For approximately ten years the Gallery concentrated on twentieth-century design, actively participating in the development of modern collecting, with particular attention to the study and promotion of the work of the infamous Italian architect Carlo Mollino. From 1984 to 1987 the sisters organized the first auctions of modern design in Italy, including an important auction in 1985 dedicated to Mollinoʼs work and in 1986 the first auction dedicated to contemporary design which highlighted Affinità Elettive, the famous Triennale collection from 1985. Paola and Rossella Colombari then curated in 2000 the Christieʼs London auction focusing on Carlo Mollino. In 2005, based on their extensive knowledge, they curated the first catalogue of Mollinoʼs work (Carlo Mollino: Furniture Catalogue), which was edited by Idea Books.

In 1989 the Colombari sisters opened their first in gallery in Milan and in the year 2000 transferred the gallery to its second location in via Maroncelli and divided it into two branches: the Gallery of Contemporary Art and Avant-garde Design curated by Paola Colombari and the Mid-Century Design Gallery curated by Rossella Colombari.

At this juncture, Paola Colombari, an innovative and multi-disciplinary figure, decided to branch away from her long experience with mid-century design and veer towards the experimentation of new post-modernist trends with the foundation in 1991 of the brand Edizioni Galleria Colombari. In the year 2000, she then expanded the gallery's interest to include Contemporary Art. The Gallery now deals with Italian and international artists, with a particular attention to the work of Maimouna Patrizia Guerresi. In 2007, the gallery opened its doors to the Indian artworld, from emerging artists such as Rachana Nagarkar and Tirann Telkar to established artists such as Subodh Gupta and Atul Dodiya. In 2009, she extended the Gallery's interest to Iranian contemporary art as well, in collaboration with Teheran's contemporarry art galleries. Among the most recent shows organized by Paola Colombari are: Karim Rashid (Paris and Sardinia - 2009), Eco Trans Pop (Milan - 2009), Notturno Metropolitano (Milan - 2008), Karim Rashid Solo Show (Milan 2008), Contemporary Indian Art (Milan - 2007), and Patrizia Guerresi Maimouna: The Sister (Milan - 2007).

In the Design field, Paola has explored the language of inquiry from the post-modern to todayʼs postpostmodern tendencies producing and collaborating with Italian and international designers such as: Karim Rashid, David Palterer, Antonio Cagianelli, Pawel Grunert, Garouste & Bonetti, Luca Sacchetti, Joana Lyle, Yacov Kaufman, Teresa Sapey, Romolo Stanco, Elisabetta Gonzo & Alessandro Vicari and others. Furthermore, she has collaborated with and produced projects for important designers including Ron Arad, Mario Bellini, Ettore Sottsass, Matteo Thun, Alessandro Mendini, and Bob Wilson.

Paola Colombari has also been involved since 1990 with the cultural management of various design projects, exhibitions, and art direction. She has actively collaborated as both curator and exhibitions manager for important international museums and galleries such as: Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Montréal, Canada), KunsterKolonie Museum (Darmstadt, Germany), Museum of Gent and Oostende (Belgium), Musèe du Rouen (France), Kulturring StadtGallerie Sundern (Germany), Denver Museum (Usa), Museum of Contemporary Art (Castle of Warsaw, Poland), Clara Scremini Gallery (Paris), Yves Gastou Gallery (Paris), Current Gallery (Seattle), Cattani Gallery (Amsterdam) and others. She also curated shows for the Ministero degli Esteri and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura dedicated to the work of Carlo Mollino, including the exhibition in Paris in 2000 and in Amsterdam and Brussels in 2001.