Karl Lagerfeld's Former Monaco Villa Will Host This Major New Design Fair

The design world is getting a brand-new showcase—a traveling one, aptly named Nomad , founded by luxury brand specialist Giorgio Pace and architect and curator Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte. “The inspiration for Nomad stems from our experience in curating art and design projects,” says Pace. “Our ideas came together to achieve what we feel is a perfect balance of what a 21st-century showcase for collectible design should be, combining elements from fairs, exhibitions, travel, lifestyle, and VIP experiences.” Nomad isn’t your typical fair-style exhibition of furniture, art, and objets. Its debut event will be hosted from April 27 to 30 at La Vigie, a 1902 villa in Monaco that was restored (and lived in) by Karl Lagerfeld in the 1990s. Fifteen galleries from across the globe will take over the residence, each tasked with presenting a solo show, group exhibition, or conceptual installation in a specific part of the villa, from the bedrooms to the baths to the terrace. “When I first saw La Vigie, I was immediately drawn to its architecture, history, and dramatic location, perched on a clifftop overlooking the sea,” says Pace. “The villa provides the perfect context we had in mind for Nomad.”

“The exhibitors were selected based on the gallery curriculums and the research they have done over the past years,” says Bellavance-Lecompte. “It was important the galleries had a certain a history and diversity in terms of their content, as well as their physical locations, to create a program that represents global contemporary design.” With such a globally minded mission, where will Nomad travel next? “We have several destinations in mind, but they’re still a secret!” says Bellavance-Lecompte.

The participating galleries are as follows:

Two additional galleries will be participating in the Special Projects program: Christophe Graber, Zurich, and the Serpentine Galleries, London.