Moderne Gallery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art gallery, Design gallery |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Robert Aibel |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
| Products | Ceramics, woodcraft, woodturning, glass art, metal pieces, furniture |
Moderne Gallery is a Philadelphia-based American art and design gallery specializing in 20th-century American studio craft works and furniture. Its extensive inventory includes ceramics, woodcraft, woodturning, glass art, and metal pieces.
History
Established in 1984 by Robert Aibel, Moderne Gallery originally concentrated on French Art Deco artifacts. However, following the sale of a dining set by George Nakashima in 1985, the gallery redirected its emphasis toward the Studio craft movement and became the pioneering venue to actively champion Nakashima's creations. This shift significantly contributed to Nakashima’s recognition as a leading figure in modern design of the 20th century.
In 2016, Moderne partnered with local artists and collectors to introduce a pop-up exhibition and design showroom located in the arts district of New Kensington.
By 2022, the gallery earned acclaim from The Philadelphia Inquirer as one of the premier furniture retailers in Philadelphia.
Location
Operating from 1984 until 2018 in Old City, Philadelphia, Moderne Gallery moved in 2019 to a larger 4,500-square-foot facility in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, expanding its ability to display contemporary furniture and studio craft pieces.
Artists
As a foremost dealer of Nakashima’s works, Moderne Gallery has curated numerous exhibitions dedicated to him and also showcases works by his daughter, Mira Nakashima.
Additional distinguished artists represented include:
- Eric Allen
- John Eric Byers
- John Cage
- Miriam Carpenter
- Arthur Espenet Carpenter
- Wendell Castle
- John Cederquist
- John Conver Lutz
- Zein Daouk
- Fabien Dubrunfaut
- Karima Duchamp
- David Ebner
- Wharton Esherick
- David Gilhooly
- Estelle Halper
- Dan Jackson
- Riyoo Kim
- Sam Maloof
- Emil Milan
- Jere Osgood
- Caprice Pierucci
- James Prestini
- Don Reitz
- Bob Stocksdale
- Toshiko Takaezu
- Tanaka Tomomi
- Ryo Toyonaga