8 Collectible Design Shows to See in November
From Jesse Schlesinger’s oceanic-inflected wood furnishings to Philia’s monumental stagings in architecturally charged sites near Paris
As autumn fades, November’s slate of must-see collectible design exhibitions fittingly turns inward, embracing overarching themes of reflection and transformation. Across continents, top designers are examining how materials can function as vessels for memory and emotion—from Jeff Zimmerman’s molten glass sculptures harmonizing with Russel Wright’s woodland retreat to Jane Yang D’Haene’s textural moon jars that merge Korean tradition with contemporary experimentation.
1. “A Dream Woven in Moss and Mist” at Giopato & Coombes Gallery | Paris
The complex luminaires forged by Cristiana Giopato and Christopher Coombes often feel like ethereal landscapes unto themselves. In their latest exhibition, with Galerie NeC, the Italian studio successfully conjures this atmosphere again. Within this luminous world, their site-specific installation Bruma suspends glass modules that hover like a constellation of mist, transforming the gallery into a shifting organism responsive to every movement. The installation envelops Finnish artist Kim Simonsson’s moss-coated figures—childlike guardians caught between vegetal and human forms—and the river-worn ceramics of Swedish artist Ellen Ehk Åkesson, whose stone-like vessels evoke landscapes shaped by time and water.
Until November 29
2. “Philia: Strates” at Parking du Mont d’Est | Noisy-Le-Grand, France
Galerie Philia’s exhibitions often stand out for the breadth of talent on view and the charged architectural sites they inhabit—most recently Oscar Niemeyer’s otherworldly MAC Niterói. For its tenth anniversary, the gallery ventures to the Parisian periphery to present a sweeping survey of collectible design staged within two Brutalist landmarks: Jacques Kalisz’s monumental Mont d’Est parking structure and Ricardo Bofill’s theatrical Espaces Abraxas. Each artist on Philia’s roster revisits an emblematic piece created for the gallery over the past decade—from Studiopepe’s monolithic concrete chair and William Guillon’s bronze candelabras to Boldizar Senteski’s mirrored sculptures and Arno DeClerq’s hand-hewn walnut armchairs—together animating the former’s spiraling cathedral and latter’s operatic façades.
Until November 30
3. “Jane Yang D’Haene: The Place That Waited” at Nilaya Anthology | Mumbai
Jane Yang D’Haene’s practice often draws from her Korean heritage to celebrate traditional forms such as the dal hang-ari, or moon jar, while making the archetype distinctly contemporary through layered textures and tonal experimentations that echo clay’s innate earthiness. For her first outing in the Indian subcontinent, the Brooklyn artist aims to transcend cultural boundaries even further, carefully curating each vessel’s palette and textural dynamism to tell personal stories. Each piece radiates tactile depth through intricate linework, bold patterning, and colors that balance muted tones with vibrant hues, inviting intimate reflections on emotion and craft.
Until December 31
4. “Jesse Schlesinger: Pacific” at Gallery Fumi | London
The Pacific Ocean is a constant presence in woodworker Jesse Schlesinger’s oeuvre, from the redwood trees that absorb moisture from its fog to the etymology of the word itself, meaning “peace-making.” For his inaugural outing in London, the Bay Area artist translates this sense of equilibrium into a meditative series of furniture in salvaged redwood, deodar cedar, and bronze. Works such as the Cedar Coffee Table and Redwood Chair preserve the raw contours of each tree while introducing powder-coated steel and luminous automotive pigments that shift between oceanic blue and metallic gray. Through these elemental contrasts, Schlesinger’s collaborative practice—and its respect for the landscape that shapes it—comes into clear focus.
Until November 29
5. “McKeever Donovan: The Keep” at Prospect Refuge Gallery | Minneapolis
In medieval times, keeps were central castle towers that provided defensive refuge and a venue for staging and performance. Midden Projects founder McKeever Donovan channeled these dualities into his latest collection, encompassing furniture and lighting imbued with armor-like motifs and the era’s theatrical tableaux. The Azurite Lounge Chair, for example, pairs patinated steel with polished orbs and wool upholstery, while the Verdigris Scroll Candelabra stretches upward in a simultaneously protective and ceremonial gesture. Backdropped by hanging curtains, the staged scene allows each object to assume a role within a dramaturgical setting.
Until December 18
6. “Jeff Zimmerman: Glass Light Nature” at Manitoga, the Russel Wright Design Center | Garrison, New York
At Manitoga, Jeff Zimmerman places his luminous glass sculptures within the modernist home and woodland landscapes envisioned by Russel and Mary Wright. The exhibition brings together new and recent works inspired by organic structures, including Vine, an illuminated sculpture of handblown glass and brass suspended over the dining area, and the Crumpled Vessel series, whose folds form spontaneously in response to heat. The installation also features Crystal Table Lights that echo the natural crystals once displayed in Wright’s living room. Through these site-responsive works, the renowned glassblower propels his lifelong study of nature, light, and material to greater heights—and proves his dazzling experiments in glass and heat are simpatico with Wright’s philosophy of design in harmony with the land.
Until November 16
7. “Nilufar and Tivioli: Translations” at Le Victor Palace | Monte Carlo
For their second collaboration, gallerist Nina Yashar and designer Clemente Tivilio transform Le Victor Palace into a nearly 4,000-square-foot labyrinth of nine immersive rooms that combine art, fashion, and collectible design. Here, they unite vintage icons by Lucio Fontana and Fernand Léger with contemporary works by Objects of Common Interest, Andrea Mancuso, and Christian Pellizzari. Each mise-en-scène sparks a dialogue between historic and contemporary works through careful pairings of materials, colors, and forms. The pieces on view—ranging from Augustas Serapinas’s introspective installations and Gabriella Crespi’s vintage furniture to Roberto Sironi’s marble Aphanès series—reflect an overarching focus on transformation and reinterpretation, especially of artistic language across eras and mediums.
November 6–30
8. “Benoît Viaene & Katrien Doms: A Serene Dialogue of Matter” at Objects With Narratives | Brussels
Architect and designer Benoît Viaene and sculptor Katrien Doms present a shared exploration of raw material and process that brings their distinct practices into a dynamic conversation through works shaped by time, gesture, and elemental forces. Viaene’s wood and stone furnishings, which seem brushed with a silky patina, reveal his architectural rigor through careful construction and an emphasis on material authenticity. Doms shapes wood outdoors using fire and heat, allowing natural conditions to guide the outcome of each piece. Together, their works demonstrate how physical engagement with material can lead to new expressions of texture and structure within contemporary craftsmanship.
Until February 7, 2026