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Overview
François Salem was born in Paris and raised in Switzerland. He returned to Paris as a teenager to study fashion design at prestigious private training institute Studio Berçot before spending seven years traveling in Asia, where he created his own collection inspired by the work of local artisans. After a final year abroad in New York, he arrived back in Paris, initially working as a costume and set designer for theater and opera prior to becoming a stylist for films and photo shoots. He discovered his passion for ceramics during a long summer in Anjou in the Loire Valley, and began by making vases and bowls. Salem quickly gained notoriety for his bold and refined pieces, which now range from large decorative amphorae and dynamic consoles, to sculptural lighting, tables and mirrors. Many of his hand-crafted works are inspired by life from the depths of the ocean, materialized by opalescent glazes which give a poetic lightness to utilitarian objects. Geometric grids and dimensional shapes suffuse his one of a kind objects, striking a balance between tactility and visual interest. Salem’s sensitive eye for proportion, distinctive glazing technique and muted color palette commingle effortlessly in the pearly textures and surfaces of his unmistakable ceramics. Salem’s work has been profiled in numerous publications including Sight Unseen, Luxury, Interiors and Maison Creative in France, where he currently lives and works.
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Selected Artworks
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François SalemVoile Lamp, 2017
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François SalemPair of Lamps I, 2024
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François SalemMur Lamp, 2017
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François SalemPair of Sconces I, 2024
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François SalemCailloux Table, 2020
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François SalemPair of Lamps II, 2024
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François Salem, Galets Side Table, 2011
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François SalemPair of Lamps III, 2024
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François SalemToro Lamp, 2017
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François SalemDrops Table, 2020
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François SalemUmbrella Holder Lamp, 2017
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François SalemPair of Galets Sconces, 2019
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François SalemPetals Floor Lamp, 2017
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François SalemOval Tables, 2020
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François SalemRubans Lamp, 2017
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François SalemCatamaran Sconces, 2015
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Exhibitions
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Group Show | Summer 2024
ON VIEW July 16 - October 31, 2024 -
Group Show | A Year Around the Sun
April 22, 2021 - July 30, 2022A Year Around The Sun, an invigorating selection of rare, unique, and limited edition designs brought together in the first gallery exhibition of the new year. Finding inspiration in the... -
Group Show | French Connection
March 2 - May 29, 2020Twenty First is pleased to present an exclusive group exhibition curated by world-renowned architect and decorator Robert Couturier. Admired for his command of fine art and design, Robert Couturier will...
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Fairs
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Design Miami
December 5 - 10, 2023 -
The Salon Art+Design
November 10 - 14, 2022 -
The Salon Art+Design
November 14 - 18, 2019NEW YORK – Nov. 14 – Twenty First Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in the Salon Art + Design Fair taking place at the Park Avenue Armory in... -
The Salon Art+Design
November 8 - 12, 2018NEW YORK – Nov. 8 – Twenty First Gallery presents Golden Eye, a curation of contemporary works spotlighting the power of gold at The Salon Art + Design, Booth D13... -
The Salon Art+Design
November 2 - 13, 2017“Every November The Salon Art + Design welcomes the world’s finest international galleries exhibiting historical, modern and contemporary furniture, groundbreaking design and late 19th through 21st century art. Visitors will... -
Collective III
May 13 - 17, 2015The Collective Design fair is a commercial and educational platform highlighting curated works from a global roster of galleries alongside rich and varied programming. Emerging and established galleries often exhibit... -
Collective I
May 8 - 11, 2013The Collective Design fair is a commercial and educational platform highlighting curated works from a global roster of galleries alongside rich and varied programming. Emerging and established galleries often exhibit...
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Press
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11 Must-See at Miami Art Week
December 4, 2023Every December, Miami transforms into the art capital of the world as global collectors and design connoisseurs descend onto the sunny South Florida city. Miami Art Week plays host to... -
5 Must-See Collectible Design Shows Around the World in April 2023
April 9, 2023“Inscape” at Twenty First Gallery | New York The latest exhibition at Renaud Vuaillat’s Twenty First Gallery in Manhattan shines a spotlight on the magic of creative instinct, the powerful... -
Wendy Goodman: Inside the City's Most Exciting Homes & Design Studios
March 3, 2020French Design in Tribeca On March 10, Twenty First Gallery began presenting French Connection, a group exhibition curated by architect Robert Couturier, in collaboration with the gallery's founder Renaud Vuaillat.... -
Sight Unseen: Saturday Selects
March 20, 2020A weekly Saturday recap to share with you our favorite links, discoveries, exhibitions, and more from the past seven days. This week: a scathing takedown of the millenial aesthetic, the...
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