Galerie OM has opened in Berlin with its inaugural exhibition, "Partie Une," presenting a multi-sensory approach to collectible design. Founded by Moana Thies and Oscar Gröne, with creative direction by Julian Zacharias Eide, the gallery operates as a commission-based space rather than a traditional inventory-driven model. The exhibition spans nearly a century of design, featuring modernist icons such as Pierre Chareau, Jean Prouvé, Jean Royère, and Ettore Sottsass alongside contemporary works by Maarten Baas, Caroline Keslassy, Martin Margiela, and Fabio Novembre, as well as emerging talents like Marten H. Anderson, Lorène Cavagna, and Alex Joncas. The show integrates sound, scent, and hospitality to create an immersive environment inspired by Berlin's darker creative identity and 1970s interior styling.
This matters because Galerie OM represents a shift away from the conventional "white cube" gallery model toward a more experiential, socially engaged presentation of collectible design. By blending historical and contemporary works without chronological separation and emphasizing material honesty and emotional resonance, the gallery positions itself as a new platform that challenges purely decorative notions of design. Its commission-based structure and support for emerging practitioners signal an evolving business model in the art and design market, potentially influencing how galleries curate and sell collectible design in the future.