BURLINGTON, VERMONT
UNKNOWN FRIENDS
[PAST]
SEPT 4 - OCT 30, 2025
‘Unknown Friends’ Marks the Gallery Debut of Design Studio Nurture by Nature
BURLINGTON, VERMONT — Known for interiors that prioritize craft and connection, Nurture by Nature, the Vermont-based design studio founded by Kate Swanson, is expanding its creative vision. With the launch of Gallery Nurture by Nature, the studio now operates as both a full-service design practice and a platform for collectible work. It’s a natural next step that extends the studio’s belief in design as a deeply human, collaborative process.
Curated by Swanson, Unknown Friends features collectible furniture, lighting, and decorative objects by a group of Northeast makers, including Natalie Shook, Luke Malaney, Ford Bostwick, Basia Pruszyńska, Chuck Van Dyck, Bechara Maalouf, and Yuxuan Huang.
BURLINGTON, VERMONT — Known for interiors that prioritize craft and connection, Nurture by Nature, the Vermont-based design studio founded by Kate Swanson, is expanding its creative vision. With the launch of Gallery Nurture by Nature, the studio now operates as both a full-service design practice and a platform for collectible work. It’s a natural next step that extends the studio’s belief in design as a deeply human, collaborative process.
Curated by Swanson, Unknown Friends features collectible furniture, lighting, and decorative objects by a group of Northeast makers, including Natalie Shook, Luke Malaney, Ford Bostwick, Basia Pruszyńska, Chuck Van Dyck, Bechara Maalouf, and Yuxuan Huang.
[EXHIBITON VIEW]
Her gallery will be a space where a “maker force” thinks beyond just the objects on display. Swanson acts as coach and storyteller, guiding possibilities and sharing the narratives behind every piece. “Craft is the new luxury,” says Swanson. “It’s unique, personal, and there’s always a face behind the piece, not just a name; it's true opulence.”
Though the pieces are contemporary, the show’s tone is one of recognition and memory: objects that feel instantly familiar, even if you’ve never seen them before. Ceramic vessels, sculptural lighting, and hand-crafted furniture hint at domestic rituals and quiet moments that linger in the body, even if you can’t place them. The pieces create an approachable crossover between art and everyday life. By bringing high-end Northeast design to Vermont, the gallery enriches the local creative community, offering fresh inspiration and new opportunities for collaboration. This connection supports Vermont’s vibrant culture and its tradition of craftsmanship while encouraging innovation and growth.
Though the pieces are contemporary, the show’s tone is one of recognition and memory: objects that feel instantly familiar, even if you’ve never seen them before. Ceramic vessels, sculptural lighting, and hand-crafted furniture hint at domestic rituals and quiet moments that linger in the body, even if you can’t place them. The pieces create an approachable crossover between art and everyday life. By bringing high-end Northeast design to Vermont, the gallery enriches the local creative community, offering fresh inspiration and new opportunities for collaboration. This connection supports Vermont’s vibrant culture and its tradition of craftsmanship while encouraging innovation and growth.
[EXHIBITION VIEW]
[CHERRY, RIVER STONE]
Vermont has a uniquely fluid design identity, less about rigid definitions and more about a deep connection to place. “There’s no single, anchored ‘Vermont look,’ and when people ask for a ‘Vermont house,’ it invites conversation rather than certainty,” says Swanson.
As a fourth-generation Vermonter, Swanson feels deeply attuned to what that identity can be: a thoughtful blend of styles shaped by the people, history, and natural rhythms of the region. “It’s dark in winter, so we gather close. In summer, we turn toward the sun. It’s a place that responds to the environment and embraces those who want to belong. Even after 14 years away, it’s where I feel most at home,” she says.
As a fourth-generation Vermonter, Swanson feels deeply attuned to what that identity can be: a thoughtful blend of styles shaped by the people, history, and natural rhythms of the region. “It’s dark in winter, so we gather close. In summer, we turn toward the sun. It’s a place that responds to the environment and embraces those who want to belong. Even after 14 years away, it’s where I feel most at home,” she says.
[EXHIBITON VIEW]
Far from a sterile white-box gallery, Gallery Nurture by Nature reflects the warmth and material richness of the studio itself. A preserved brick wall anchors the space, while natural materials, soft drapery, and thoughtful shifts in scale create a sense of flow. Two distinct palettes—deep blue and soft rococo yellow—reflect the studio’s love of contrast and the tension between real and imagined nature. With transparent pricing, supportive consignment terms, and a mission to build lasting relationships, the gallery connects artists, designers, and collectors within Burlington’s growing creative community.
[COTTON, STEEL, FOAM]
[GLASS, SILK]
[GLASS, GOLD FOIL]
[COTTON, WOOL]
[GLASS]
[VELVET, WOOL, SILK, COTTON, OAK]
Read more about this show on Wallpaper, Surface Magazine, & Dezeen
Press by Hello Human
Photography by Joseph Kramm
Press by Hello Human
Photography by Joseph Kramm
PAST SHOWS
[2026]
[2025]
[2025]
THE THINNING VEIL
UNKNOWN FRIEND
UNKNOWN FRIEND