since the late 1990s, Benoist Drut was instrumental in broadening the design gallery’s scope to include both midcentury and contemporary design. He fostered the development of a wide range of recognized contemporary designers, such as Hervé van der Straeten, Achille Salvagni, Niamh Barry, and Ayala Serfaty, as well as emerging and established artists like Kiko Lopez, Douglas Fanning, Jaimal Odedra, and the late Matthew Solomon, to name a few. After joining as a partner, Drut developed an ambitious program that included launching publications, mounting exhibitions, and increasing fair participation. Moreover, he was one of the first to show contemporary designers alongside period pieces; his mission was to collect a body of work grounded in the past as much as it was keenly attuned to the future. Today, Drut is the sole owner of Maison Gerard and proud steward of the gallery, caring for its many treasures and exploring new avenues of inspiration. Drut was the recipient of the Bard Graduate Center’s 2018 Iris Foundation Award for Outstanding Dealer.

Man in a dark blazer and jeans standing casually against a wooden background with art and furniture.
Benoist Drut at the Winter Antiques Show in New York. Photo: Robert Levin
Cozy living room with large window overlooking autumn trees, surrounded by lush indoor plants and modern furniture.
Beaver Dam in upstate New York. Photo: Michael Mundy

Hamptons inspiration: “There is so much history in the Hamptons. I am very much inspired by a few structures in particular; namely, the Ward Bennett–designed Sugarman House in Southampton, which in my opinion is the pinnacle of American modernism. It was built in 1963, and the simultaneous contrast and synthesis with the surrounding dune landscape is inspiring. Bennett was such an architectural pioneer and an unsung visionary in his time.”

Eclectic living room with art, sculptures, mixed table décor, and fruit bowls in front of a dark fireplace and large painting.
Beaver Dam in upstate New York. Photo: Michael Mundy
Dark wooden sideboard with shelving, displaying decorative vases and candlesticks, set against a white paneled wall.
Maison Gerard exhibition of Votre Maison. Works by Guillerme et Chambron 1950s–70s. Sackett Street in Brooklyn. Photo: Matthew Williams

Favorite Hamptons art venues: “Willem de Kooning’s East Hampton studio, which he shared with his wife, Elaine, is also a standout for me. From the outside, it is a harmonious and classic Hamptons country cottage. However, the interior is almost industrial, with steel girders determining the dimensions of the space. The effect is a surprising fusion of beach living and New York City urban swagger—a combination that perfectly defines the Hamptons lifestyle.”

Mid-century modern living room with orange chairs, large windows, green plants, and wooden furniture, creating a cozy ambiance.
Maison Gerard exhibition of Votre Maison. Works by Guillerme et Chambron 1950s–70s. Sackett Street in Brooklyn. Photo: Matthew Williams
Modern bedroom with wrought iron headboard, red bedding, wooden side tables, and large window overlooking a potted plant outside.
Maison Gerard exhibition of Votre Maison. Works by Guillerme et Chambron 1950s–70s. Sackett Street in Brooklyn. Photo: Matthew Williams
Collection of decorative vases and pottery on a reflective surface, with bookshelves and a folding screen in the background.
Beaver Dam in upstate New York Photo: Michael Mundy
Elegant console table with a black vase of red flowers and a textured triptych mirror in a modern interior setting.
Maison Gerard’s presentation at 40 East End Avenue in New York. Photo: Michael Kleinberg
Elegant white shelves with decorative vases and sculptures, featuring unique textures and earthy tones, wooden art piece in front.
Maison Gerard exhibition of Votre Maison. Works by Guillerme et Chambron 1950s–70s. Sackett Street in Brooklyn. Photo: Matthew Williams
Modern living room with large windows, city skyline view, chic furniture, unique lighting, and decorative accents.
Maison Gerard’s presentation at 40 East End Avenue in New York. Photo: Michael Kleinberg

The Galerie House of Art and Design will kick off with a VIP event on August 5, with public viewings taking place from August 7 through September 6. Click here to view the full list of participating designers.