- Interior
In New York’s Meatpacking District, a permanent gallery has recently opened, bringing together contemporary Mexican design and art in a considered, intimate setting. K’ab Juun positions itself as a cultural space, bridging Mexico and the international design world. The gallery celebrates the rich diversity of bespoke contemporary design within an environment that is constantly exploring new directions and ideas.
K’ab Juun functions as both a shop and a gallery, though this duality feels almost irrelevant. The space operates as a carefully composed whole, where sculptural furniture, objects, and artworks take centre stage. The gallery presents the work of around thirteen Mexican artists and studios, each with a distinct voice, yet united by a shared dedication to craft and materiality. Everything on display is handmade in Mexico and visibly bears the marks of its creation. 
Curated selection
The artists and studios featured at K’ab Juun are by no means a homogeneous group. It is precisely this diversity of disciplines and approaches that makes the selection compelling. Central to the program is the studio Clásicos Mexicanos and Peca by Caterina Moretti. Clásicos Mexicanos is a design studio devoted to recovering, producing, and reissuing the most important works of 20th-century modern and contemporary Mexican design, ensuring that each object is an original work, reborn with legitimacy and care. The design studio Peca, on the other hand, is a living practice of exploration, rooted in natural materials and ancestral Mexican craft traditions. Besides, some works by Simon Hamui are carried alongside Dominican designer Javier Reyes, who has lived in Mexico for ten years. Materia is a K’ab Juun exclusive collection, created in collaboration between Onice and Raúl de la Cerda, while ceramics and clay are explored in a variety of ways by Raíz and Encrudo. Lighting is also central, with designs from Bandido Studio, founded by Joel Rojas and Alejandro Campos. Each maker brings a distinct sensitivity to their chosen material, yet all share a focus on tactility and form. Other creatives represented by the gallery include Barón & Vicario by Raúl de la Cerda and Onora Casa, as well as fine artists Edgar Solórzano and Eliana Portilla.
K’ab Juun views the gallery as a space in motion, where the selection of works evolves and new combinations can continually emerge
The gallery’s philosophy is reflected in how objects are placed and combined. As a result, the space feels part atelier, part contemporary salon. Mexican identity is approached as a living presence. The name K’ab Juun is derived from the Mayan words for ‘hand’ and ‘unique’, a deliberate choice that encapsulates the project’s core. At the same time, it references a broader cultural thread in which handmade craftsmanship is an essential aspect of contemporary design. The gallery functions as a platform where artists, artisans, and collectors come together around shared values. 
From Mexico City to Manhattan
The idea for K’ab Juun arose during the travels of founder and creative director Ilana Goldberg between Mexico City and New York. As an interior designer, she noticed how difficult it was to make Mexican design visible outside its home country. Anyone discovering an object in a gallery in Polanco would then have to navigate complex logistics and high costs to take it home. This friction made it clear that Mexican design deserved its own space in the international context. Together with Dafna Puszkar, who manages the operational neutral backdrop, but an active frame for the collection. Artisan details and architectural side of the gallery, the idea was gradually realised.
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Photography by Alejandro Ramirez Orozco
Text by Carolien Depamelaere