Dubai-based gallery The A/P Room has become the first UAE-founded collectible design gallery to exhibit at Design Miami Paris, presenting a selection of historical Brazilian design alongside contemporary sculptural lighting and ceramic objects.
Taking place this weekend, the presentation at the international design fair brings together works by Brazilian designers Joaquim Tenreiro, Abraham Palatnik and Branco e Preto, alongside pieces by Móveis Cantu, objects by Lebanese architect and ceramist Zein Daouk, and a new body of work by Los Angeles-based artist Rogan Gregory.
At the centre of the presentation is Gregory’s Originform, a new series of sculptural lighting developed in collaboration with The A/P Room. Informed by the artist’s interests in biology and anthropology, the biomorphic works explore the relationship between organic form and illumination. Fine fibres filter light, softening the contours of each piece and creating a luminous aura around its sculptural silhouette. The objects shift in appearance when illuminated, occupying a space between functional lighting and sculpture.
The presentation places historical and contemporary works in dialogue, exploring how form and material convey artistic intention across different periods and geographies. An intimate setting conceived by The A/P Room allows the individual pieces to retain their distinct identities while highlighting connections between the works.
Founded in Dubai and based in Alserkal Avenue, The A/P Room positions itself as a cultural bridge between the Middle East and the international collectible design community. Its participation in Design Miami Paris marks a significant step in its international development, reflecting its ambition to introduce regional talent to a wider audience while bringing global design perspectives to collectors in the Middle East.
“Paris allows us to bring our curatorial vision into a wider conversation,” says Christelle Bassila, founder of The A/P Room. “I want collectors to encounter historical and contemporary works together, and to see how distinct voices can speak to one another through form and material. It is also an opportunity to share work from the Middle East internationally and bring new perspectives back to our region.”
Elie Khouri, partner of The A/P Room, art patron and chairman of Atelio, describes the fair as an important milestone for the gallery.
“From the outset, our ambition for The A/P Room has been to build a distinctive voice in collectible design, bringing together exceptional work across periods, cultures and geographies,” he says. “Participating in Design Miami Paris marks an important step in that journey and reflects our ambition to engage with collectors and the wider design community on an international stage.
