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COLLECTIBLE: How did you get into contemporary collectible design, and why did you start your gallery?

SM Bureau: My interest in collectible design grew naturally out of my work in interior architecture. I have always been drawn to objects that carry a strong artistic identity — pieces that go beyond their function and establish a particular relationship with the space around them.

Over time, this interest developed into a desire to create a platform where such works could be presented and experienced independently of an interior project. I founded SM Bureau in Paris as a space for dialogue between contemporary design, art and craftsmanship, bringing together practices that share a sensitivity to materials, form and expression.

C: How would you describe your gallery's point of view?

SMB: SM Bureau explores the space between art, design and craftsmanship, with a particular interest in materiality and the expressive potential of objects.

Our approach is intuitive rather than defined by a particular style or discipline. We are interested in works that reveal something about the material they are made from, the process behind them and the individual language of their creator.

We see collectible design not simply as a category of objects, but as a field of artistic expression, where function can coexist with experimentation and sculptural presence.

C: What are the key questions you ask yourself when developing an exhibition or presentation?

SMB: I usually begin with a feeling, an observation or a question rather than a predetermined selection of objects.

I am interested in how different artistic practices can enter into dialogue, sometimes through shared approaches to materials and sometimes through contrast. What happens when works with very different origins and techniques occupy the same space? What relationships emerge between their forms, textures and proportions?

My background in interior architecture also influences the way I approach exhibitions. Space is never simply a neutral backdrop; it becomes part of the conversation between the works and the viewer.

C: Can you introduce the designers and works you are presenting at COLLECTIBLE New York this year?

SMB: For COLLECTIBLE New York, SM Bureau presents Echoes of Matter, bringing together artists and designers whose practices explore the relationship between material, form and artistic expression.

The presentation includes sculptural furniture by Studio Torbina and Jörg Koziol, ceramic works by Ulrike Zerzer and Johanna Meyer, and works by Thomas Junghans, AB+AC, Anaïs Vindel, among others.

Moving between functional objects and autonomous artworks, the selection reflects our interest in different approaches to making, from traditional craftsmanship to experimental processes, and in the dialogue that emerges between them.

C: What connects the works in your presentation?

SMB: Our presentation, Echoes of Matter, explores the ways materials retain traces of transformation, gesture and time. Bringing together contemporary designers and artists working across different disciplines, the exhibition considers material not merely as a medium, but as an active element of artistic expression. Wood, metal, ceramics and other materials take on unexpected forms, moving between functionality and sculpture, precision and spontaneity. Despite their different approaches, the works share an interest in the physical and emotional qualities of matter. Together, they create a dialogue between distinct artistic languages, connected through material exploration.

C: What have you been working on recently, and what upcoming projects or exhibitions would you like to highlight?

SMB: This autumn, SM Bureau presented Silent Structures in Paris, an exhibition exploring the relationship between material, form and the quiet presence of objects.

Our participation in COLLECTIBLE New York introduces Echoes of Matter, a new chapter in this ongoing exploration. The presentation also anticipates our upcoming winter exhibition in Paris, where the dialogue will continue through an expanded selection of works and artistic practices.

I see these exhibitions as connected moments in a broader curatorial journey, allowing ideas to evolve through different spaces, contexts and encounters.

About SM Bureau

SM Bureau is a Paris-based gallery dedicated to contemporary collectible design, founded by interior architect Aleksandra Smetanina.

Located in the heart of Paris, the gallery brings together emerging and established international artists and designers whose practices move between collectible design, sculpture, craft and architecture.

With a particular focus on material research, craftsmanship and spatial presence, SM Bureau presents works in which material is not simply a medium, but an active part of the creative process. Through exhibitions, curated presentations and collaborations, the gallery explores the relationship between object, body and space, and the ways contemporary design can extend beyond function to become a form of artistic expression.

Alongside its Paris programme, SM Bureau develops projects internationally, creating dialogues between different practices, cultures and approaches to making.