The inaugural edition of the Collective Design Fair, Collective.1, will celebrate design connoisseurship and collecting, drawing upon the vitality and creativity of New York as a center for design and innovation.

Steven Learner

From May 8 – 11, some of the city’s most notable curators, collectors and designers will move into the 70,000sf Pier 57, which has been designed by Steven Learner Studio. “The idea is that the space will unfold somewhat cinematically,” Learner says. “It represents a departure from the traditional sealed-box setting.”

An impressive roster of exhibitors include: 21st twenty first Gallery (New York), Casati Gallery (Chicago), Cristina Grajales Gallery (New York), Demish Danant (New York), Grey Area (New York), J. Lohmann Gallery (New York), Jousse Entreprise (Paris, France), kinder MODERN (New York), Lost City Arts (New York), Magen H. Gallery (New York), Maison Gerard (New York), Mark McDonald (Hudson, NY), Modernity (Stockholm, Sweden), Mondo Cane (New York) Nicolas Kilner (New York), Ornamentum (Hudson, NY), R20th Century (New York), Sebastian + Barquet (New York), Sienna Patti Contemporary (Lenox, MA), Southern Guild (Johannesburg, South Africa), Todd Merrill 20th Century and Contemporary Studio (New York), Volume Gallery (Chicago), Wexler Gallery (Philadelphia).

Collective Design Council members

The Collective Design Council members include Diane Ackerman, Jonathan Adler, Kelly Behun, Sabrina Buell, Muriel Brandolini, Michael Bruno, Eleanor Cayre, Robert Couturier, Jamie Drake, Aaron Fleischman, Lin Lougheed, Brad Ford, Steven Gambrel, Julie Gilhart, Victoria Hagan, Tyler Hays, Rachelle Hruska and, Sean MacPherson, Anthony Ingrao, Jack Kelly, Mary and Sean Kelly, Delphine Krakoff, Tom Kundig, Patrick Li, David Mann, Iris Marden, Julianne Moore, Michele Oka Doner, Thomas Phifer, Russell Piccione, Rodman Primack, Adam Rapoport, Pavia Rosati and Ben Schott, Jennifer Rubell, Dan Rubinstein, Margaret Russell, Lisa Spellman, Robert Stilin, Emily Summers, Fern Tessler, Steven Volpe, Alan Wanzenberg, Madeline Weinrib and James Zemaitis.

Collective .1 will present the first exhibition of Gaetano Pesce’s design work in New York City in more than 25 years. Work on view at Collective. 1 has been selected directly from Pesce’s studio and personal archives to reveal his process through sketches, models and prototypes. The show is curated by Daniella Ohad, a renowned independent curator and long-time friend of the artist’s.

“For over 50 years, I have firmly believed that, if objects expressed values that were not exclusively utilitarian and that if the so-called work of art revealed its own functionality, as it did in the past, then the frontiers of artistic expression would open up to new territories, eliminating the barriers separating the various creative media and enriching the entire culture,” said Pesce.

The fair has also commissioned New York-based artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz to create one of his signature functional sculptures for the entry of the new fair. Errazuriz decided to create an interactive piece that could receive visitors with his characteristic layering of humor, wit and thoughtfulness. The BLOW ME fan makes a reference to the always-escalating expectation of visitors and collectors to find something that impresses them and "blows them away." The nine industrial drum fans literally produce this effect for all the visitors who stand in front of the piece and press the foot pedal. The pink neon that lights up shows Errazuriz mocking the cliché of neon art that is so abundant at fairs.

Throughout the four days there will be a series of tours, book signings and “Collective Conversations,” that will take place onsite and spotlight influential ideas in the world of design. Here’s a breakdown.

"All the King's Men" by Johnny Swing

Wednesday, May 8

12:00 p.m.—Tour of Collective .1 led by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. There will be tours held each of the following days also at noon.

5:00 p.m.—Collective Conversation: Predicting the Future—young designers talk about process, production and new technologies changing the creative landscape. Moderators are Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer, editors of the online magazine Sight Unseen.

All day Wednesday, Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum members will gain free admission. All other museum members will receive a 2-for-1 admission. Valid proof of museum membership will be required at the entrance.

Thursday, May 9

2:00 p.m.—Collective Conversation: Inside The Design Market—a new perspective on trends, value and what lies ahead for collectors. Moderator is David Brody, Director of the Graduate Program in History of Decorative Arts and Design, Parsons The New School For Design.

5:00 p.m.—Book signing with Christopher Bascom Rawlins, author of Fire Island Modernist: Horace Gifford and the Architecture of Seduction (ARTBOOK/DAP).

Friday, May 10

12:00 and 1:00 p.m.—Tour of Collective .1 led by Little Collector for children ages 4 to 10. The Little Collector tours will take place at the same time on Saturday, May 11.

2:00 p.m.—Book signing with Jeffrey Head, author of Paul Evans: Designer and Sculptor (Schiffer)

5:00 p.m.—Collective Conversation: Obsessed — Collecting in the 21st Century

moderated by Anthony Barzilay Freund, Editor in Chief/Director Fine Art at 1stdibs.com.

7:00 p.m.—Collective Conversation: In Dialogue designer Gaetano Pesce and curator Daniella Ohad.

Vessel by Sandra Davolio

Access to tours, book signings and Collective Conversations are included in the Collective .1 admission. Tours require pre-registration; same-day openings will be made available at the admissions desk. Tours for adults and children will depart from the Event Lounge. The Lounge will also be the site of all book signings and Collective Conversations.

More detailed information for all of Collective.1’s programming is available here.

The fair takes place at Hudson River Park’s Pier 57, West Side Highway at 15th Street. Hours are Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Friday, May 10 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 11 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.