The Playboy: Kelly Wearstler

Big, brash, and bold are all words that start with the letter B--and all describe the work of Kelly Wearstler. Kelly brings sexy back to design with her mix of large scale and public projects--her aesthetic can best be compared to the famed Dorthy Draper, but with an added sexiness found in our contemporary context. There is something effortless, yet meticulously planned and executed about Kelly's work-a west coast sensibility with a dash of South Beach flair all in the context of high style.

(BG, the restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman, here in NYC)

(Viceroy, Palm Springs)

Kelly commands color in a manor which is foreign to most, almost brazen--lush colors and textures can be found in both her residential and commercial projects. To be frank I don't really know how she does it. . . she uses the most luxurious textiles--the most luxurious of everything and somehow makes it all work together cohesively. Her projects can be found from Los Angeles to New York City and her empire extends far beyond her interiors. Kelly has created a venerable design empire including: design/lifestyle books, product lines at retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, and a presence in the media. Kelly has taken her work to a level rarely achieved by most designers: super-stardom. Take a peek below and indulge yourself in pure GLAMOUR!

(A selection of Kelly's Books)

(The Tides, South Beach)

(Viceroy, Miami)

(Brentwood Estate)

(Malibu Beach Residence)

Kelly Wearstler's Website

All is Fair. . .

There are a number of interesting ways to scope out what is new or "in vogue" in the design and art markets throughout the year--showrooms, galleries, and auction houses first come to mind, but there are events that give a connoisseur more breadth and depth of what is actually happening in the market and what is currently in style.

Design and art fairs are really an ideal way in which to admire, collect, and purchase design and art objects. I know the images of clowns, ferris wheels, cotton candy and the like are bobbing around in your brain when the work "fair" is uttered, but besides some of the eccentric/crazy people you might see attending both an art fair and actual fair. . . the similarities stop there. In actuality these fairs provide the masses with an opportunity to see fabulous works and a great multitude of them stemming encompassing every genre imaginable.

One of the best aspects of art and design fairs is the opportunity to talk to people in the trade. Some of the best conversations about art and design I have ever engaged in were with galleriest or specialist representing showrooms at fairs, these representatives are here for you and are interested in the subject matter in their booth, so ask questions and create a dialogue. You might enter a fair with the perfect idea for sofa or antique settee, but then something catches your eye and everything changes.

(Scope NYC)

Here is a short list of upcoming NYC fairs:

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show: arms and armour, bronzes, rare books, carpets, ethnographica, furniture, garden furniture, glass, jewellery, maps, manuscripts, marine artefacts, pictures, porcelain, pottery and sculpture

IFPDA Print Fair: diverse works on paper ranging from the traditional to contemporary (prints only) from IFPDA members.

Modernist Show: furniture, silver, decorative arts, fine art, jewelry, and glass from 1890 to contemporary.

(Pulse NYC)

Spring is high season for fairs in the NYC, during the fall/winter (December) the same fairs can be found in Miami. Literally the entire fine/decorative art worlds stop and all attention is directed south to Miami centering on Art Basel. Along with Basel there are a multitude of satellite fairs that can also be found in New York in the Spring. Here is a list of the main happening this winter in Miami:

*notice many of these events have sister fairs in NYC, Basel, or elsewhere*

Art Basel Miami Beach: the big-daddy of fairs, the main event. The sister show takes place in Basel Switzerland-really these are the two most prestigious fairs in the world

Art Asia: Asian Contemporary Art

Design Miami: furniture,lighting and art objects mainly modernism (1900-to present) with a few booths specializing in 18th and 19 century.

Pulse Miami: contemporary art

Red Dot Miami: smaller boutique fair offering a myriad of work on paper, sculpture, and paintings.

Scope Miami: emerging contemporary art

(Art Asia Miami)

(Art Basel Miami)

There literally is a fair for every taste and need. . . dig in-get dirty-enjoy!