This is not a garden party
First London edition of Belgium is Design during PAD and Frieze London
During PAD London and Frieze London 2025, MAD Brussels and hub.brussels, under the banner of Belgium is Design, will be presenting the exhibition This is not a garden party. This exclusive group exhibition will showcase work by Brussels designers, with a focus on collectible design and functional art. On October 16th and 17th, their creations will be on display at the residence of the Belgian ambassador in London. This is not a garden party will only be accessible by appointment or through guided group visits.
The featured pieces lie at the intersection of design and art, showcasing a contemporary, conceptual, and experimental approach. Each object reflects a unique vision of design, with a particular focus on creativity and craftsmanship. With this international project, MAD Brussels and hub.brussels aim to increase the visibility of Brussels designers during one of London's most important cultural events. At the same time, they are creating new opportunities for encounters and exchanges with collectors, curators, gallery owners and other design professionals.
A sneak preview of some of the designers who will be exhibiting their work: Antoine Moulinard is a Brussels-based ceramic artist. Inspired by Art Brut, folk art and medieval imagery, he creates hybrid, expressive objects that combine function and imagination. His installations move between sculpture, furniture and a reinvented domestic environment. With humour, queer symbolism and references to craft traditions, he explores the political and emotional power of objects.
Maarten De Ceulaer studied interior design in Brussels and continued his education at the Design Academy Eindhoven. His graduation project, A Pile of Suitcases, was immediately picked up by the Nilufar gallery. Maarten is known for his evocative, poetic and playful approach to his objects. Through his work, he tells stories, evokes emotions and stimulates the imagination. He is constantly exploring new materials, techniques and craft processes. For Maarten, the emotional value of an object is just as important as its functional value. His designs have been internationally acclaimed and exhibited, and are part of both private and public collections.
French-Malagasy designer Kalo Rakoto creates custom-made wooden objects using a combination of manual and mechanical techniques. Her work is a personal interpretation of a multifaceted cultural background, shaped by a childhood in Madagascar and France, a career in fashion and luxury goods, and training in furniture making. The result is sculptural, often architectural or organic forms with influences from Brutalism and Modernism. Wood, a universal material and an essential part of her heritage, is a medium for Kalo to commemorate forms and traditions.
Abel Jallais studied the art of sculpture and drawing in Angers and obtained a master's degree in ceramics from La Cambre in Brussels in 2018. His sculptures appear to originate from another time and world: archaic and industrial, recognisable yet elusive. By manually deforming standard-looking forms, he introduces tension and alienation. The result features fictional objects with forgotten or invented purposes. In addition to his artistic practice at the collective Espace Triphasé, he teaches at the Académie Terre-Neuve and is an assistant in the ceramics department at La Cambre.
All participating designers are: Arnaud Eubelen, Abel Jallais, Æther/Mass, Andre Jacob, Antoine Moulinard, Joe Sterck, Kalo Rakoto, Maarten De Ceulaer and Vormen.
Practical information
The exhibition This is not a garden party is being held at the residence of the Belgian Ambassador in London: 36 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8QB. The exhibition is open on Thursday 16 October and Friday 17 October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment.
Images can be downloaded instantly by clicking on the images in the press release. For more information or interview requests, please contact: