kreo: Icons of 21st-Century Design spotlights Galerie kreo's contemporary design legacy

For more than three decades, Galerie kreo has influenced and contributed to the language of contemporary design—and now the design gallery’s legacy comes into focus at Christie’s,  Paris, through the design exhibition, kreo: Icons of 21st-Century Design, on view from January 14 – 28, 2026. Bringing together key pieces produced over the last thirty years, the exhibition positions Galerie kreo not just as a gallery but also as a driving force in redefining the discipline since the turn of the millennium. Nearly seventy works are presented, including iconic creations by Marc Newson, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, Virgil Abloh, Pierre Charpin and Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, “pieces that have shaped and continue to define the history of contemporary design… Seen together, they form a portrait of creation and dialogue, tracing the evolution of design at the turn of the 21st century”, the show’s press release details.

Founded in 1999 by Clémence and Didier Krzentowski and now directed alongside their daughter Clara Krzentowski, Galerie kreo has earned a reputation as a laboratory for design—an environment where experimentation, risk-taking and long-term research are actively encouraged. Over the years, this approach has resulted in works that have entered the canon of contemporary design, many of which are now held in major international museum collections.

kreo: Icons of 21st-Century Design turns the spotlight firmly toward the present, presenting product designs that have already become milestones in design history and offering insight into what may define the icons of tomorrow. “As the world leader in the art, luxury and design market, Christie’s has always maintained strong relationships with the disciplines and works of all eras it has encountered since its founding in 1766,” reads the press release.

Reflecting on Galerie kreo’s influence, Newson has emphasised the pivotal role of its co-founder: “I don’t think you can really underestimate the importance of Didier. He has been instrumental in the careers of many designers, including mine, with his gallery giving us the opportunity to work outside of strictly commercial or industrial projects. In many ways, he exemplifies what is known as a patron. Didier has a freshness of vision and finds such joy in his métier—something that first struck me when I met him over 30 years ago and has not changed at all.”

This ethos of patronage has resonated deeply with both designers and collectors. From François Pinault to Marcel Brient, Azzedine Alaïa and Karl Lagerfeld—who amassed more than 250 Galerie kreo works—the gallery has long attracted figures drawn to design rooted in freedom, patience and rigorous exploration.

“kreo: Icons of 21st-Century Design pays tribute to works born of freedom, research and time—conditions increasingly rare in today’s accelerated creative landscape. By bringing them together, Christie’s Paris offers a moment to pause and reflect on design that, quietly and enduringly, has defined the present while pointing toward the future,” the press release concludes.