A new gallery in Philadelphia is making waves in the design world by showcasing emerging avant-garde talents who have been underrepresented in traditional art spaces. Dudd Haus, located in the historic Old City neighborhood, serves as both a physical gallery and retail space dedicated to promoting innovative designers who use their craft as an expressive medium.

The gallery is the brainchild of Chris Held, co-founder of the acclaimed design collective Jonald Dudd, which he launched in 2015 during NYCxDesign. After relocating from New York to Philadelphia, Held established this permanent space as a natural extension of his itinerant exhibition platform. "Dudd Haus is a natural expansion of the collectivism that formed around Jonald Dudd over many years," Held explained. "Dudd Haus hits the same industry pressure points as Jonald Dudd, but in a much more durational way."

The gallery's mission centers on providing visibility and sustainability for emerging designers. "The goal is collaboration, increased visibility, and ultimately a sustainable living through one's design practice," Held emphasized. The inaugural exhibition features work from 25 contemporary designers, many of whom have previously been showcased in the traveling Jonald Dudd exhibitions over the past decade.

The physical space itself reflects the gallery's commitment to bold, experimental design. Housed in a historic building, the long, narrow venue features a distinctive layout with retail components at the front and exhibition areas toward the back. The main gallery space showcases pieces on two parallel red plinths that flank a central walkway, creating a dramatic presentation against a backdrop of crushed velvet curtains. The floor is covered in a striking checkerboard pattern of speckled black and white tiles, while a wooden display unit comprising a four-by-four grid of open box shelves stores additional objects and merchandise against a mountain scene mural.

The current exhibition spans multiple design disciplines, featuring tables, seating, storage solutions, and lighting from 27 different designers and studios. Notable pieces include works by Malcom Majer and Leeward Studio, with the permanent furniture in the space created by Held's own studio Nice Condo and designer Charles Constantine's studio Bestcase. The front retail area offers smaller objects from established studios like Craighill and Fort Standard, alongside design literature and branded merchandise.

Dudd Haus is expanding its reach beyond the Philadelphia location. Next week, the gallery will participate in Collectible New York fair, running September 4-7, 2025, at the WSA building on Water Street. The booth will feature a curated selection from 12 designers, including experimental pieces such as a sculptural chair made from melted plastic, candle holders formed using remnants of road construction asphalt, and a painted wooden table constructed with traditional mortise and tenon joints.

"Highlights include two pieces from Mike Newins – a carved limestone table sourced from southern Indiana's quarries and a scrying mirror of black glass – and a screen from Carl Durrow made of stainless steel, aluminum, and textured wired glass, along with a variety of other bold, experimental works," Held told design publication Dezeen. He emphasized the collective's diverse approach: "As a collective, our practices span multiple disciplines and aesthetics – yet together, they create a unified voice that challenges conventional design norms."

The Jonald Dudd collective was originally founded by Held alongside collaborators Lydia Cambron and Ben Garthus as an alternative to traditional gallery-based models. Since its inception, the platform has provided representation and advocacy for individual practitioners operating outside of capital-focused institutions. Over nearly a decade, Jonald Dudd has exhibited more than 200 artists and designers "whose practices produce irreverent works that challenge both industry and cultural conventions."

All works displayed at Dudd Haus are available for purchase both in person and through an accompanying online store, as well as through the established e-commerce platform 1st Dibs. This multi-channel approach reflects the gallery's commitment to making innovative design accessible to collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, while providing sustainable income opportunities for the featured artists and designers.