Experience “At First Sight” At The A/P RoomAlserkal Avenue

As Dubai’s cultural calendar continues to evolve, At First Sight is currently on view at The A/P Room, Alserkal Avenue until 10 May, offering a considered perspective on collectible design in the region.

At a time of global uncertainty, the exhibition reflects on the enduring nature of collectible design, objects defined not by immediacy, but by their capacity to hold meaning over time. In this context, the home takes on renewed significance, not simply as a space, but as a point of stability, where objects anchor atmosphere through material, presence and intent.

Established as the region’s first platform dedicated to collectible design, The A/P Room brings together historic and contemporary works, connecting international and regional creative practices through a curatorial approach grounded in material, authorship and time.Founded by industry expert Christelle Bassila, and operating under Atelio, founded by businessman and art patron Elie Khouri, The A/P Room introduces a new way of experiencing design objects, placing emphasis on how they are encountered, understood and lived with.

At First Sight

At First Sight reflects on how collectors recognise and respond to an object, not through immediacy, but through presence.The exhibition considers how an object feels within a space, how it carries its material, and how it lingers beyond the initial encounter.

In contrast to a culture shaped by speed and image saturation, the works exist between function and contemplation, unfolding through proximity, touch and time. “At First Sight is about recognising that first intuition and trusting it enough to stay with it,” says Christelle Bassila, Founder and CEO of The A/P Room. “To collect is not only to acquire, but to learn how to see. What stays is what matters. What unfolds over time is what endures.”

Featuring works by international and regional artists and designers including Rogan Gregory, Vincent Dubourg, Andrea Branzi, Faye Toogood, Choi Byung Hoon, Jonathan Trayte, Roham Shamekh, Georges Mohasseb, Sayar &Garibe, Samuel Ross, Hamrei, Pierre Bonnefille, Victor Guedy, Jane Yang D’haene and Juliana Vasconcellos (NS Studio), alongside historic figures such as Gio Ponti, Joaquim Tenreiro, Jorge Zalszupin, José Zanine Caldas and Angelo Lelli,the exhibition brings together perspectives across generations and geographies. Sculptural, material-driven works move between abstraction and function, creating a dialogue between past and present.

At the centre of the gallery, works by Rogan Gregory in American walnut and bronze anchor the space, while Vincent Dubourg’s Insideer cabinet introduces a striking tension between form and material. These sit in dialogue with mid-century icons including Joaquim Tenreiro dining chairs, Jorge Zalszupin’sOnda bench, and Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler’s Concha armchairs.In a more intimate adjoining space, the focus shifts to quieter material relationships, with works by Faye Toogood, Andrea Branzi and Hamrei, alongside a José Zanine Caldas armchair and a bronze lamp by Carmen D’Appollonio. On the mezzanine, a cabinet by Choi Byung Hoon extends the exhibition’s contemplative tone.

Beyond their material presence, these works carry continuity, holding stories of place, process and identity, and allowing objects to move between past, present and future. In this context, collecting becomes an act of conviction rather than response, guided by clarity, craftsmanship and lasting relevance.

Since opening earlier this year and with a second space scheduled to open in Abu Dhabi in Q4 2026, The A/P Room continues to build a platform for audiences seeking to engage with design beyond trends, through works that hold lasting cultural and material value.

Exhibition Details

At First Sight– on view until 10 May 2026

The A/P Room

Warehouse 81, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

theaproom.com | @theaproom