The Shape of Elegance with Thierry Lemaire
From the historic interiors of the Élysée Palace to his sculptural furniture creations, French designer Thierry Lemaire has built a practice where architecture, craftsmanship and decorative arts exist in constant dialogue. As his work arrives in Dubai through V-Gallery, he reflects on the importance of balance, creative exchange and an unmistakably French approach to design.
Within the gilded interiors of Paris's Élysée Palace, contemporary furniture finds itself in conversation with centuries of history. It is an interesting setting for the work of Thierry Lemaire, an instinctive sense of balance, where contemporary expression and architectural harmony come together naturally. Commissioned by France's Mobilier National to furnish several rooms, including the presidential office, the designer approached the project with the sensitivity that has come to characterise his work: balancing contemporary expression with a deep respect for the architecture and history of its surroundings.
Trained in architecture in Paris, Lemaire gradually expanded his practice into interior decoration and furniture design, developing a creative language rooted in the tradition of French decorative arts. His work has since reached an international audience through furniture collections for Fendi Casa and pieces selected by Dior for its boutiques and showrooms, alongside private residences and architectural projects across the world.
"I studied architecture in Paris and initially worked as an independent architect," he recalls. "The various crises in the French real estate sector gradually led me to develop my activity towards interior architecture, decoration, and eventually furniture design and publishing."
Today, moving between these disciplines allows him to approach a project in its entirety, maintaining a sense of coherence from the architecture of a room to the furniture that inhabits it.
"I believe a project should be original yet balanced," he explains. "This approach requires a good knowledge of materials, craftspeople, and the history of furniture, while striving to remain elegant and logical."
There is something particularly compelling about this philosophy when considered alongside the character of his creations. Generous proportions, sculptural silhouettes and expressive materials give his furniture a remarkable presence, yet his approach is grounded in restraint and an appreciation for the relationship between form, function and space.
His encounters with clients and collectors have also played an important role in shaping that perspective. From his work with Madame Macron to a haute couture project with Stéphane Rolland in Abu Dhabi, each collaboration has introduced new experiences and ways of thinking.
"My clients are all collectors or passionate connoisseurs, each with their own distinct interests and areas of expertise, continually broadening my horizons and nurturing my curiosity," he shares.
That curiosity extends to the craftspeople whose expertise makes his designs possible. Working with cabinetmakers, bronze artisans, ceramicists and marble specialists, Lemaire approaches craftsmanship as an exchange of knowledge rather than simply the execution of an existing idea.
"We could not create exceptional contemporary furniture without the knowledge and guidance of skilled craftspeople. Without them, there would be no evolution or refinement in our work. It is through the exchange of expertise and original ideas that we inspire and stimulate one another."
For Lemaire, these relationships often begin through travel and the discovery of different cultural traditions. Encounters with artisans and their techniques enrich his understanding of materials, introducing possibilities that continue to inform the development of his furniture.
"In my travels abroad, I seek to discover local design traditions and engage with the artisans who embody them," he explains. "These encounters enrich my work, bringing a distinctive dimension to each project through the exploration of different techniques and craftsmanship."
It is this combination of a strong creative identity and an openness to new influences that now finds expression in Dubai, where Lemaire's furniture will be presented through the opening of V-Gallery.
Thierry Lemaire's KAALA Armchair, pictured alongside its production process, revealing the craftsmanship and meticulous metalwork behind its patinated steel structure.
The collaboration builds on an existing relationship with the gallery's founder, Valeriya, and a shared appreciation for design, craftsmanship and the individuality of collectible objects. For Lemaire, whose work has long moved between international settings, the partnership represents an opportunity to establish a closer relationship with the Middle Eastern design community.
"Having previously collaborated with the founder of V-Gallery, we share the same vision of design and creation," he explains.
The selection offers an introduction to the different dimensions of Lemaire's creative language. The Kalb B Desk, with its elongated silhouette and fluid curves, expresses an architectural approach to furniture, while the Niko Sofa explores a softer sculptural language through generous, rounded volumes. Elsewhere, the Yaba Coffee Tables bring the natural character of timber to the foreground, their substantial forms suggesting a dialogue between material, craftsmanship and the beauty of irregularity.
Together, these pieces reveal the breadth of a practice in which different materials and forms coexist through a common understanding of proportion and balance. Their presentation also reflects the close creative relationship between Lemaire and V-Gallery, whose shared sensibility guided the selection.
"The collaboration was made all the more seamless by our shared sensibility and a common understanding of the codes of creation and aesthetics," he shares.
There is an interesting relationship between Lemaire's approach to complete interiors and the more individual experience of encountering furniture within a gallery. Removed from the context of a private residence, each object invites closer consideration of its proportions, materiality and construction. The pieces become expressions of craftsmanship in their own right, while retaining the possibility of belonging to a larger architectural composition.
For visitors to V-Gallery, Lemaire hopes the presentation will offer an encounter with a design language that feels both personal and distinctly French.
"Visitors will discover a singular universe, offering a perspective that differs from what is generally found on the international market. A distinctly elegant and refined French signature that I hope will appeal to the discerning enthusiasts and collectors who form an integral part of V-Gallery's clientele."
As V-Gallery opens its doors in Dubai, the presentation offers a new setting for a practice that has travelled between architecture, decorative arts and collectible furniture. Yet beyond the different disciplines and destinations lies a consistent conviction: that originality finds its greatest expression through knowledge, collaboration and balance.
For Thierry Lemaire, the most compelling creations are never simply individual objects, but part of an ongoing conversation between the designer, the craftspeople who bring his vision to life and the spaces in which their work ultimately belongs.
Find V-Gallery during the next edition of Nomad Circle Abu Dhabi.
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