Nicole Schoeni and Lloyd Choi redefine collaboration in the global art market at Asian Art in London

If you thought the art world circus had departed London for now, you were mistaken – you should know by now that it is very much a year-round affair. And next up for London in the A/W season will be the much-anticipated Asian Art in London, for its 28th edition. Taking place in venues throughout Central London, including the city’s major auction houses, AAL isn’t quite as frenzied as Frieze Week, but that doesn’t mean there is any less to see.

Heritage as Aesthetics (2025) by Lloyd Choi Gallery x Schoeni Projects Interiors (spi), Courtesy of Lloyd Choi Gallery and Schoeni Projects, Photo by Leon Kong 

Two participants have been doing things differently by working together, both in the lead up to and the event itself. Lloyd Choi (Lloyd Choi Gallery, South Korea) and Nicole Schoeni (Schoeni Projects, London and Hong Kong) are a duo whose cross-cultural philosophies centre around redefining boundaries, whether between art and craft or in consideration of the environments in which we view art and design. When they exhibit at Sotheby’s for AAL, they will be showing side by side, in presentations that are co-curated. And for the weeks leading up to and following the fair, they have been inviting guests to view a private preview of works in the intimate context of Nicole Schoeni’s beautiful heritage home, bringing the art out of the booth or white cube, into a living, breathing, domestic environment.

Similarly, their parallel exhibitions at AAL explore heritage as a living, creative force. The collaboration shares a vision of honouring tradition while embracing experimentation, approaching heritage not as a static legacy but as an evolving force — shaped by craftsmanship, renewal, and continuity as much as by symbolism and materiality. Together, they offer new perspectives on how artistic practices connect past and present.

Choi Boram, Blue Jar – Undoing No. 5, 2025, Hand-built stoneware, drawn cobalt blue lines, unglazed, H 35 x Ø 43 cm, photography by Leon Kong

Lloyd Choi Gallery makes its debut at Asian Art in London with Heritage as Subject, an exhibition that explores one of the central questions in today’s art world: how can we move beyond a Eurocentric framework that continues to shape the perception of Asian art? Heritage as Subject considers heritage not as a fixed inheritance but as a dynamic, evolving field. The exhibition presents inherited materials and philosophies not as static symbols, but as living practices that challenge Western hierarchies of value and form. Choi Boram reimagines Blue and White Porcelain as raw stoneware sculpture, seeking autonomy in artistic expression beyond tradition. Park Sungwook abstracts 14th-century Korean Buncheongceramics and the iconic Moon Jar form into wall sculptures. Lee Sora expands traditional salvage textile, Jogakbo hand-stitching into large contemporary works where meditative process honours labour. Kim Hyunju revives mother-of-pearl inlay through contemporary metalwork, transforming decorative craft into new palettes drawn from nature.

“I believe craftsmanship-led practices keep heritage alive, where meditative processes and material intelligence restore humanity to contemporary art and help move beyond Eurocentric views.”

Lloyd Choi

Heritage as Aesthetics (2025) by Lloyd Choi Gallery x Schoeni Projects Interiors (spi), Courtesy of Lloyd Choi Gallery and Schoeni Projects, Photo by Leon Kong

Schoeni Projects Interiors debuts with Heritage as a Living Dialogue, marking the beginning of a journey that reflects its focus on curated interior collectibles rooted in global heritage and contemporary art. Heritage as a Living Dialogue brings Chinese antique furniture and scholar’s objects into dialogue with contemporary artworks, exploring how material culture and aesthetic values transcend time. At the heart of this presentation is the notion that antiques, once deeply functional, are not only markers of daily life but also expressions of aesthetic and cultural identity. Selected pieces such as altar tables, lamp hanger chairs, and low benches are shown alongside refined scholar’s objects including brush pots and trays. These historical works are juxtaposed with contemporary art by artists such as Chen Fei, Go Hung and Yue Minjun (b.1962), creating a dynamic interplay between eras, materials, and meaning.

“To collect is not only to preserve, but also to tell a story, one that unfolds with every object acquired and every space curated. Our work is grounded at the intersection of art and interiors, curating collectible pieces that carry stories, honour heritage, and foster dialogue across people, places, and time, revealing the synergy between past and present.”

Nicole Schoeni 

A curated dialogue between antiques and contemporary artworks. Image Courtesy of Schoeni Projects. Artworks © The Artists

Schoeni projects and Lloyd Choi Gallery can be visited at Sotheby’s Conduit Street Gallery as part of Asian Art in London, running from 1st to 5th November 2025.

At Sotheby’s on Sunday 2 November, Nicole will moderate the discussion ‘Traditions Within Contemporary’, with Lloyd as a panelist alongside Leo Nguyen, Gallery Director at Thang Long Art Gallery, and Mark Slaats, Founder of Slaats Fine Art. Spaces limited. RSVP essential: sophie@asianartinlondon.com

 For more information visit schoeniprojects.com and lloydchoigallery.com