Visite Privée by François Halard

Photographer François Halard recently had an exhibition which was compiled into an accompanying book entitled Visite Privée.   The collection of photographs of artists and their studios include Cy Twombly, Julian Schnabel, Carlos Mollino, Ahn Duong, Richard Avedon, Paul Cezanne, Robert Rauschenberg, and others.  My favorite space is of course Mr. Hallard's own home in Arles, France.  There is a great story in Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People about how he wasn't intending to buy a home but fell in love with its "melancholy spell."  He spent years restoring the home and filled it with many pieces he already owned in storage including the Louis XVI lit a la polonaise canopy bed from the antiquaire Compoglio.  I've included photos from both books here but unfortunately Visite Privée seems to only be available in Europe.  A reason to hop on a plane to Paris if I ever saw one but if that's not possible, you can also check out the rest of the artists online.  À tout à l'heur‎e!

Photos by François Halard

Chic in Sag Harbor: Paul Rafftery

I'm not the only who is smitten with Sag Harbor. Artist Paul Rafferty, who currently has a solo show at the Grenning Gallery, spends time painting plein air on the East End and has captured the beauty of the beach as well as everyday life around town. The small studies are taken back to his studio in the South of France where they are turned into larger works. Check out his website for a look at his European paintings. I wish I could afford them all!

J.Crew's Artistic Genius

I am loving the new J.Crew catalog that features seven New York artists photographed wearing J.Crew clothing in their studios! The online version, Open Studio, has interviews with all the artists and more shots artwork and studios. My favorite question of course is "How do you think art and fashion influence one another?" Their answers are all perfect. I have two questions of my own though, 1. Why didn't they shoot any women artists? and 2. Is artist Chris Dorland (above) single?

Artist Ryan McGinness

Studio of Ryan McGinness

Artist Glenn Ligon

Studio of Glenn Ligon

Artist Billy Sullivan

Studio of Billy Sullivan

Artist Lucien Smith

Artist in Residence

The only good thing about riding the subway to work in the morning is that it gives me 15 minutes of quiet time to read a magazine. This morning I was reading the July/August 2008 issue of New York Spaces, which surprisingly enough came from the Bachelor. Neither of us have any idea why he receives shelter magazine he didn't subscribe to but he gave it to me to enjoy. Anyway, I feel in love with the room above with it's mix of well worn Louis chairs, modern Mies ottomans and in addition to works of art by the owner, Alexander Vethers. He says, "I surround myself with what I like and never buy what is not necessary. When a piece is old, it has dignity. I don't need to be a perfectionist at all times."

The caption for the photo above mentions how the neoclassical sofa looks sculptural against the sitting room's white walls and floor and I agree. It's simple, beautiful and elegant.

The table in the kitchen came from a Spanish monastery and the blue and white china is from Asia and Germany.

The owner considered his bed too bulky for the bedroom's small dimensions so he opted for a very zen bed on the floor, while his artwork hangs above.

Alexander Vethers also has a studio on the upper floor of the two floors he has in a building that sits between Soho and the Village that was built in 1816 and has high ceilings, tall windows, "elegant moldings", and large rooms. He has furnished the home with pieces from his family home and pieces from Europe but when it comes to his studio, he says, "it is impossible to have a 'decorated' studio." And even "undecorated" it still looks good to me!

Habitually Chic Artist: Julian Barrow

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, New York

I'm always in awe of artists who are capable of evoking the feeling of a particular place through their art, especially those old-school artists such as Julian Barrow. When the invitation for his upcoming exhibition at W.M. Brady & Co. in New York crossed my desk, I thought his art was just too spectacular not to share.

Julian Barrow, a painter of cityscapes, conversation pieces and interiors throughout the world, is an Englishman as comfortable in New York, Venice, and Rome as he is in London. His paintings convey his delight in travel and in getting to know a subject, whether it be architectural, human or a combination of both. He has exhibited regularly in New York, London and the Middle East since the 1960's after studying painting in Florence. His studio is in Tite Street, Chelsea, London in a Victorian building of studios where both Sargent and Whistler painted. And as you can see from his work, he is just as wonderful and talented as the former tenants!

After I uploaded my Julian Barrow post yesterday, I received a lovely email from Mary Aarons, Slim Arrons' daughter, mentioning that she had met Julian Barrow and admired his painting in person when she met him this past April at the Palatino (overlooking the Forum and Colliseum in Rome). How exciting is that?! She was even kind enough to send me the photo above. The best part about blogging is hearing fun stories like this that add another wonderful dimention to a story.

Park Avenue at 69th Street, New York

Dogana, Venice

Palazzi on the Grand Canal, Venice

St. Peter's, Rome

Horse Guards, London

The Art and Homes of Hunt Slonem

I'd never heard of Hunt Slonem until I read the most fascinating article about him, Southern Gothic, in the New York Times. Mr. Slonem is a New York artist whose passion for art and mansions is also chronicled in the new book “Pleasure Palace: The Art and Homes of Hunt Slonem.”

The word eccentric was created for artists like Hunt Slonem who "rents 30,000 square feet — about 80 rooms — of former office space in the West Village neighborhood in New York City, which houses 35 birds, tropical plants and wildly colored areas. The yearly rent is about $300,000, a spectacular deal in New York." You have to check out the video tour of his home on Men.Style.com!

His style is not even close to mine but his story and his love of old homes is admirable and interesting. If it weren't for people like Hunt Slonem, the world would be a very boring and probably beige place. I look forward to buying his book and learning even more about this colorful character.

Photos by Fred R. Conrad