Sotheby’s and mmcd Studio unveil Pauline Karpidas: The London Collection, blending Surrealist art, design, and immersive experiential storytelling.

This month, Sotheby’s unveils the extraordinary personal collection of legendary patron and aesthete Pauline Karpidas, featuring Surrealist art and furniture that once filled her remarkable London home. To present Pauline Karpidas: The London Collection, Sotheby’s partnered with mmcd Studio, who introduced immersive animation and experiential design into the exhibition. The result is more than a display of masterworks, it’s an encounter that reflects Karpidas’ influence as a collector while offering visitors a fresh lens on contemporary art. Moving beyond static presentation, the exhibition layers movement, atmosphere, and narrative, blending history with imagination.

A Dynamic Exhibition Design

mmcd Studio, the creative studio of Michael McDonough, delivering high-impact 3D animation, bold concept design, and immersive storytelling for brands, agencies, and entertainment studios worldwide, goes beyond traditional exhibition graphics. Animation sequences and spatial storytelling guide visitors through different moments of Karpidas’ collection, highlighting how her eye for bold, risk-taking works shaped the art landscape. The design uses rhythm and pacing almost like a film, allowing audiences to not just view the pieces, but feel the conversations between them. This mix of technology and craft opens up new ways of engaging with art, making the Sotheby’s experience resonate both in the gallery and online.

Why It Matters

For Sotheby’s, this collaboration represents a shift in how auction houses can present cultural narratives. By incorporating contemporary design language and digital animation, the exhibition becomes accessible to a broader audience. For designers, it’s a reminder of how storytelling and identity can extend beyond print or static branding, into experiences that are lived and remembered.

Visit in Person

If you’re in London, the show is free to visit:

Where: Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, Mayfair, London, W1A 2AA
Dates: Exhibition runs 8–16 September 2025, ahead of the auctions
Admission: Viewing days are open to the public at no cost.
Hours: Gallery hours vary with exhibition and auction schedules, so check sothebys.com before your visit.
 

About MMCD Studio

Liverpool-based MMCD Studio works across motion, identity, and brand experience. Their focus is on crafting stories that merge strategy with artful execution, often leaning into filmic qualities to make design resonate on an emotional level. Learn more and view additional work by the creative minds at mmcd HERE.