patronage + exhibitions

Starting in 2001, Rabih Hage, architect, collector and patron, already running a successful architecture and interior design studio, embarked on a new adventure. Excited by the talents of young designers he encountered throughout the world, Hage began collecting the prototype, one-off pieces these designers had made as they explored new ideas. 

Before the phrase "design art" had become common currency, or the notion of collectible design had stirred in common consciousness, Hage recognised in these one-off pieces the seeds of a new art form. Within a year he had opened a gallery, eager to encourage young designers to persist with their vision and to share their latest conceptions with the world. 

Soon after the opening of his gallery he was commissioning new work, inviting designers to produce prototypes for limited edition production, or one-off pieces, exploring further this genre which at first he called "sculpture furniture" or "art furniture". As he puts it: "Rather than keeping secret these discoveries I made in Milan or New York or Prague, I wanted to share my special notebook with the public." 

These designers have included Paul Cocksedge, Moritz Waldemeyer, Christophe Côme, Johnny Swing, Piet Hein Eek and Matali Crasset, to name a few, who are now all well-established members of the design world.

Still today, many of these designers are at the cutting edge, producing pioneering work both for production and as single pieces. In turn, many of their one-off pieces have become hugely valuable collectors' prizes, exchanging hands at auction for many times their original purchase price.

Alongside these discoveries and support for up-and-coming talents, Hage has also helped launch the shows of little known work by major designers and artists such as Gaetano Pesce, Aki Kuroda and Andy Warhol (showcasing respectively the Alda lamp, the Flower Bench and Rain Machine: Daisy Waterfall).

Hage was also instrumental in the organisation of major shows and retrospectives such as Miró, Calder, Giacometti, Braque: Aimé Maeght and His Artists at The Royal Academy.

Hage’s pioneering online design think-tank, DeTnk, continued this work of identifying new talents while also publishing the Collectable Design Market Report, a highly anticipated analysis of auction house data on this now established market, available by special commission.

To continue this tradition of patronage and support of emerging talents and creative discoveries, we have launched the Rabih Hage Bursary for Creative Talents and Social Impact with a mission to find and support new talents in the areas of design, craft, fine art and art & design curating.