Steven Learner

STEVEN LEARNER’S AGENCY

Through his architectural practice and the Collective Design platform, Steven Learner has collaborated with a wide range of artists, studios, galleries, brands, and institutions—building synergies and fostering enduring relationships.

Expanding on this foundation, Learner has launched a consulting practice that leverages his personal approach and deep knowledge of both the design and art worlds. He works closely with studios to refine strategic goals, connects designers with collectors, firms, and media, and introduces brands to new markets worldwide.

Now based between Paris and Hong Kong, Learner continues to activate his international network, providing his clients with opportunities for commissions, direct sales, gallery representation, exhibitions, and licensing agreements across North America, Europe, and Asia.
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Get in touch to get connected.

_{© 2022 Steven Learner | Photo by Vadim Daniel}

Curatorial Projects

After years of composing a sophisticated mix of galleries, studios, and institutions at the Collective Design fair, Steven Learner is now dedicated to curatorial projects, that seamlessly blend art and design into cohesive, thought-provoking exhibitions.

Branding by TC & Friends

SÉLAVY BY DI DONNA, January 2024
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Learner was invited to create and curate a series of exhibitions for Sélavy by Di Donna, the hybrid offshoot of the storied Manhattan gallery. His inaugural show, Rock / Paper / Scissors, drew inspiration from the familiar game of chance, translating its playful spirit into a curatorial framework. The exhibition emphasized materiality and celebrated the inventive, often intricate techniques behind each work.

Sélavy by Di Donna

The presentation featured works by modern masters and contemporary artists including Alma Allen, Jean (Hans) Arp, Andrea Branzi, Tara Donovan, Jean Dubuffet, Lucio Fontana, Yayoi Kusama, Alicja Kwade, Isamu Noguchi, Rick Owens, Man Ray, Ed Ruscha, and Faye Toogood.

Frieze New York

FRIEZE NEW YORK, May 2020
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In 2020, Frieze New York invited Learner to curate its first-ever exhibition dedicated to design. Collaborating with London-based curator Libby Sellers, he developed Color and Production: From the Atom to the Void, a wide-ranging, multi-media exhibition exploring color through the lens of technological and historical developments.

It featured works by modern and contemporary artists and designers such as Anni Albers, Dan Flavin, Formafantasma, Hella Jongerius, Shiro Kuramata, Gaetano Pesce, and Ettore Sottsass. The show was realized in partnership with an international roster of leading galleries, including Friedman Benda, Bortolami, Massimo De Carlo, Sean Kelly Gallery, Galerie Kreo, Nilufar, and David Zwirner.

On The Edge

ON THE EDGE, November 2021
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For the first online exhibition hosted by the Collective Design fair, Learner curated On the Edge, a presentation of independent designers exploring balance and symmetry through furniture, ceramics, and lighting.

Christies Private Sales

Architecture & Interiors

Steven Learner’s award-winning Manhattan-based architecture and interiors studio became known for creating refined, inviting spaces for both commercial and residential clients. His practice is distinguished by a deep understanding of the aesthetic and functional considerations that enhance the experience of viewing and living with art.

Private Museum

California Residence

Pied à Terre

Upper West Side Residence

His widely published projects include the Guggenheim Museum Café, Christie’s Private Sales / Haunch of Venison, Sean Kelly Gallery, and a private museum for a major collection of modern and contemporary art.

Collective Design

COLLECTIVE DESIGN FAIR

In 2013, Learner launched the Collective Design fair, the first New York event dedicated to collectible design. The fair quickly became a groundbreaking platform, presenting international galleries such as Friedman Benda, David Gill, Jousse Enterprise, Memphis Milano, and R & Company, alongside cultural institutions including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, Design Academy Eindhoven, and The Noguchi Museum.

Working directly with iconic contemporary designers, Learner hosted Gaetano Pesce’s first New York show and presented the final exhibition of Ingo Maurer before his passing. He also commissioned immersive installations from leading studios such as Lindsey Adelman, Mattia Bonetti, Johanna Grawunder, Cody Hoyt, and Robert Stadler.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

To develop a bespoke plan that positions your studio or brand for growth and visibility, get in touch here.

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Creative Direction by Ciaraleaf Meaney & Website by Mick Wieland Design