What Makes an Object Worth Collecting? with Valeriya Gordyusheva
From an early fascination with the stories behind collectible furniture to an international career in design curation, Valeriya Gordyusheva has developed an approach in which craftsmanship, authorship and emotional connection are equally important. With the opening of V-Gallery in Dubai, she brings that perspective to a new audience.
What Makes an Object Worth Collecting? Is it the name of its creator, the rarity of its production, the craftsmanship behind it or the story it carries?
For Valeriya Gordyusheva, the question became particularly fascinating through Eileen Gray's Dragons armchair. Once part of Yves Saint Laurent's celebrated collection, the piece achieved a record-breaking price at auction in 2009. Yet beyond its extraordinary value, what intrigued her was the relationship between an object's history, its cultural significance and the circumstances that make it desirable.
The decision brought together her business experience and a growing fascination with furniture, craftsmanship and the people behind exceptional objects.
Through V-Bureau, she developed an international network of designers, manufacturers, galleries and collectors, specialising in the selection of distinctive furnishings and contemporary collectible pieces. Her approach favours objects with individuality and a compelling creative identity, recognising that authorship, originality, craftsmanship and provenance all contribute to their lasting significance.
Yet understanding what makes an object collectible is only part of the equation. For Gordyusheva, the relationship between an artwork and the environment it inhabits is equally important. The most compelling collections emerge when individual pieces respond not only to the architecture of a home, but also to the personalities, interests and experiences of those living within it.
"When it comes to collectible interior items, it is crucial to ensure that there are not too many 'kings' within a single space," she explains.
Rather than filling an interior with competing statement pieces, her approach focuses on creating moments of discovery, carefully considered compositions in which each object has the space to reveal its own character. She describes these focal points as "visual rewards", drawing the eye towards particular works while maintaining a sense of balance throughout the interior.
Beyond aesthetic harmony, however, lies something more personal: "Art and collectible design have the ability to turn a space into a true home," Gordyusheva reflects. For her, a collection can become a portrait of its owners, revealing their interests, emotions and stories through the objects they choose to live with.
It is a philosophy that finds a new expression in Dubai, where Gordyusheva is preparing to open V-Gallery. The move comes at a moment of growing interest in collectible design across the region. Gordyusheva has observed an appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship and handmade objects within the Gulf market, qualities that resonate with the region's own artisanal traditions.
To introduce the gallery, V-Gallery will present the work of French designer Thierry Lemaire, whose sculptural furniture combines architectural precision with the expertise of traditional craftspeople. Their existing creative relationship provides a starting point for the gallery's presence in Dubai, bringing a distinctive perspective on contemporary French decorative arts to the region.
For Gordyusheva, whose professional life has been shaped by discovering designers and understanding the stories behind their work, the new gallery represents another opportunity to create connections between exceptional objects and the people who encounter them.
Perhaps that is what makes collecting such a personal pursuit. Beyond rarity, reputation or material value, the pieces that stay with us are often those that change the way we look at design, becoming part of the spaces, memories and stories that define our lives. ◆
Visit V-Gallery at Al Khayat Avenue, and discover their showcase during the next edition of Nomad Circle Abu Dhabi.
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