the thing Gallery
ABOUT the thing Gallery
the thing Gallery is a curated platform for collectibles, unique art pieces, and special objects. It was founded by designers, curators, and journalists Anton Rahlwes and Nina Sieverding as a companion to their digital magazine, the thing Magazine.
The idea for the gallery emerged during studio visits conducted for the thing Magazine. Many independent artists and designers create small series or unique pieces but often struggle to distribute or sell their work.
The founders saw an opportunity: on one hand, to create a platform that showcases the incredible work of these creatives and provides them with a source of income; and on the other, to use the thing Gallery as a way to support the independence of the thing Magazine by providing a secondary revenue stream.
While the thing Gallery and the thing Magazine are connected, they operate independently.
VALUES of the thing Gallery
At the thing Gallery, it is essential that the artists and creatives we represent feel comfortable and well-represented in a digital space. The gallery doesn’t just aim to sell their work—it strives to highlight the complexity, dedication, and passion behind each piece.
The founders' background as design journalists allows them to connect with a wide variety of creatives whose work they believe deserves greater visibility. Their ability to create content around creative work also helps provide a more authentic understanding of what it means to design and produce art, collectibles, and small-series products.
the thing Gallery does not simply sell beautiful things; it aims to show that objects are always connected to human values and stories.
WHY THINGS MATTER
As a space for creative freedom, we believe that things always embody a range of values and interconnections. They stand for the humans who imagined them, the manufacturers who produced them, and the resources that brought them to life. All these elements shape the aesthetic value of a thing—a value that, at its best, sparks joy and curiosity, inspiring individuals and society to think beyond the present toward a more diverse and sustainable future.
Things are always social things, and therefore, political things. While many of the objects offered here do not fulfill everyday existential needs, they add value to what is often overlooked: the joy of being alive. This joy is not fueled by the hedonistic urge for constant production but by the deliberate choice to acquire things that humans truly love.
Basically, everything you never needed.