PAD & Frieze

I went to PAD and Frieze in October with materials and making at the front of my mind. I was looking for the pieces that reward a closer look: a surface that changes with the light, an unexpected construction, or an object whose character is difficult to understand from a photograph.

PAD, in Berkeley Square, is a natural starting point for collectible design. At Galerie kreo, the presentation included work by Barber & Osgerby, Ronan Bouroullec, Doshi Levien, Jaime Hayon and Marc Newson, and I wanted to see how those objects sat together, and which ones made me stop. Adrian Sassoon and Galerie Melissa Paul were also on my route.

Frieze opens up a different set of conversations. Moving between design and art is part of the appeal: it changes what you notice. A sculptural form can suggest a new way of thinking about a vessel; a painting can send you back to a colour combination you had overlooked.

I didn’t want to leave with a list of everything. I wanted a handful of things worth looking at properly, names to follow, and ideas to bring back to the studio. These are the pieces that stayed with me.

PAD ran 13–18 October 2026 and Frieze London 14–18 October. Galerie kreo showed at booth B18 and Galerie Melissa Paul at A2.