Untold Editions: A New Artist-Led Gallery Model Emerges in New York

Galleries

12 Jun

Written By Anca Enica

**people • brand**

In New York's Chelsea district, Untold Editions introduces a new artist-led approach to collectible design. Founded by Samantha Gallacher of Art + Loom and Andreea Avram Rusu of Avram Rusu Studio, the gallery brings together furniture, lighting, textiles and objects within an intimate residential setting, where craftsmanship, materiality and authorship take centre stage.
Conceived as a platform for direct dialogue between makers and collectors, Untold Editions presents works by Franck Genser, Manifeste Edition, Virginia Arlotto and others alongside pieces by its founders. In conversation with Designeers, Samantha Gallacher reflects on the evolving role of the gallery, the emotional value of objects, and the growing appetite for collectible design shaped by story, provenance and craft.

Words: designeers
JUNE 2026

WEBSITE: untoldeditions.com
INSTAGRAM: @untold.editions

DESIGNEERS

What felt fundamentally missing in the conventional gallery model that led you to create something different?

Samantha Gallacher

I don’t think there was necessarily something fundamentally missing in the conventional gallery model. For me, it was more about wanting to build a gallery from the perspective of a maker, thinking about how I would want work to be shown, experienced, and contextualised, and which other makers I’d want to be in dialogue with.

We wanted to create a space that felt more uninhibited creatively, where pricing structures and traditional gallery representation rules didn’t dictate the conversation or limit experimentation. It was important to us that the work could exist more organically, and that artists and makers felt a sense of freedom in how they presented themselves and collaborated with one another.

DESIGNEERS

How important is it for designers today to retain control over how their work is presented and contextualised?

Samantha Gallacher

I think it’s incredibly important because designers are creating much more than standalone objects. They’re building atmospheres, emotional experiences, and narratives through materiality, light, and composition. Allowing creators to shape that context leads to a more honest presentation of the work and helps preserve the integrity of the original vision.

DESIGNEERS

You’ve described Untold Editions as reflecting how people live with design rather than simply display it. How does that idea translate within the space?

Samantha Gallacher

We wanted Untold Editions to feel less like a traditional showroom and more like a lived environment. The space includes an actual living room, dining room, and smaller niches where artful furniture and objects can exist in conversation with one another.

For us, it was important that clients could see how pieces and artists could be paired together in a real, intimate way and how design actually lives within a home rather than being isolated on a pedestal. That approach makes the experience feel more personal and approachable, and it allows people to imagine how they might truly live with these works every day.

DESIGNEERS

Untold Editions brings together furniture, lighting, textiles, and objects in a cohesive way. Do you see collectible design becoming increasingly interdisciplinary?

Samantha Gallacher

Absolutely. I think contemporary design is moving toward a much more interdisciplinary approach where the boundaries between art, interiors, collectible design, and craftsmanship are becoming increasingly fluid. People are interested in complete environments and layered experiences rather than focusing on one category in isolation, and that’s very much reflected in how we conceived Untold Editions.

DESIGNEERS

How has the profile and mindset of the design collector evolved in recent years?

Samantha Gallacher

Collectors today are much more informed and intentional. There’s a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship, artisanal production, and material integrity, as well as a growing interest in understanding the story and process behind the work. I also think people are looking for pieces that feel emotionally resonant and highly personal rather than purely decorative.

“We wanted Untold Editions to feel less like a traditional showroom and more like a lived environment, where artful furniture and objects can exist in conversation with one another.”

Samantha Gallacher

DESIGNEERS

What has been most interesting or unexpected about collaborating with Andreea Avram Rusu on a shared curatorial vision?

Samantha Gallacher

What’s been most rewarding is how naturally our perspectives complement one another despite coming from different disciplines. We both share a strong sensitivity toward materiality, atmosphere, and craftsmanship, but we each bring a different lens to the conversation. That creative dialogue has really shaped the identity of the space in an organic way.

DESIGNEeRS

Untold Editions feels like more than a gallery, almost a cultural platform. Do you see it evolving into a broader ecosystem beyond exhibitions?

Samantha Gallacher

Yes, definitely. From the beginning, we envisioned Untold Editions as a living platform rather than a static gallery model. We see opportunities for collaborations, installations, special projects, conversations, and different forms of creative exchange that extend beyond exhibitions alone. The goal is to build an evolving ecosystem that supports meaningful dialogue across disciplines.

DESIGNEERS

Why was New York the right place to launch this model at this moment?

Samantha Gallacher

New York felt like the natural place because it has such a strong intersection of art, architecture, fashion, design, and culture. There’s an openness here to new creative models and a very engaged community of collectors, designers, and cultural thinkers. It also felt like the right moment for a more intimate and maker-led approach to design presentation.

DESIGNEeRS

The term collectible design is widely used today, what does it truly mean to you?

Samantha Gallacher

For me, it’s really about intention, authorship, and emotional value. It’s about pieces that carry a strong artistic point of view while still functioning within everyday life. At the same time, I think the term can sometimes become limiting or overused, which is why we often speak more about works that merge art with function or about functional art rather than trying to define everything too rigidly.

DESIGNEERS

Looking ahead, what does success for Untold Editions look like in the next three years?

Samantha Gallacher

Success for us means continuing to build a thoughtful platform with a strong curatorial identity while fostering deeper relationships between designers, collectors, and the broader creative community.

Above all, we want Untold Editions to grow organically while preserving the intimacy, material sensitivity and sense of curiosity that define the space today.