Color Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delauney

It's cold again in New York and what better way to escape the weather than by visiting a museum.  I can't wait to visit the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for Color Moves: The Art and Fashion of Sonia Delauney which runs through June 5, 2011.  This show epitomizes one of my favorite blog topics which is how art, design and fashion are all related.  Sonia Delauney (1885-1979) worked in Paris and was "known primarily as an abstract painter and colorist" but "applied her talents and theories to all areas of visual expression, including graphics, interiors, theatre and film, fashion and textiles," and even a few cars. She was very well known for her use of color and it seems perfect that this exhibition coincides with a very colorful season for fashion.  And who knows, it may even make you forget that it's freezing outside!  Bon Weekend!

"He who knows how to appreciate colour relationships, the influence of one colour on another, their contrasts and dissonances, is promised an infinitely diverse imagery." - Sonia Delaunay

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