New Exhibit Pairs Ancient Treasures With Modern Art

Galerie Kugel and David Zwirner Gallery team up for a thought-provoking show exploring the timeless connection between artistry and craftsmanship.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:44pm

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An abstract close-up image featuring dramatic, high-contrast textures of shattered glass and glittering gemstones, conceptually representing the collision of ancient and modern art.The 'Set in Stone' exhibition pairs museum-quality European antiques with contemporary artworks, exploring the timeless connection between craftsmanship and artistic expression.NYC Today

A new exhibition titled 'Set in Stone' opening at New York's David Zwirner gallery on May 12 will feature a unique pairing of museum-quality European antiques from Paris's Galerie Kugel with modern and contemporary artworks. Curated by independent art advisor Emma Kronman, the show explores the timeless dialogue between ancient craftsmanship and contemporary artistic expression.

Why it matters

The exhibition aims to make antique art less intimidating for younger collectors and challenge preconceptions about the accessibility and relevance of historic works. By displaying these ancient treasures alongside modern masterpieces, the show encourages viewers to find new meaning and connections across time periods.

The details

The exhibition will feature around 30 stone objects from Galerie Kugel, including a Roman sardonyx vase and a 16th century Venetian marble panel, paired with 20-25 works by artists from David Zwirner's roster like Anni Albers, Lucas Arruda, and Wolfgang Tillmans. Curator Emma Kronman divided the show into four categories - 'Assembled,' 'Colorless,' 'Translucent,' and 'Luminous' - to explore different qualities shared by the ancient and modern pieces.

  • The exhibition opens on May 12, 2026 and runs until June 26, 2026.

The players

Laura Kugel

A sixth-generation Parisian gallerist whose family gallery, Galerie Kugel, specializes in museum-quality European antiques.

Emma Kronman

An independent art advisor who curated the 'Set in Stone' exhibition.

David Leiber

A longtime partner at David Zwirner Gallery who worked with Kronman to select the modern artworks for the show.

Lucas Zwirner

The chief commercial officer at David Zwirner Gallery, the founder of which is his father.

Frank Moore

A late artist-activist whose 1996 painting 'The Curators' is featured in the 'Assembled' section of the exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“People are thirsty for craftsmanship and objects that allow a bit of magic and awe in our world.”

— Laura Kugel, Parisian gallerist

“There is a hunger for history and craft in a broad sense. It's a layered experience, a kind of richness that people are looking for, particularly in today's confusing, screwed-up world.”

— David Leiber, Longtime partner at David Zwirner Gallery

“If it makes visitors think about something in a new way, or enables and emboldens people to go down their own path of uniqueness, I think we've done our job.”

— Emma Kronman, Independent art advisor

What’s next

The 'Set in Stone' exhibition will open to the public on May 12, 2026 at the David Zwirner gallery in New York City. It will run until June 26, 2026.

The takeaway

This unique pairing of ancient treasures and modern masterpieces challenges preconceptions about the accessibility and relevance of historic art, encouraging viewers to find new connections and meaning across time periods. The exhibition reflects a growing desire among collectors and art enthusiasts to engage with objects that embody a sense of timeless craftsmanship and artistry.