The art world tends to slow down in December. While other industries embrace the season, galleries often close early and wait for January, as if the desire to find something beautiful for a loved one is beneath them.

During a time when galleries across the country were struggling and news of closures was almost weekly, two galleries decided to take a different approach. Inspired by design holiday markets from Finland and other Nordic countries, Lyle Gallery and Isabel Sullivan Gallery created New York's gallery-level holiday market focused on collectible art and design. The exhibition struck a balance between the seriousness of a gallery and the welcoming nature of a market, encouraging new visitors into the gallery space.

Over fifty artists and designers from around the world contributed their work to ONNI. Highlights included glass ice cream sculptures making their New York debut, a side table inspired by the rhythmic motion of a sacred West African masquerade, furniture that only makes sounds when someone sits on it, mobiles crafted from objects collected at flea markets, climbing sites, and archaeological digs. Each piece was handmade with one question in mind: what would it feel like to give this to someone you love?

The name "Onni" comes from Finnish, meaning quiet joy—the happiness of being together and giving something meaningful. This spirit of connection and intention was the essence of the room and the reason it was created.

The exhibition was co-curated by Lin Tyrpien of Lyle Gallery and Isabel Sullivan of Isabel Sullivan Gallery, with photography by Alexa Bendek. It took place from December 6 to 30, 2025, at Isabel Sullivan Gallery in Tribeca.

A short documentary following Lin Tyrpien, founder of Lyle Gallery, through the making of ONNI. Through interviews with Isabel Sullivan and behind-the-scenes footage of the installation, the film becomes a portrait of what it looks like when a new generation of queer, women-led galleries decide to do things differently.

Allison E Samuels, Anders Scrmn Meisner, Anna Kesaniemi, Camille Tan, Carlo Raymann, Caroline Zimbalist, Cat Spilman, Devin Wilde, Didi NG Wing Yin, Elaine Speirs, Elisa Jensen, Fernanda Uribe-Horta, Fran O’Neill, Frank Webster, George William Bell, Gideon Summerfield, Hanna Anonen, Hannah Bigeleisen, Hannah Lim, Hemmo Honkonen, Hot Wire Extensions, Hugo Winder-Lind, Inderjeet Sandhu, Jeffrey Close, Jihyun Kim, Jiri Krejcirik, Joana Galego, Joseph Santore, Julia Elsas, Kawabi, Kritika Manchanda, Luft Tanaka Studio, Mansi Shah, Michael Ajerman, Monica Curiel, Ole Aakjaer, Paula Paakkonen, Platform Studio, Sabrina Bezerra, Salu Iwadi Studio, Santeri Mortti, Sarah Holloway, Shayla Giroux, Siiri Oksanen, soft-geometry, Sophie Colle, Stephanie Monteith, Thomas Yang, Vy Voi, Yuri Kobayashi, Yuxuan Huang