MAISON PALO

Palo Gallery presents Maison Palo, an exhibition that uncovers the history and nature of collecting through four distinct avenues, inviting visitors to investigate the art of collecting. A joint curatorial endeavour between journalist Sophia Herring and Palo Gallery founder Paul Henkel, Maison Palo aims to transform the gallery through a distinct, domestic atmosphere. Rather than isolating artworks within a traditional white cube space, Maison Palo reveals the ways in which people actually live with their collections, celebrating the art, togetherness, and storytelling behind the act of collecting.

The exhibition is organized through four themed rooms, each representing a unique type of collector profile: the Emerging Collector, the Encyclopaedic Collector, the Textile Collector, and the Thematic Collector. Using a carefully curated selection of modern and contemporary art, design objects, and furniture by Annabelle Selldorf’s Vica brand, each room will immerse visitors in a rich tapestry of domestic collecting practices. Through the coalescence of interior elements, including furniture and art, Maison Palo explores these four types of collecting through four distinct rooms. The foyer represents the Emerging Collector; the study embodies the Encyclopaedic Collector; the living room is emblematic of the Textile Collector; and the dining room embraces the Thematic Collector.

The entry point to the exhibition, designed as the foyer, represents the taste of the Emerging Collector. The foyer presents works by emerging artists such as Lorenzo Amos, Kitty Rice, Keith Tolch, Rachel Wolf, and Monsieur Zohore, This space aims to highlight the visionary nature of emerging collectors who forge their own path, championing young artists and looking towards the future with excitement and passion.

The study, the second room in Maison Palo, highlights the centuries-old form of encyclopaedic collecting. This space explores the earliest forms of art collecting, combining curiosities, art, and antiques. Reflecting on the historical context and the impact of encyclopaedic collecting on today’s largest art institutions, the study presents historically collected works alongside contemporary artists who critique and reinterpret this collecting practice and its colonial implications. In the study, a porcelain axe made by Nicolas Galanin is displayed alongside a wooden mask by Yinka Shonibare, amongst other striking objects.

Exploring further into the exhibition viewers encounter the third room, that of the Textile Collector, staged as a living room. Highlights include Tar 2, a painted story quilt by celebrated artist Faith Ringgold, and a celestial fiber weaving by Alexander Calder. The Textile Collector celebrates a re-evaluation within the contemporary art world which has come to recognize the significant contributions of textile-based artworks. From historical milestones to contemporary rising stars, this room shines a spotlight on the rich history of textile art, championing the artists who have been overlooked in the past and the collectors who covet their medium.

Lastly, staged in the format of a dining room, the Thematic Collector focuses on the concept of building cohesive collections around specified themes. Visitors will encounter a curated collection focused on the motif of the hand, a symbol of creative power and complexity in art history. Showcasing artworks from different periods and styles, including works by Judy Chicago and Georg Baselitz, the dining room offers an exciting comparative study, providing new insights into the depiction of hands in art.

Maison Palo serves as a conceptual exploration of the how and why people collect art. By celebrating the passion, creativity, and stories behind collecting, the gallery aims to move away from the commercial goals that have often overshadowed the true essence of this timeless practice.