Cristina Grajales

Magistral Cabinet By Designer Sebastian Errazuriz (Represented By Cristina Grajales Gallery)

Cristina Grajales Gallery has an incredible display of work at Design Miami/ this year. Cristina recently sat down with Cultured magazine to discuss her first 10 years in the business and where she sees the next 10 going. Here’s what they discussed.

Who will you be showing at Design Miami/ this December?

We have new pieces by Suzanne Tick—whom we showed for the first time in Basel—and new work by Sebastian Errazuriz and Ross Bleckner.

When planning an exhibition, do you have an exact idea of what you’ll be showing?

I kind of have an idea, but I want to be open if something new shows up; I like to leave room to improvise.

Is that your way in general?

Kind of… I have a general idea because the shipping and logistics have to be done in advance. You have to have options. Plan A, B—and maybe C.

Tell us about your relationship with the designers.

It’s the most fun. The best part is the dialogue between the artist and the galleries. I love visiting the studios, preparing for an exhibition, developing the idea—the entire curatorial process. Helping them fulfill a dream by producing a piece, putting it an exhibition.

Cristina Grajales

What attracts you to a designer?

The work has to be exciting and creative. It’s about the craftsmanship. And most of all, the thought behind the piece. Why are they making this? What’s the idea? Where are they going?

And where does the client come into play in the process of curating a show?

If I were very rich I could do an exhibition based only on ideas… but you have to
create the balance between creativity and commercialism.

How has your gallery evolved over the last 10 years?

I was an adviser for 20th century collections. Through my reputation, all of these artists began to ask me to represent them. I was scared in the beginning because it was a very different way of doing business.

The artists are the ones who changed my life and changed my gallery and pushed me in a direction I never knew I was going to go… So there’s that element of improvisation.

And now the clients you advised turn to you to introduce them to new design.

Yes, exactly. It’s about how to bring their 20th century collection into the 21st century. It’s my philosophy. To be interesting and alive, you have to consider the period you’re living in.

Do you think that’s the direction of collectible design?

Yes, I think that’s what’s interesting. And, I think if Perriand and all of those people were alive, they would be fascinated by the technology. They’d be looking to new materials. It’s interesting because it keeps your collection and mind fresh. Always moving forward.

This article by Tali Jaffe was originally published in Cultured magazine’s December 2011 Design Miami/ issue. To view the magazine in its entirety, please visit www.cultureddigital.com.