et galerie
\ e ɡal.ʁi \
LUCE et studio announces a new venture that expands our passion for architecture, craft, and design. Our dedication to artistry, in its widest forms, has flourished through meaningful collaborations with artists, artisans, and visionary makers. et galerie, brings forth a curated collection of objects, furniture, and works that transcend traditional definitions of art, blurring the lines between craft, design, and creative expression. It is a privilege to showcase the diversity of exceptional artists, each selected for their profound ability to weave narratives of craft, culture, and human connection into their work.
//Inaugural Exhibition
Join us for the inaugural exhibition Counter Currents at et galerie by renowned artist Claudy Jongstra. Experience her visionary textile artworks blending artistry and ecology on Thursday, March 13th, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
//Contact
For inquiries about et galerie, collaborations, or to explore the collection, we welcome you to connect with us. Let us share the stories behind these exceptional works and the artists who craft them.
Inaugural Exhibition
March 13 - May 15, 2025
Reception: Thursday March 13th 6:00-9:00 PM
Counter Currents
Claudy Jongstra
Claudy Jongstra
Claudy Jongstra’s studio works as a completely sustainable art practice and has done so for over 30 years. The studios are located close to the biodynamic farm that Claudy runs together with her partner Claudia Busson in the Netherlands. All materials the studio works with are 100% natural, sourced from regenerative farms. All pigments are non-toxic and of the highest quality.
The studio & small holding operate completely autonomously and play an important role in connecting rural communities with an international educational network.
In Claudy’s words: “My works of art not only provide an aesthetic experience, they also carry an additional layer of sophistication and tactility to the spaces they occupy. The organic woolen fibers and the wholesome palette of pigments from ancient dyer crops have comforting, soothing and acoustic properties. Every assignment that I can realize, and every project created in my artistic practice also contribute to my alternative goals, focusing on regenerative agriculture, enhancement of biodiversity and the transfer of knowledge and technical experience to younger generations of artists, artisans, architects and farmers.”
Claudy Jongstra’s website gives an extensive insight into the working practice and mission.
Truth and Beauty in Black’ is a permanent art installation by Claudy Jongstra for the Mingei International Museum , reimagined by Luce et studio architects. The 36-by-5-foot artwork is a warm and contemporary element that provides acoustic benefits through the natural sound-dampening properties of wool.
At first glance, the artwork appears completely monotone black, but with closer examination, intensely rich variations begin to reveal themselves.
The effect of this prestigious, symbolic, and complex range of pre-modern black colours was developed and perfected by master dyers in the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands (c. 1430s-1580s). The famous intensity of Burgundian Black fabrics and their sophisticated production processes engaged all the senses.
Studio Claudy Jongstra, with more than 20 years of experience working with natural dye—from the cultivation of rare, historical pigment plants to the creation of botanical colour palettes of her signature works—was able to conduct historical reconstruction research to revive the Burgundian Black palette with a level of authenticity that is unachievable in conventional laboratory settings or with mass-produced ingredients.
The Mingei International Museum, devoted to “Art of the World, Art of the People,” including folk art, craft, and design from across the globe, is an ideal venue for critical conversations about making processes; materials and their relationships to the environments from which they are sourced; and how knowledge and skills are passed down over generations.
Jongstra’s ‘Truth and Beauty in Black’ aims to engage with the Museum’s diverse collection in order to inspire a renewed appreciation for the historic interconnectivity between humanity, material, culture and environment.
About et galerie
Inspired by decades of thoughtful design practice and collaboration with artists, LUCE et studio architects introduce an exhibition space within the midst of their La Jolla studio. The mission of et galerie is to curate and exhibit objects that resonate with a deep sense of presence and passion for the arts.
Jennifer Luce, founder, has been collecting the works of designers, craftspeople, makers and artists since the inception of the studio in 1990. A fascination for materials, methods, cultural traditions, and time spent has led to a collection of works that blur the boundaries of traditional arts. The studio’s transformation of the Mingei International Museum (2021), a pivotal moment in its evolution, planted the seed for the creation of a place to celebrate and elevate the stories behind design in the unique exhibition context of the architect’s studio.
The result: et galerie is a space dedicated to the intersection of architecture, art, and craft, showing works that hold meaningful narratives of our time, for all to share. On March 13, we will open our doors to our premier exhibition, featuring a new installation by fiber artist Claudy Jongstra.
Contact et galerie
For inquiries about et galerie, collaborations, or to explore the collection, we welcome you to connect with us. Let us share the stories behind these exceptional works and the artists who craft them.