40 Years of Moderne Gallery
- September 16, 2024
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This January, 2024 the renowned Moderne Gallery, established in 1984, will reveal another chapter in its history by moving to Olde Kensington, the newest residential and arts community in Philadelphia.
They will join the Clay Studio, Next Fab, Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design, Provenance, REStore, Crane Arts Building, Wexler Gallery, The Ray, Bahdeebahdu and The Furman Arts Initiative.
Ever the visionaries, Moderne Gallery’s co-directors Robert and Joshua Aibel have always been on the leading edge of discoveries and trends in the market for the finest works of historical and contemporary studio furniture, studio ceramics, studio metalwork, turned wood and much more. On the occasion of Moderne Gallery’s 40th anniversary, it will move to a brand new 5000 sq. ft. street level gallery within The Luxe’s stunning, new apartment complex in Olde Kensington.
Moderne Gallery (www.modernegallery.com) will be operating by appointment only during their November – January renovations, developed by Michael Gruber, Moderne Gallery’s longtime interior designer, in association with co-director Joshua Aibel. Beginning in January, 2025, Moderne Gallery will return to regular hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 – 5:00.
Forward thinking, innovation, education and an eye for fine work have built Moderne Gallery’s reputation as a pioneer in the world of studio furniture, art and antiques. In 1985, one year after opening, Moderne Gallery was the first gallery to present George Nakashima’s work and largely contributed to building the secondary market for his furniture. Today Moderne Gallery houses the largest and finest collection of Nakashima’s 1940’s-1980’s designs and is known nationally and internationally as “the” premiere gallery for George Nakashima.
Moderne Gallery is also renowned as the primary gallery specializing in American Studio Craft Furniture; work by Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof, Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Tage Frid, David Ebner, Wendell Castle, Daniel Jackson, John Eric Byers, Miriam Carpenter and others. In addition, Moderne Gallery continually showcases fine and important American and Japanese ceramics such as work by Tanaka Tomomi, Hashimoto Tomonari, Riyoo Kim, Peter Callas, Peter Voulkos, Toshiko Takaezu, Estelle Halper, Ira Winarsky, turned wood by artists Edward Moulthrop, William Hunter and Bob Stocksdale and the transformative metal work of L. Brent Kington.
Joshua Aibel has had a deep-rooted connection to the furniture and art in which Moderne Gallery specializes. Joshua was raised amidst a culture of artistic excellence and has honed his eye through a lifetime of immersion in this field. He will continue the Gallery’s history and advance its presentation of 20th and 21st century design. “We see our move to the North American Street Corridor as an opportunity to be part of an exciting new setting that will be a comprehensive, easily accessible neighborhood for high end design, art, and antiques in our region,” says Joshua Aibel. “This new location brings a refreshing change that we hope will transform the way collectors and designers interact with the gallery and offer artists an increased platform for exhibiting their work. We intend to build the Philadelphia community by welcoming collectors, designers, artists and the curious minded into our world.”
What began with Robert Aibel’s interest in antiques and art as a form of communication grew into a highly respected and successful 20th century decorative arts gallery with a reputation for excellence, enthusiasm and participation in the decorative arts community.
Robert Aibel served on the board of Collab the 20th and 21st Century Decorative Arts and Design Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1987-2024. He was a professor at The University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University from 1984-1992, lectured and participated in national design panels, and hosted numerous special exhibitions at Moderne Gallery and elsewhere that were both educational and visually compelling. As president of the Old City Arts Association in 1991, he helped to develop the First Friday gallery crawls and in 2018 was a founding member of the Philadelphia Design District in Old City. He has served as a member of the George Nakashima Advisory Board since 2012. Following in what has become a family tradition of service to the arts, Joshua was asked to join and currently serves on the Executive Board as secretary of the Museum for Art in Wood.