Galerie Philia brings sustainable design education to Brazil with Philia & Kids III

Galerie Philia unveils the third chapter of its philanthropic program, Philia & Kids, an initiative that connects children with contemporary design through hands-on workshops and meaningful collaboration with professional contemporary designers. Conceived by Ygaël Attali, founder and artistic director of Galerie Philia , the program explores how design can serve as a bridge between creativity, education and environmental responsibility.

“For this new chapter, PHILIA partners with Brazilian designer Gisela Simas, working with 4th and 5th-grade students from underserved communities and underprivileged neighbourhoods in Petrópolis through the Alcobaça parish school, in partnership with the local organisation SOS SERRA,” the sculptural design and art gallery notes in the official release.

This edition of the initiative unfolded over several months, encouraging students to investigate the links between landscape, material and form. The children began by observing their natural surroundings. Visits to Marambaia Farm offered direct exposure to organic structures and textures found in nature. These observations were then translated into drawings of imagined furniture designs. The raw material for these works came from reclaimed wood collected at the COMDEP green waste centre. “Guided by Gisela Simas and supported by Master Artisans led by Guga Casari, including Thomaz Brasil, Tomé Peregrino, Cláudio, Paulo Pissurno and Vinícius César, the children’s drawings were transformed into functional and artistic design pieces crafted from reclaimed wood that would otherwise have been discarded. Each work reflects both the imagination of its young author and a broader message about sustainability, material reuse, and the creative potential of local,” the contemporary design gallery notes.

The completed works were presented at the Crystal Palace in Petrópolis from May 12 – May 15, 2026, before travelling to São Paulo. On June 2, 2026, the pieces were offered at a charity auction here, organised in collaboration with Leilão Design, alongside works by internationally recognised artists and designers invited by Galerie Philia. Each design is produced as a limited edition; if sold, additional numbered editions will be created in collaboration with the artisans. “These subsequent editions will notably be exhibited in Rio de Janeiro at the MAC Niterói from August 11 – 20, 2026, in partnership with Art Rio, offering the project a further institutional platform. All proceeds from the auction, as well as from any subsequent sale of the works, will be entirely dedicated to supporting and expanding the Philia & Kids initiative,” the gallery explains.

Beyond the current edition, the long-term vision for Philia & Kids includes creating a permanent educational space in Petrópolis, offering ongoing workshops in craft, art and design to provide sustained access to creative learning. “With Philia & Kids III, the initiative now expands its reach in Brazil, working with children from local underserved communities, and demonstrating how design can inspire new forms of learning, creativity and environmental awareness while offering young participants a meaningful introduction to the creative world,” Galerie Philia elaborates.