Lifestyling® by Maria Gabriela Brito

Lifestyling®’s Top Ten of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:46:00 +0000

Sometimes it’s truly difficult for me to choose the artist that I love the most or single out one of my projects or experiences as “the best”. Particularly, since I get to live a creative life and pretty much give shape and direction to my brand, business and projects, I must say that I approach every day expecting “the best” and most of the time, it turns out to be so.

This year, however, I feel that many of my dreams have crystallized and that I have paved the way (with the help of extraordinary team members, staff, supporters, family and friends) for an amazing 2012 and many more years ahead.

With a lot of trouble, and because I’m kind of like an editor/curator, I picked my top 10 events of 2011 and summarized them below:

1. Being featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s “GOOP”: Gwyneth is an inspirational woman who is nothing but amazing inside and out. She’s creative, resourceful, smart, honest, nurturing and 100% authentic. I could not have been more honored or flattered when I had the chance to guest edit her popular blog/newsletter “GOOP” for an entry on “Designing with Contemporary Art”. It was, overall, an extraordinary experience and the article turned out to be a very comprehensive yet approachable guide on collecting and living with contemporary art.

2. Blogging for Forbes.com: What can I say that hasn’t been said about Forbes? I wrote two articles for them; one on collecting art and one on branding/entrepreneurship and they both went viral on the internet. Wow!

5. Launching LivinArt™ as a separate division inside Lifestyling® and having had one of
the top producers of Sotheby’s International Realty sponsor the event in one of the
brokerage’s trophy apartments overlooking Madison Square Park.

6. Interviewing the extraordinary contemporary artist Flavia Da Rin: Flavia is a fabulous
sought-after talent who at the same time is humble, sweet, caring and beyond
smart. Featuring her in my blog was an honor and a pleasure. Bravo, Flavia, for the
career you have built!

5. Having one of my projects on the cover of “DCASA” magazine, one of the most prestigious interior design magazines in Brazil (plus an entire eight-page spread inside!)

6. Getting a Thanksgiving feature in Latina Magazine!

7. Having “Frida’s World”, our Frida Kahlo App for kids, selected as one of the top Apps of 2011 by Time Out Magazine in London and also widely endorsed and promoted through social media by the two museums that host the largest collection of Frida Kahlo’s works: The Dolores Olmedo Museum and the Frida Kahlo Museum.

8. Running the “Living with Art” series for SoHo House in NYC: from visiting the studios of some of the coolest and most sought-after artists to getting an installation in a luxury empty apartment in Chelsea, organizing this series and working with the SoHo House people was one of the highlights of 2011.

9. Being widely featured by 85Broads as part of their CEO Roundup, hosting a jam session for them, guest-editing Janet Hanson’s (85Broads founder and CEO) blog and having an event to introduce my company to the networks’ “Power Circle”.

10. Art Basel Miami Beach, 2011: people might criticize AMBM and trash the whole experience: too much partying, too much money, too blingy, too crazy… The truth is that the art is always amazing, cutting-edge, revelatory or simply beautiful (although some years it pleases my eye more than others) and the parties are optional (hello! I always welcome the opportunity to go to different events, cocktails and parties after a long day walking miles and miles of hallways filled with art); the new fairs are gaining a lot of traction and bringing fresh blood to the art scene, more collectors are opening the doors of their homes for people to enjoy their collections, Miami has changed enormously and the way people are acquiring and experiencing art has taken a very different direction than the way it was 10 years ago. Resisting this change isn’t going to prevent it from happening.

I just want to finish by saying THANK YOU to all my amazing clients, supporters, followers, readers, fans, facebookers, tweets, friends, family etc., for always being there, for pushing me to be better and for contributing to the fulfilling venture that is to take my company to the next level. Looking forward to an exceptional 2012!

Art Basel Miami Beach - 10th Anniversary and Counting!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:57:00 +0000

The 10th Edition of Art Basel Miami Beach meant a whole lot more than marking the extraordinary fact that a decade has passed and ABMB has grown to be the most important art fair in the world, in one of the most exciting settings for contemporary art.

Blah, Blah, Blah by Mel Bochner.

I come every year and find the fair and the surrounding events to be the perfect and sometimes contradictory mix of culture, fantasy, discovery, glam and bling. But what is really the most important accomplishment of these past ten years is what Art Basel has done for Miami as a city, community and now, as an international art center. It has developed into a truly unparalleled conglomerate of new hotels, shops, restaurants, galleries and artist studios that are pulsating and vibrating year-round.

The most famous German couple in the contemporary art world: Eva & Adele

The main fair was nothing short of spectacular. I loved the early vernissage and the opportunity to see and buy art before the best pieces were snatched by frantic collectors who, like many of my clients, have turned art into their most prized investment-- emotionally and financially sound assets that they appreciate and love to live with.

Jonathan Meese's Revolution

Conceptual art was a strong theme that I saw in many of the ABMB exhibiting galleries and some of the ancillary shows like the one at the Cisneros Fontanals Foundation (CIFO) and de la Cruz family’s private collection. Generally, I like and understand conceptual art because I love to fill up blank spaces with my own ideas or even make up interpretations in my mind. However, as someone driven by aesthetic, beauty, colors, symbols and graphics, particularly given the nature of what I do, extreme conceptual art is not my thing.

An entire collection! Photomontage by Martha Rossler

For the first time ABMB offered Art Video, a new section comprised of different features, including artistic short films and videos outside the convention center projected on a giant screen designed by Frank Ghery. The section also featured small pods inside the fair where attendees could sit and wear headphones and experience amazing videos, among which there were collaborations with Gagosian Gallery, White Cube and the Whitney Museum. I think this is a great way for ABMB to introduce video art to the public and also help new collectors get their feet wet (it is not the easiest to collect).

Tracey Emin's Neon from her latest series

In the party realm, I must say that this year's soirees went above and beyond the expected. My favorite parties were the Art.sy one under an oceanside tent at SoHo Beach House and The Hole Gallery party at the Delano gardens, with the Salem band concert and performance taking place on a stage by the pool (and inside too!). Jeff Deitch threw a MOCA Beach Party at the Raleigh, while Cartier honored Beatriz Milhazes and ArtNexus had its traditional fête, also at SoHo Beach House, complete with a fashion show by the pool. There were so many others; it will be impossible for me to recap them here.

The tent at SoHo Beach House for the Art.sy party

Michelle Grey from SoHo House and I at the Art.sy event. (Picture courtesy of Billy Farrel Agency)

ABMB has really changed the contemporary art landscape and the way that many people and collectors experience and buy art. I'm looking forward to the next 10 years and to see art transform people's lives and homes in a positive and impactful way.

In the meantime, here is a list of my standouts:

ABMB

• Works on canvas by Cuban artist Jose Bedia at Snitzer

• Large-scale and never-before released Keith Haring works on paper at Gladstone Gallery

• Tracey Emin new neon series at Lehmann Maupin

• William Kentridge paper panels at Marian Goodman

• Arturo Herrera collages at Sikkema Jenkins

• Martha Rossler's Photomontage at Mitchell-Innes & Nash

• Simon Evans mixed media works at James Cohan

• Elmgreen & Dragset installation at Emmanuel Perrotin

• Jonathan Meese's large-scale canvas at Contemporary Fine Arts (Berlin)

Pulse

• Mark Fox's mixed media and collages at Larisa Goldston
• Andrew Schoultz's gold leaf flags at Marx & Zavattero

NADA

• Jan Albers's acrylic panels at Van Horn

• Eddy Martinez's canvases at The Hole

• Barb Choit's "I Heart My Attitude Collection" store at the Dumbo Arts Center

• Adam McEwen rabbit sculpture at Cumulus Studios

Barcelona, la Bella!

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:53:00 +0000

I took this picture from my hotel room: Paseo de Gracia, the heart of Barcelona.

Recently I spent some time in Barcelona and was so taken by it, I could not believe it had been years since I was last there….Barcelona is one of those rare cities that seems to have it all- extraordinary restaurants, amazing architecture, great museums, glorious design, wonderful shopping, cool galleries, beautiful people, an incredibly hot nightlife, some of the best street art that I have experienced and an amazing beach….

The streets of El Born, chic and misterious.

If I could, I would spend so much more time roaming the streets of El Barrio Gotico (the oldest and most well-preserved in Europe), El Born and El Raval because it feels that the maze of streets is never ending, and there are tons of treasures just waiting to be discovered.

Barcelona is all about architechture and design. The stairs that lead to Montjuic (one of the two mountains that surround Barcelona) are breathtaking!

A playground on the streets of San Pere.

Street Art in El Raval. The magic of Miss Van (who moved from Paris to Barcelona to be able to get her creative juices flowing) is forever imprinted on this door.

Since the pictures I took speak for themselves, I just wanted to give my top ten recommendations in galleries + design shops and although I don’t write about food, I do love to eat, so there was no way I was going to leave my fave restaurants/bars out of this post.

If you go to Barcelona, the operative word is “enjoy! Or better said “que t'ho passis bé!”

At the installation of Japanese artist Yoshi Sislay for Vinçon

In Barcelona, everything is about innovative style, design and art. This mural impacted me so much... It was at the Bimba & Lola store in the Paseo de Gracia.

Top Ten Galleries/Design Stores:

1. Galeria Hartman: http://www.galeriahartmann.com/ : Mostly cutting edge photography but they also represent a few artists that work with other media. I have never loved watercolors but the works of Ramon Sanmiquel are so impressive, I could not take my eyes off of them.

Princess, by Ramon Sanmiquel

2. Galeria Mito http://www.mitobcn.com/: This is a super cool gallery that represents artists who push the envelope. I really liked most of what they have because it’s all colorful, vibrant and with a sense of humor. Pop surrealism, street art, “lowbrow art” (is there really such thing?), that’s the kind of art that they have and I love it!

The show of Erik Mark Sandberg at Galeria Mito

3. Galeria Safia: http://www.galeriasafia.com/: Great installations, great events, great atmosphere and great mid-career and emerging artists. What else can you ask for?

4. MasART Galeria http://www.mas-art.net/: Emerging artists from around the world populate the roster of this cool space always at the forefront of contemporary art.

5. N2 Galeria: http://www.n2galeria.com/: From street artists to installations and everything in between, N2 Galeria has an extraordinary selection. I’m particularly in love with the works of native Barcelonan street artist, Sixeart.

6. Raíña Lupa http://www.rainalupa.com/: A very well curated “prints and editions” gallery with some of the most interesting photography works that I have seen in a long time.

7. Galeria 3 Punts http://www.3punts.com/: Offers as very good selection of local and international established, mid-career and young artists. I like that they work with a few artists whose main focus is sculpture, and that gives a lot of depth and a whole different angle to the shows they curate.

8. Vinçon http://www.vincon.com/: The mecca of design (and everything in Barcelona IS about design) if Vinçon has it, it’s either a true design classic or about to become one!

Inside Vinçon

9. El Ingenio http://www.el-ingenio.com/: When I entered this store, I didn’t know if it was creepy or fantastic until it dawned on me that it has been in the Barrio Gotico for more than 160 years (that’s right, 160 years) and that it is as magical as it can be. All sorts of masks, costumes, giant dolls…simply impressive and worth a visit.

El Ingenio, both magical and a little creepy.

10. Cha Cha http://www.cha-cha.es/: home of small objects, cups, plates, tea sets and a lot of cool stuff, all with a very innovative design inspired by Barcelona itself.

The super popular "Casa Lolo" series at Cha Cha in El Born.

*Bonus: Ivo & Co http://www.ivoandco.com/ : this one not a gallery and not a design store per se, but such a beautifully curated shop in El Born, that it also had to get its place of honor here; vintage finds, signs, pottery, chandeliers, retro wallpapers (and across the street from the main store, Ivo opened a children's branch with the same vintage/retro feel). Inspiring.

The kids' branch of Ivo & Co.

Restaurants/Bars:

1. Tapas 24 http://www.tapac24.com/: We went to this place six times because all they have is so amazingly good, so unpretentious (and actually so unhealthy!) This is a Carlos Abella restaurant (he is one of the most famous chefs in Barcelona) and it has a great sidewalk space. A++

2. Comerc 24 http://comerc24.com.mialias.net/: The high-end version of Tapas 24… Carlos Abella, a disciple of Ferran Adrià, is a master of small, high-end tapas that are so amazing and so flavorful… a beautifully designed place and an iconic Barcelona dining spot.

3. Banker’s Bank http://www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona/dining/bankers_bar: The Mandarin Oriental in the Paseo de Gracia is a stunningly designed hotel which used to a bank. Patricia Urquiola, who is the hottest interior designer in Spain (some would venture to say in Europe) designed the Mandarin and also the Banker’s Bar. The cocktails are to die for.

The Mandarin Oriental, entirely designed by that genius that is Patricia Urquiola

4. Drolma http://www.hotelmajestic.es/ : Michelin star, fancy, beautiful, the best bread we have eaten in our lives!

5. Bar Mut: A fantastic, inventive tapas place with one of the best wine lists that I have crossed paths with!

6. Cal Pep http://calpep.com/: Traditional tapas bar, so cool and so authentic. The place to be is the front bar. Pep, the owner, is usually there, hanging out with everybody, laughing and telling jokes.

7. Eclipse Bar http://www.w-barcelona.com/eclipse-bar: At the top of the W Hotel. Food and drinks are ok, but the view is worth all the money in the world!

From the top of Eclipse at the "W" Hotel

8. Tickets http://ticketsbar.es/: After Ferran Adrià closed the incredibly famous “El Bulli”, he opened “Tickets”. Although a bit touristy and off the beaten path, the food is really good and the service is beyond words. In one of the hidden bars they have a “top ten memories from El Bulli” with a selection of appetizers and finger food from the sorely missed restaurant.

9. Monvinic: http://www.monvinic.com/: an amazing wine bar with a beautifully designed space and an extensive selection of wines by the glass and half bottles. The Wall Street Journal once called it "The Best Wine Bar in the World".

Monvinic from the Connoisseur room

10. Can Majó (at Barceloneta beach) http://www.canmajo.es/: Best paella I have eaten in my whole life, hands down.

*Bonus: Chiringuito del Mar http://www.chiringuitodelmar.com/: this place isn’t fancy, and the food may not be the best, BUT, the DJ is so amazing and the sighting (in the middle of Playa de La Mar Bella) is so wild and beautiful at the same time, that is totally worth the walk. If this one proves to be too extreme, then its sister shack, Chiringuito del Sol, in Playa Bagatell, has a similar vibe (although a bit more tamed).

Art & Interior Design Video Series

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:33:00 +0000

Recently I was invited by GeoBeats to shoot a series of videos about art and interior design. These are three of them. I hope you like them!

Great (and sometimes unusual) sources to buy art for the home

How to start an art collection on a budget

Common mistakes when displaying art (and how to prevent them!)

Elettra Wiedemann is The Hottest Girl in Town

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:11:00 +0000

Elettra and I having coffee at Morandi

I love talking to models and interviewing them for this blog because not only have they had amazing international lives and careers opening their minds and hearts to a much more expansive world than many people, but also because they have seen so many beautiful clothes and fabrics, played with proportions and aesthetics, walked down fantasy catwalks and spent hours on extraordinary sets that their eyes are naturally and artistically trained to put together great interiors and unusual, funky combinations of high and low, vintage and new, combinations that I so love to do in my own projects.

Elettra Wiedemann is a hot commodity these days: she comes from a royal lineage; the daughter of the beautiful and accomplished Isabella Rossellini and the granddaughter of one of the greatest actresses of all times, Ingrid Bergman, who, among many other movies, co-starred in Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart (it really doesn’t get any more glamorous than that). She’s the new face of Lancôme, went to the Met Ball this year wearing one of her grandmother’s dresses, reinvented by Prabal Gurung, was recently selected by Ferragamo to represent the house's first online trunk show http://www.style.com/stylefile/2011/08/e-commerce-a-ferragamo-first/ and this week she’s on the cover of New York Magazine http://nymag.com/fashion/11/fall/isabella-rossellini-elettra-wiedemann/ …Wow!

Mother and daughter on the cover of New York Magazine's 2011 Fall Fashion Edition

She is one of those people that I feel that I have known forever. It may be because she’s welcoming, easy going, down to earth, smart and funny. I love her style, her honesty and authenticity. Elettra is proud of her background, but she is a force of nature on her own, and after all, it’s so cliché-y to talk about her family that we don’t even go there…

Elettra is a born and bred New Yorker who, besides accumulating some serious degrees (New School, London School of Economics), has also been modeling since 2003. She established a charity with her fiancé, James Marshall, called One Frickin Day http://onefrickinday.org/, which takes small projects that are attainable and have an end in sight, like electrifying clinics in Burundi, Haiti and Rwanda, projects that get funded by asking supporters to donate just one (frickin’) day of their salary.

Elettra's collection of photography. Images by Claiborne Swanson Frank for Vogue.com

She has such fierceness, grace and determination that she tells me that she is absolutely not attached to material things, nor places… to the extent that her luggage was stolen a couple of weeks ago during a family vacation in Iceland and inside she had clothes, a great camera, shoes, vintage finds (imagine the luggage of a supermodel) and she just says: “whatever, what am I going to do?”

Elettra and James' living room on their West 11th apartment. Images by Claiborne Swanson Frank for Vogue.com

Likewise, I asked her about her beautiful and cozy apartment which was recently photographed for a Vogue.com feature of APT with LSD http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/apt-with-lsd-elettra-wiedemann/ and she says that since she has travelled so much in the past few years, she has never been much in the same place, but with the engagement to James and the apartment on West 11th street that she had bought a while ago, there was a need to settle down and to have a home.

Although Elettra is “new” to decorating, as she says, her great taste and her international model “eye” are easily identified throughout. The apartment is inundated with style: vintage finds, gorgeous personal and intimate photography including some with her mom in Moscow, shot by Brigitte Lacombe, antiques from one of her favorite places in NYC (David Duncan Antiques http://davidduncanantiques.com/) and a brand new, beautiful and special painting that her fiancé got for her: a Hawaiian Sunset by artist Eric Tore, a painting that changes colors depending on the light, which Elettra discovered in Maui and got mesmerized by. These things, the authentic ones, the ones with emotional value and connection are the ones that Elettra treasures in her life.

Elettra and James hanging out at home. Images by Claiborne Swanson Frank for Vogue.com

By the same token, being authentic and unique is the advice that she gives to people: finding one’s style whether it is in fashion or decorating and sticking to it, regardless of what people think, is much more respectful than just copying somebody else or following what others expect, so as to be a fit. “Stick to your guns” she repeats, and I happen to agree, since conformity has never been my thing either. In Greek, Elettra means “shining, bright and radiant” and what a perfect name for her that is!

Savvy Tips on How to Start a Contemporary Art Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:53:00 +0000

This week, I had the amazing opportunity to publish one of my articles on Forbes.com!
Check it out here: http://blogs.forbes.com/85broads/2011/07/11/art-collecting-for-career-women-savvy-tips-on-how-to-start-a-contemporary-art-collection/

The Masterful Mix (of High and Low)

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:43:00 +0000

Fantastic photography at unbelievable prices at http://www.purephoto.com/ This one is from Tom Fowler and it's called "Ray's 66, Beaver Utah". The color composition make this one a winner, however, it's my mind the one that's engaged the most... Can you "read" the message?

Many people come to me and ask, how do I put together my collection without necessarily having to break the bank and how do I integrate it with my design in unexpected ways? Well, the truth is that there isn’t a set answer for that and that is when the creativity and resources of an interior designer, with direct access to the art world, comes in handy. However, there are a few alternatives and ideas that can jumpstart the process of curating a contemporary art collection without having to get a second mortgage. Here are some of my tips:

The first thing that I tell my clients, the ones who are getting their feet wet in the art world for the first time, is buy something good even if for the time being you just can afford one piece. And by something good, I mean a relatively large-sized edition of either print or photography (for some of the best photography online both from established and emerging artists try http://www.purephoto.com/), or if the budget allows, an original oil or acrylic on canvas or mixed media on wood (if you are in NYC, take a walk in the Bowery and Lower East Side; you won’t regret it and it will open up a whole new world of galleries). The best alternative, for a few thousand dollars, is to get something from an extraordinary emerging artist who has gallery representation (the term “emerging artist”, by the way, doesn’t mean that the artist has to be young but actually somebody who is in the early stages of his or her career and he or she is literally between the realms of being unknown and gaining exposure) but it is also possible to get an edition that can knock anybody’s socks off by some of the best artists in the world in the recently founded, but already much respected, website Artspace http://www.artspace.com/

Thomas Birke is another artist that I met through PurePhoto. I could add any of his photographs to my designs, particularly because I love Paris so much... and who doesn't?

The second thing that I tell my clients is to try to use dead space in their places (for example a not-so-useful corner next to a door or even the smallest of entryways) to get a little bit more adventurous and experiment with sculpture, art books, toys, mobiles, vintage furniture, wallpaper, etc. Also, try browsing through any of the stores of major modern and contemporary museums. In NYC, we are lucky to have not only some of the best museums in the world but also some of the best museum stores: the MoMA, the Guggenheim, the New Museum and the Whitney all have great stores that carry a variety of limited edition objects that very well complement collections that have just started and collections that have gotten to the next level.

Artspace released this Tom Otternes sculpture in an edition of 50. The price was a fraction of what an Otterness costs. When I saw it, I said to myself: "Dear Lord, please control my impulses to keep buying art that is SO good at these prices that are UNREAL" It sold out in minutes...

The truth is, even if the first, second or third art purchases aren’t necessarily the most important acquisitions of a collection, or don’t become the piece-de-resistance of a home, if they are made with enough research and follow the advice of people with real information and knowledge of the art world, the pieces acquired early on can perfectly coexist when the importance of the works acquired when the collection starts to grow (which usually also increases the price point of the acquired pieces).

This was another Artspace release: an Assume Vivid Astro Focus
limited edition print created exclusively for Artspace.

I believe that the whole idea of bringing contemporary art to one’s homes has all to do with wanting to have something that connects us with our time and place and current events-- of getting another perspective, of being aesthetically pleased (hopefully, and if the purchase was right, for many, many years), to have a dialogue with an artist or to have a conversation with the people who are close to us and can appreciate art, and to add culture, depth and another level to one’s life. And that, of course, has no price.

MoMA's Party in the Garden: Contemporary Art and Hip Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:06:00 +0000

The night started with cocktails at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden

The Museum of Modern Art’s Party in the Garden is always a wonderful event that marks the beginning of the summer in New York City and gathers wildly successful artists, benefactors, celebrities, designers and the glitterati of our wonderful city, which never ceases to amaze me because of its creativity, passion and, well, because of all its extraordinary people whether they art world insiders or not. Being the MoMA my favorite museum in the world, I could not have missed the party, and I’m so glad I didn’t.

My husband and I arriving at the party

Since 1973, the MoMA has been hosting this soirée which is well known for raising multimillionaire figures to keep backing the museum general fund; needless to say the amount of money that goes into operating and making the MoMA not only a wonderful space open for the public enjoyment but more importantly, a world class institution always at the forefront of the modern and contemporary world, is quite astronomical.

Before it went dark we all moved inside the MoMA for dinner.

This year’s honorees included four amazing and inspirational women, all of whom are art lovers, big ticket collectors and members of MoMa’s Board of Trustees: fellow Venezuelan, Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, who has worked tirelessly to push Latin American artists to be part of any major contemporary museum collection around the globe; Mimi Haas, who has dedicated a lifetime to advocate for public service and the arts; Jill Kraus, who is also a trustee of the Carnegie Mellon University and a former design executive for Avon and Swarovsky and Sharon Percy Rockefeller an amazing art advocate who also happens to be a phenomenal businesswoman and is the president and CEO of WETA, Washington, D.C.’s flagship public television and radio stations, since 1989. So the four ladies and their honorary co-chairs Jerry I. Speyer and Marie-Josée Kravis started the night by having cocktails in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden accompanied by other A-Listers such as Michael Bloomberg, David Rockefeller, Larry Gagosian, Marina Abramovic, James Rosenquist, Michael Douglas, Henry Kravis, Terence Koh, Anh Duong and Jossie Natori among many others.

Kanye and Jay Z onstage. Can't imagine a more better ending for this night!

We all then proceeded to have dinner inside the museum where the lobby had been properly transformed in a chic, shiny environment contrasting glass, mirror and red flowers where beautifully designed acrylic chairs surrounding mirrored tables were configured in a way that ensured that there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. The dinner was followed by a performance by Kanye West who got quite an audience and put together a great concert (although a bit moody, but we know Kanye!). Funnily enough, Kanye has described himself as an art school dropout and this year, one of the most respected and powerful art institutions in the world, invited him to be the entertainer of their annual gala. The highlight of the night came when Kanye invited Jay Z to sing with him onstage. The crowds went really wild. Both sang H.A.M together and Jay Z went on alone to finish the beautiful, although a bit chilly, night, with Empire State of Mind. And that is how all of us attendees left the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, feeling the beat of New York mixing hip hop and the best of the contemporary art world scene, a perfect reflection of the eclecticism of our city.

Living with Art and Collecting Like a Pro: Tips from Art Powerhouse, Dominique Levy

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:20:00 +0000

The amazing Dominique Levy with a Marc Newson chair. (Image via Art + Auction)

Recently I had the amazing opportunity to visit the apartment of the art powerhouse that is Dominique Levy and her partner, film producer Dorothy Berwin. Dominique and Dorothy are wonderful and gracious hostesses; they even have a signature house cocktail and a wine cellar built under their staircase! Most importantly, though, these women have the most bold and inspiring art collection, not to mention the furniture and overall design of their Upper East Side duplex (which has the most amazing views of the East River, too, as if the visual stimulation wasn’t enough with everything else they have in there). Among the duplex’s highlights are pieces by Tracey Emin (one of my favorite artists of all-time), Cindy Sherman, Tom Sachs, and Tim Noble and Sue Webster. They also collect furniture by Marc Newson, Oscar Niemeyer, Charlotte Perriand, and Jean Prouvé (suffice to say that Dominique and Dorothy consider their furniture artistic sculptures -- and rightly so!). In that apartment, I literally felt that I could breathe art. And how could I not, given Dominique’s background?

Dominique is Swiss, but has been in NYC for quite some time. She actually worked at various galleries in Geneva and London, ran the contemporary paintings department at Sotheby’s in Geneva and, in 2000, was recruited by none other than François Pinault to run the private sales division at Christie’s in NYC. Wow! Of course, she made that private division soar, and then founded her own art advisory services, which she later merged with Robert Mnuchin’s gallery to create what we now know as L&M Arts http://www.lmgallery.com/, one of the leading post-war and contemporary galleries in the world. In New York City, the gallery is focused on modern and post-war art, including extraordinary artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Yves Klein and Andy Warhol (the current show at the gallery is Warhol’s Colored Campbell's Soup Cans which will be on view until June 11). In the brand new Los Angeles outpost, it is all about contemporary art (they opened the Los Angeles gallery last year with a much-talked show of Paul McCarthy). Being acquainted with Dominique’s background, I knew I had to ask her to share some tips for new collectors since her wealth of experience in the art world is quite unparalleled.

For Dominique, the best way to start buying art is establishing true relationships with galleries and making those galleries trust that the art they sell (and therefore the artists that they represent) will be respected and cared for. Particularly in the last ten years, there has been lots of tension between galleries and auction houses. The fact that people have bought contemporary art and sold the pieces at auction almost overnight, with the hopes of making a quick profit, has ruffled some feathers in the gallery community. The idea, from the gallery perspective, is to cultivate art lovers and collectors, not speculators. Common sense might make some think that if certain contemporary artist’s pieces are being offered at auction, and those pieces are being sold to the highest bidder for top dollar, then the artist should be happy and so should the gallery. But the truth is that those moves can sometimes hurt an artist, like when someone decides to sell several important pieces from the same artist at the same time, or when the bubble has become so inflated that the burst is inevitable.

Another important concept that Dominique mentioned, and I that I support, is to collect with purpose; be passionate, do some research, go in depth with an artist, get inspired, and know what you love and why you love it. Once you do have a collection, make sure that the pieces can talk to each other, that there’s some harmony and coherence among themselves; displaying and curating a collection is an art in itself.

Dominique also subscribes to the same philosophy that I do (and that I apply in my own apartment and life): make art, furniture, design, and all the things that you love happily coexist with your children. Growing up surrounded by art helps kids develop a richer, much more interesting perspective in life. Like Dominique told me, she started collecting art when she was very, very young and all her piggy bank money usually went to buy art!

As a word of caution for new collectors, Dominique suggests to avoid buying at auction. First, because it’s really expensive given all the premiums that auction houses charge to winning bidders, and also because, most likely, anyone who is bidding is almost always bidding against one or more potential buyers. This can cause the final price to go up quite fast (and so does the adrenaline of bidders), often forcing inexperienced people to go over their limits, only to later regret an irrationally made purchase.

I think the most important quality that all we collectors share (including Dominique, Dorothy and myself) is the true passion and excitement for the art we own, for what we can get or discover and for the enjoyment and connection that we develop with each particular piece. That’s a quality that anybody can have and cultivate. But one must be careful; there are risks, like Dominique’s former boss, Monsieur François Pinault, said: “You don’t possess art, it possesses you. It’s like falling in love.”

Paris Je t’aime (Part II)

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:05:00 +0000

Back to the City of Lights! Besides the amount of fantastic art that we experienced (most of which I could incorporate in any of my projects) and the wonderful shows that we visited, another highlight of the trip was the opportunity I had to draw so much inspiration from hotels, restaurants and stores! There's no limit to the creative French genius and it's always SO good to bring new perspectives to my projects and fresh ideas to my clients.

LOVE Magazine at Colette

Colette, the mother of all concept stores, was exhibiting photography from the newest editions of cool magazines such as Muse, LOVE and Fanzine. I loved the many walls that combined the drama of fashion photography and the extraordinary selection of the store. Another store that I loved, which got my creative juices flowing was the new Hermès-La Maison, recently opened in what it used to be the Hotel Lutetia's pool at 17 rue de Sevres, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The pool hasn't been used as such in the last few decades and the space is absolutely grandiose. The Parisian architecture firm RDAI did the internal design and the wood huts that they created are works of art in and of themselves; pictures can do NO justice, really. In the store, I became completely head-over-heels for a black-and-white wallpaper with horse motives. But, each roll was as expensive as one of the Hermès wallets… enough said.

One of the windows at the new Hermès-La Maison store. I'm crazy about the wallpaper on the back!

The AMAZING interiors of the new Hermès-La Maison store. The tiles on the floor clearly show what used to be a huge pool. The wood huts are simply fantastic!

More images of Hermès-La Maison, although these photos really do no justice...

Walking aimlessly, which by the way is one of the best ways to find gorgeous stuff in Paris (and NYC), I came across a small furniture and art shop, which had the most interesting chairs, collages and artifacts. It’s called Galerie Think & More, and it’s located on 108 rue Saint Honoré. The owners were a bit reluctant about letting me take some pictures (like 95% of all French stores, galleries, restaurants, etc.), but at the end of our talk, when I explained what I do, they graciously obliged.

Funky chairs at Galerie Think & More

Of all the new and old restaurants that we visited or revisited, there were two that I loved for their ambiance and décor: Le Derrière, which apropos its name, is located at the back of another hot spot called 404. Derrière is modeled as if it were a funky house, with lots of contemporary art on the walls of the first floor living room and quirky finds all over. The second floor has bedrooms and intimate dining rooms, and even a secret smoking room (people must push a mirror to gain access). All the furniture, art, and general stuff there is cool and amazing, but it's the whole concept that makes it all come together so perfectly. Although I didn't love the food, the service was remarkable and the place itself is so worth the visit (not to mention all the ideas that it generated for me!)

Derrière's first floor

The intimate dining room on the second floor

Some people get to eat in bed... at Derrière, that is

The quirky smoking room behind the secret mirror. Pure French genius.

The second restaurant that got me inspired is star chef Jean-Francois Piège’s brand new place, which he opened as part of his own boutique hotel, designed by the brilliant India Mahdavi. It's located on 79 rue Saint Dominique, in the 7th arrondisement (which is now the hottest Parisian 'hood). Nobody can even tell that there's a hotel there, much less a restaurant! The entrance is nondescript; one has to go up the stairs and through another door that has nothing written on it... but we were kindly welcomed by the very gracious hosts and restaurant staff who, at the same time, seemed to be everywhere and nowhere, while nearly outnumbering the restaurant guests: blissful service, incredible food. To make the story short, if I can, this place is amazing, it is intimate without feeling cramped; in fact, every table has plenty of space for the diners. It has a tea salon that also serves as a bar. Since I went for lunch, I could see how the natural light of the place is so sublime that the fixtures were strategically placed so as to not to compete with what the Parisian light does so well. The décor is so fabulous, I don't even know where to start... it isn't pretentious and yet it feels so luxurious, incorporating lots of textures and layers, animal prints, bamboo, mid-century modern, stripes, textured walls, banquettes, mirrors, sconces... I have posted a few pictures to illustrate my words, but again, they don't do any justice.

Jean-Francois Piège’s restaurant brilliantly designed by India Mahdavi

Absolutely gorgeous restaurant. The food and the service are as extraordinary as the design.

The Tea Room that precedes the dining room at Jean-Francois Piège’s

At The Hemingway. The Serendipity, my favorite cocktail, is the one with the red rose. Love every small detail that makes this bar so, so special. I'm looking forward to returning very soon!

I could really write so much more, but I said that I was going to highlight only the absolute very best (so, so hard). I guess my closing note would be to say that every night, before going out, we had an aperitif at the iconic Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel. This is such a special place and the vibe is decidedly Parisian, even if the bar renders homage to one of the best American writers of all time. It is made entirely of wood, and is small, intimate and full of personality, where the one and only, Colin Peter Field mixed his fabulous Serendipity cocktail for me. To end my trip with a high note, the day before I left, I crossed paths with Kate Moss at the Ritz (who, by the way, LOVES the Hemingway Bar). And no, she isn't French, but she embodies style and personality as well as French women do. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. À bientôt, Paris!

Paris, Je t’aime (Part I)

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 02:52:00 +0000

The Eiffel Tower from the Musee du Quai Branly. Such a cliche and yet such a quintiesential symbol of Paris...

I’m lucky enough to wake up every day and feel grateful for being a New Yorker and living in my favorite city in the world. However, what I have with Paris is an affair of the heart. There’s no other place with as much flair, glamour and overall beauty as the City of Lights! I was in Paris with my husband for a few days to welcome the Spring and not only the weather was perfect but I got to do so many things that I’ve been having a hard time editing this post (and the next) so that only the absolute best gets to be highlighted here.

At Maison Rouge, Jana Sterback's "Robe de Chair pour Albinos Anorexiques". This is the meat dress that inspired Lady Gaga to do hers!

On the arts and exhibitions side, I must say that my favorite show was “Tous Cannibales” at Maison Rouge http://www.lamaisonrouge.org/. Wonderfully curated by Jeanette Zwingenberger, the show relies heavily on contemporary artists who have explored cannibalism and its representation in visual arts including photography, video, installation, sculpture, drawing and painting. I loved the amount of pieces brought together, some of them by my favorite artists including Vik Muniz, Wangechi Mutu, Adriana Varejao, Cindy Sherman, Bettina Rheims and my latest obsession, French artist, Jerome Zonder. One of the focal points of ”Tous Cannibales” is Canadian artist Jana Sterback’s “Robe de Chair pour Albinos Anorexique,” a dried meat piece of garment which was created in 1987, has been exhibited all over the world and happens to be what sparked Lady Gaga’s inspiration for her infamous meat dress. Who would have thought?

Adriana Varejao's "Azulejaria Branca em Carne Viva" is one of the highlights of Tous Cannibales. Following Varejao's "visceral" period, it shows human entrails coming out of a panel made of tiles.

Also at Tous Cannibales, Melissa Ichiuju's doll "Kissie Kissy"

Another highlight of the show: "The Partician New" by the extraordinary Wangechi Mutu

My new obsession: Jerome Zonder and his "Jeu d'enfants No. 1"

Another show that I enjoyed was “Ailleurs,” which translates into “Somewhere Else,”exhibited at the gorgeous Espace Culturel Luis Vuitton http://www.louisvuitton.com/espaceculturel/ (which by the way has the most beautiful panoramic views of Paris). “Ailleurs” highlights the extraordinary expeditions of 15 artists to very remote places through mixed media including video, photography, installations and paintings. My favorite was the installation of the Argentinean couple Jorge and Lucy Orta, who recreated an Antarctic village incorporating flags from different countries, very, very cool.

Jorge and Lucy Orta's installation piece at "Ailleurs"

Two other exhibitions I absolutely loved married the wonders of art and fashion: L’ Orients des Femmes” at the Musee du Quai Branly http://www.quaibranly.fr/en/programmation/exhibitions/currently.html and Rive Gauche” at the Fondation Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent http://www.fondation-pb-ysl.net/en/The-goals-272.html

L'Orient des Femmes is a visual feat conceived by the wonderful Christian Lacroix

“L’ Orient des Femmes” at the Musee du Quai Branly was curated by no other than Christian Lacroix and it is an exceptional trip to the past that allows the spectators to enjoy the most wonderful and bright dresses and accessories worn by the women of the Middle East since the beginnings of civilization, simply AMAZING.

Loved Rive Gauche and the vision that YSL had. All the outfits are more than 35 years old and they all look so chic, sexy and of our time.

"Rive Gauche” at the Fondation Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent located at 5, Avenue Marceau is where YSL opened a store and atelier in 1974. Of sentimental and historic value and full of the spirit of YSL, the show touched me profoundly: first because the place really feels as if Monsieur Saint Laurent were still to be there, overlooking everything and getting his creative genius outpouring everywhere and second because of all the 59 outfits exhibited, which are iconic Rive Gauche selections from 1966 to 1975, there is absolutely not a single one I wouldn’t wear today. That’s how amazingly ahead of his time YSL was.

The accessories that YSL designed to go along with his pret-a-porter Rive Gauche collections. I would wear them today in a heartbeat. Vintage fab!

Last but not least was my visit to the galleries. I ALWAYS got to the galleries in Paris, because of my job and because of the thrill of discovering something new. I did visit more than ten galleries from super established and high-end to emerging and edgy. My two highlights, however, are the Eva Hober Gallery http://www.evahober.com/, which represents the GENIOUS that is Jerome Zonder, a 36 year old French artist whose technique is basically graphite on paper but with a degree of precision and detail that I have rarely seen before, particularly in a contemporary artist. He also has an edge, a good amount of very French dark humor and one of his explored themes are children who do sordid things, play with knives and wear masks in the shape of smiling faces. Jerome’s art is so brilliant that I’m literally lining up to buy one of his pieces.

Jerome Zander's genial piece at the Galerie Eva Hober. I MUST have one of his drwaings ASAP!

The other super cool gallery that I visited is the “School Gallery” http://www.schoolgallery.fr/schoolgallery/
which was presenting the original embroideries and tapestries of Yveline Tropea, a French artist who lives in Africa and plays with vibrant colors, mixed media, self portrait and lots of fantasy characters. The show is aptly called "Like a Virgin" given all of Tropea's explorations with religious symbolism and imagery that show her as a Madonna complete with her child. The highlight of the “School Gallery” wasn’t Tropea’s show, but his curator and gallery owner, Olivier Castaing. Olivier is a handsome, charming Parisian who was delighted to walk us through the exhibition and tell us everything about it, but most importantly, he took us to his apartment where he has the most amazing art collection with lots of emerging art and more established pieces. Loved him and his generous spirit! I will leave this long post now and continue next week with more Parisian stuff (I said it above; it has been hard editing it!)

One of Yveline Tropea's gorgeous embroideries and mixed media pieces.

Kathy Grayson and The Hole: Raw and unadulterated

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:35:00 +0000

Kathy Grayson (photo courtesy of Planet Magazine)

When I learned that Kathy Grayson (former gallery director of the sorely missed “Deitch Projects”) was in the process of finally securing a new space for her gallery “The Hole”, I became so elated that I had to visit her temporary exhibition space on the Lower East Side.

The fantastic mural at the Bowery is by the legend of legends, Kenny Scharf, and we can enjoy it in NYC until March thanks to The Hole and Paul Kasmin Gallery

Kathy is one of those rare species who knows how to do everything--write, spot the next big artist, curate a fabulous show in NYC, Athens, Germany or anywhere else in the world, hang out and party with the underground crowd (including Rosson Crow and Terence Koh among many others), throw an amazing dinner party and make her highbrow investors happy in the process. She’s engaging without being overly dramatic, and confident enough to know that she’s here to replace the big hole left when Jeffrey Deitch decided to take the position of MoCA Director in Los Angeles. Hence the name of her gallery “The Hole”.

Ben Jones' furniture and art. So cool!

What I love about the concept of The Hole, is the ability to push boundaries and to put together shows where the entire space is fair game, turning floors, ceilings, columns and anything else into part of the exhibit. I also see her gallery as a continuation of Deitch, especially since many hot artists there were discovered by Kathy. I admire her for being assertive about her belief that art schools often tame the creative process because of too many rules, which aren’t necessarily good for new artists with wild imaginations. Not that art school isn’t a good place to find new talent, but Kathy finds her artists in bars, restaurants, lounges, parties and any other place where the members of the downtown community tend to multitask and make use of their creative talents in any way they possibly can.

My favorite piece. It's by Dearraindrop and I absolutely adore it!

What is most fascinating to me is Kathy’s strong perspective. What makes her different from most, is that she is on the lookout for the rawness, the unadulterated work that is born from artists who get to experiment with a bunch of different media, through a variety of creative channels. That means that they are free to explore and free of constraints, attached to one discipline or one style. Kathy’s artists are creating art to reflect their lifestyles 100% without filters or purifications. She loves street art, graffiti, vibrant colors, playful images and the exhilaration to put together fantastic exhibits that involve the spectator in more ways than one. Of her current artists I’m fascinated by Dearraindrop, a collaboration among three artists: Laura Grant, Billy Grant and Joe Grillo, who also do their own solo work as well. I plan to own one of their works ASAP! Kathy’s latest obsession is Ben Jones and I can see why. Ben is also a member of the art collective Paper Rad. One of his trademarks is to make fantastic cartoon surrealist paintings that are a mix of Stanley Kubrick and Andy Warhol. He also creates super fun furniture and is releasing a new cartoon series for TV. In the temp space, among other cool stuff, Kathy also has a great piece by Barry McGee and some faces by artist Jane Mosley made entirely from candle wax.

Another Dearraindrop piece. Fab sculpture!

The good news is that Kathy is moving to a great space on Bowery and Houston (The Hole should be up and running in about eight weeks or so). And, she has a bunch of fantastic shows lined up. The first one is “The Art of the Joke” , a collective that incorporates pieces by new and established artists, as well as nightly performances of standup comedy. A lot of these artists are comedians too, but we are so used to seeing or knowing about only one of their facets, we are really missing out on everything else. There will also be a summer show with giant plastic floating dolls in the Highline… enough said to capture ANYONE’s attention…

I’ll be attending the grand opening of the new “Hole” and can’t wait to see what that party will be about. Here’s a link to Kathy’s blog, which I truly love for its originality and the "raw and unadulterated" images: http://blog.artfrombehind.net/

Joe Grillo's collage

Super bright colors by Billy Grant

The Hole hosted a dinner in celebration of Armory Week and Dearraindrop created the most amazing decor. Here are some of the elements that were left. I love these guys!

Armory Arts Week in NYC, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:06:00 +0000

The booths on the contemporary side of The Armory Show

Another Armory week in NYC has gone by, with even more hectic activities to fill up my already very crazy, busy life. The VIP preview of the Armory Show was packed with celebrities, hedge funders and Wall Streeters and more, who converged on the most important art week in NYC.

This is a daring piece to be exibited in NYC where the economy gets mostly moved by Wall Street (but if I were a banker I'd buy it just to remind me every day that sometimes things may not go my way). It's by Russian artist Aristarkh Chernyshev.

I do like the concept of the Armory Show. It has two distinctive areas--contemporary art on the lower level (Pier 94) and modern art on the upper level (Pier 92). For the first time there was an entire section dedicated to Latin American galleries and artists. Makes me proud of my background to see how much creativity and passion gets poured in the art presented by young (and not so young) emerging artists, who were born and are influenced by the southern portion of the Americas.

One of my favorite neon pieces by Jeppe Hain. It's called "Please..." Love it!

In my opinion, this year the Armory Show could have been called the “Neon Show”. There was so much neon all over the fair (at least on the contemporary side), ranging from Tracey Emin’s provocative messages, to entire walls covered in neon words, like the piece “Please...” by the Danish artist Jeppe Hein exhibited by 303 Gallery. It was just so brilliant!

One of my favorite pieces of the fair, hands down. Acrylic on paper, nylon, thread, wood by Jacob Hashimoto.

In the Latin American section, the most impactful booth was that of my dear friend Henrique Faria. He chose a wall-length piece by Mexican artist Emilio Chapela, which was formed by hundreds of small rectangles, whose colors were taken from non-alcoholic beverages produced in Mexico. STUNNING and MIND-BLOWING to the extent that I even considered repositioning some of my art to see if I could possibly get that piece for myself! (No, I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future.) My first question to Henrique was to ask if Eugenio Lopez, a mega collector and sole heir of the Jumex (Mexican fruit juices empire) fortune had one of these. Obviously the answer was yes.

Emilio Chapela's wall length piece. WOW!

A closer look of Chapela's piece, this time from the side. Each of the framed documents lists all of the Mexican soft drinks from where the colors were taken. Brilliant!

On the modern section on Pier 92, the vibe was calmer, the people walking around were more corporate and the selection in general was incredibly well-curated and impressive.

A Jacques Villegle collage from 1975 all made from ripped posters.

The satellite fairs this year had a punch and an edge that I don’t recall seeing in previous years. Some of them like Volta, Scope and Pulse had an extraordinary display of colors, as well as more positive and playful messages (which obviously have a lot to do with a better economy and hopes for a better world).

Gorgeous c-print by Maria Friberg.

On the event side, I must say I had the most fun at the MoMA party. I loved the different DJs (preferred the one spinning on the lower level) and enjoyed a performance by British singer Kate Nash, who rose to the “artsy” occasion wearing stripes and a big red bow in her head. There were also cool events all over the city, including a brunch and a dinner organized by Anonymous Gallery, exploring the relationship between art and food. Many artists opened the doors of their studios to receive visitors and guests who wanted to have a better understanding of and a more intimate experience with the creative process.

View from the MoMA's party on the first floor with the garden and some of NYC's buildings on the back.

One of the bars at the MoMA with Warhol flowers on top.

Kate Nash's performance.

It was hard to make a selection of my favorite pictures. I actually posted some more in my Facebook page. If you want to see more please click here http://www.facebook.com/LifeStylingByMariaBrito. In the meantime, enjoy the images I chose for you below!

Fabulous piece by Julian Opie. Completely illuminated and almost as tall as 8 feet!

More playful stuff at Lehmann Maupin, which had a great solo exhibit of never-before-seen urethra postcard pictures by Gilbert & George

I'm so in love with this Sharon Core's "Cakes" c-print. Oh, the sucker for photography that I am!

The Trap of the Art “Bargain” - Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:43:00 +0000

An artist who has been recognized by the critics, is acquired by museums, has memorable shows and has an established market at the time of his death has a chance of seeing his work increase in value over time. However, because the contemporary art world has grown so, so much and so many talents have emerged, it’s fair to think that in the future, the majority of the artists that we are crazy about today will become only footnotes in art history books.

Beatriz Milhazes rarely releases prints, when she does, they are limited editions and generally affordable; however, when I say "affordable", I mean that people should expect to pay around $10,000 instead of $500,000 for an original of her works.

An art purchase should not be made based solely upon “bargains”, or whether or not the “bargain” will become a treasure when the artist dies. Nor should the decision be based on trends, fads, or collective reactions. Buying art shouldn’t be made based solely on financial reasons either. Art is not security. Art is emotional. It’s supposed to be enjoyed. That’s how and why human beings create art.

That hot phenomenon of Street Art and super business-oriented man that is Mr. Brainwash, releases limited edition prints on a monthly basis that can be purchased directly on his website (if you can ever get one, since they do sell out in minutes!) Usually each print starts at $300 and purchases are limited to one per buyer. I like Mr.B's stuff and for $300 (and then say $300 more to get it nicely framed) I do consider any of these prints to be a good bargain.

If I happen to find something I love by an artist who is young and unknown, an inexpensive piece that goes well with my collection, I will buy it without thinking if the artist will become famous, or whether the piece will gain value over time. By the same token, if an artist is recognized and loved by museums, critics and power collectors, and the price point is high and I don’t love the work, then I won’t buy. It will not make me happy, even though the value of the artwork could increase over time. Bottom line for me--I have to really love the art and know I can live with it, if not for the rest of my life, at least for a good chunk of it.

Tristan Eaton is a New Yorker whose art I love. An excellent piece can be bought for $800. His works have been acquired by the MoMA and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. I guess I don't have to say more!

I believe that although there’s no perfect formula for buying art, a successful, “no-regrets” decision-making process looks more or less like this: (1) love the piece and understand some of its background (or the creative process behind it), (2) do some research on the artist; (3) ask around: don’t be afraid of contacting galleries, art consultants or friends who are art connoisseurs; (4) understand the space where you want to display it and the impact or visual stimulation that you want to create and (5) do some soul-searching and see what it is exactly that you want that piece to give to you in the long term. These steps can be very easily followed and they ultimately should lead to having a great collection that can be enjoyed for many, many years.

The Trap of the Art “Bargain” - Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:18:00 +0000

A collage of Andy Warhol's iconic Marilyns. When he started, a lot of people dismissed him as superficial and talentless. Today he is considered one of the top 10 modern/contemporary artists. Back in the 70s and early 80s his works were relative bargains, today most of the good stuff is worth millions of dollars.

When I started buying art over a decade ago, I made a lot of mistakes. I was eager to have some real art on my walls (as opposed to posters or cheap reproductions poorly framed, which tend to hurt a room more than helping it). I did not have much money to invest and I had an untrained eye. I also never thought I was going to become a collector because, back then “collector” sounded too big of a word to me. I also thought the world of galleries, artists and dealers was an impenetrable circle. It occurred to me that perhaps, I might not be able to mix cutting-edge contemporary art with my décor, accessories and lifestyle, and how was I going to ever be able to afford unique and extraordinary works of art by recognized artists? As time went on, though, I learned that I could be an art collector, acquire extraordinary art, integrate it with everything in my home, including the kids. All my assumptions turned out to be completely false.

Damien Hirst's "Butterflies". Critics have equally loved and hated Hirst's art. Some of his pieces are really controversial. I don't love everything he's done but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate or even buy some of his works. The truth is that his prices skyrocketed defying a lot of predictions.

Today, a lot of my clients come to me because they have made the same mistakes that I did. And they want help, guidance and a trained eye that can offer ideas and solutions without being biased. I’m not the artist, I’m not the gallery that represents the artist, I’m not an auction house and I’m not selling my own stuff to anybody. I certainly have very specific taste, and have developed a coherent art collection including a variety of contemporary art, both from emerging and established artists, ranging from photography to acrylic on wood to oil on canvas to mixed media—all of which manages to work well together. I’m also sensitive to my clients’ preferences, even though our tastes may differ a little (or a lot). In other words, a good piece of art is a good piece of art even if it’s diametrically opposed to my own preferences and whether that piece is worth $1,000 or $1,000,000.

One of the famous appliquéd quilts by one of my favorite artists of all times, Tracey Emin. She isn't as super celebrated in the U.S. as some of the other YBAs (Young British Artists). However, her works are very expensive, often commanding mid-six figures. When she started, her prices were as low as £20 for one of her handwritten letters. That's what I call a bargain!

A common mistake that I have found people commit over and over—purchasing art offered as a “bargain” without really considering how it will it fit with your home, or your style and/or personality. Or if the “bargain” was done without research, and isn’t really such a great deal! Another misconceptions is that a contemporary artist will get his/her glory when he/she dies. Hence, the “bargain” issue of buying something from an artist who is relatively old, hasn’t seen much success while alive, but who knows if, after they die, he or she receives the recognition he/she deserves. I don’t think that will happen so much these days for a variety of reasons. Generally (and please note there are always a few exceptions), great artists are discovered in the earlier phases of their careers when they are young. They get the recognition early on at art school, or are spotted by art curators, or they get signed up by good galleries, or a major collector buys something from them. On top of this, the speed at which information travels these days has nothing to do with the days of Van Gogh. If there’s someone with great talent creating art in a remote corner of the world, someone will almost always notice it.

One of the paintings from Richard Prince's "Nurses" series. They were offered in 2003 for the first time at $50,000 to $60,000. Then in 2007 prices reached over $8 million and after the recession they’ve dropped back to under $3 million. Obviously, the collector who paid $50,000 is delighted that the piece is now worth $3,000,000, but the one who paid $8,000,000 isn't so.

I hope this entry is helpful and prompts some critical thoughts. I will continue with the same topic in the next post!

Hot, Fabulous, Latin American Talent: Flavia Da Rin

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Flavia Da Rin is a 32 year old artist from Buenos Aires, whose work I first experienced at Art Basel Miami Beach this past month. Flavia’s pieces were pointed out to me by the extraordinary art curator (and my childhood friend) Valentina Tintori. I was so impressed that I had to buy one of her pieces immediately, passed up having it shipped, and literally carried it under my arm, looking like a fugitive clearing the turnstile of the Miami Beach Convention Center. I have spread the word to all my clients about Flavia, and reached out for an interview as well. It turns out that this girl is one of the sweetest, smartest and most down to earth artists I have ever talked to. I loved her humility and her focus, and after our interview, I spent time revisiting all the images of her art and looking at them with even much more respect than before.

Gorgeous Flavia

I love your work; it’s unique and special. You are consistent in the message that you want to convey. As an only child, you have centered your work on your self-portraits and you have surrounded yourself by fantastic characters created out of your own portraits, your imaginary friends…. Each series is obviously inspired by the circumstances that are happening in your life in a determined moment as well as your feelings and emotions. Why did you call one of your shows “The Mystery of the Dead Child”? What was the reason behind the series and what was happening in your life back then?

Thank you for your kind words! That exhibit was in 2008 and I started envisioning and creating it in 2007. I was so interested in watching the dynamics of the art shows and the opening cocktails, the whole social setting, the ritual of people greeting and hugging each other, the conversations among the participants and all the interactions that have a code which although not written its present and the participants abide by it. Curiously, during that same time, I also went to several funerals and saw a link between both scenarios: the art show opening and the memorial service.

Both are places where people get together to celebrate something, either the end of something that has a potential to be, the ceasing of something that is in constant transformation and it has turned into something else that is stale and static: in one case is a life and in the other is the creative process that precedes the art show. There is not only all the small talk and the shallow conversations that occur in both places but also people are talking either about an inanimate person or an inanimate object…

It was through this idea that I started developing the series. Then two parallel stories showed up: the boy who dies is also represented by the artwork that is displayed in art shows. So when the boy dies, in one side of the story, all his family is in his funeral, but on the other side of the story, the same people become art collectors; the fairies who receive the boy in heaven are also his muses and so on… I was also about to turn 30 at that time and I wanted to get rid of the label of “young artist”, hence the idea of the child who dies like the young artist dies and moves on to a different phase.

From "The Mystery of Dead Child" series

I was fascinated by the works that I saw in Art Basel Miami Beach this past month. They are colorful, playful and remind me of a circus. What’s the name of the series and what was the inspiration for it?

It’s funny that you mention it but this is a series that I have privately decided to call “Carnival” and I’m actually still developing other pieces from the same series. It was inspired by the expressionist artist James Ensor and the Muppets!

From the most recent "Carnival" series and that in which Flavia continues to work on.

Tell me more about the shows and your collaboration at Fondation Cartier. I’m sure it was so exciting to see your artwork posted in every corner of Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

“J'en rêve” was the name of the collective show that took place at the Fondation Cartier. After a year of scouting, a group of very established artists such as Nan Goldin, Takashi Murakami and Guillermo Kuitca selected a group of 40 young artists and then that group was also further reduced by the head curators of the foundation. I was lucky that not only they selected some of my works but also that one of my photographs was chosen by Fondation Cartier to be the image of the show. It was then when I got the great opportunity to show my work at an international level. Then, in 2007, I was invited to participate on the launch of the website “Love” by Cartier. Seven artists, including myself, worked under the same premise: How far would you go for love? I wrote a short love story and produced an accompanying sequence of photographs that illustrated it.

The left side is showing Flavia's work and it's the cover of Fondation Cartier J'en rêve exhibition catalog.

Flavia's photography used in connection with the launch of the "Love" website by Cartier

Hermés also invited you to participate in a show in Singapore. The curatorship was unbelievable! It really looked like an enchanted forest. It’s precisely all the fantasy that surrounds your work what leaves me curious and eager to know more, to see more!

Yes, for that Hermés art show we worked along with Korean curator Emi Eu and Hermés’s wonderful team in charge of windows and display.

Originally, the show was going to open in parallel with the Singapore Biennial in 2008. The theme was "Wonder", and we wanted to work with this idea of fairy tales, folk stories that may seem to be for children but they have a not so innocent subtext. Hermes not only gave me a lots of freedom to work with an amazing team and put together a great show in their exhibition space but they also gave me the chance to work on their windows!

The curatorship of "Wonder" with Flavia's self-portraits at Maison Hermes, Singapore

Who are your most important influences? I understand that working with Kuitca was a wonderful experience but I see so much of Cindy Sherman in your work…

Several years ago I won a very prestigious scholarship called the "Kuitca scholarship"; this is a very unique Project in Buenos Aires, where Guillermo (Kuitca) offers workshops, clinics and critiques to 25 artists every two or three years.

That was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I was sharing a lot of my day-to-day with a group of artists and I saw them develop and grow. Not to mention the wonderful exchanges and conversations with Guillermo. He is an amazing artist and an exquisite conversationalist with a very refined eye and a sensibility for the work of others that I have rarely found on anybody else. From then on, Kuitca and I became really good friends. He is a mentor, someone I love and respect. Guillermo’s work and words go always with me.

Regarding Sherman, I think it’s mandatory to talk about her for any woman who does self-portraits in this day and age. However, our works are truly different. We both start from a fictitious scenario, Cindy is more interested in capturing stereotypes while I’m more interested in storytelling; I want to create a narrative and characters that may not have anything to do with reality, who don’t belong to any specific space or time.

Flavia as a boy

I can imagine that being married now and a new mom has inspired you enormously. In some of your works you have included your dad and your husband’s portrait. Will we see you as a mom or will we see your baby in future works? Coming from an artist with your sensibility, all these emotions will have to be exposed in your next body of work.

Of course! These are very dramatic changes! This is all revolutionary stuff! However, I still don’t know how the changes will be reflected. I don’t think my baby girl will be in any of my works. It’s too much exhibitionism for somebody who came to the world being so vulnerable.

I have been trying to separate myself a little bit from the autobiography and somehow have been trying to getting closer to fiction. It doesn’t matter that all my works start with my own portrait. In the long run this is just another tool in my repertoire. In that sense, my work seems more like that of an artist who’s telling somebody else’s story. In fact, I never see myself in my art; I always see the others that I create. I’m the actress, stylist, camera director, screenplayer and special effects commander of my photographs!

I love this duality of dark and fair

What’s coming up? What are your hopes, dreams and aspirations?

Right now, I’m participating in the VIP Art Fair http://vipartfair.com/ with a focused exhibit of eight pieces brought by my gallery in Argentina, Ruth Benzacar. This is very exciting, it’s all online and I’m looking forward to see how it goes! I will really be exclusively dedicated to taking care of my newborn baby, and then I have to go back to work.

Regarding my aspirations, I’m not someone who’s very ambitious. Ever since I was very young, my career always moved in the right direction and things happened very naturally for me even before I could dream about them. More than dreaming or wishful thinking, I’m very used to working very hard and then see where that gets me. In fact, my aspiration would be to maintain my enthusiasm with respect to my work and to participate in exciting projects.

Recently, I was able to work for Hermes again doing the windows of their Buenos Aires boutique under the curatorship of Ana Torrejón, a collaboration with Mateo Amaral, who added one of his video art installations and the participation of Inés Acevedo, a young writer. I learned a lot and I would love to continue doing these types of projects and collaborate with talented people who work in different disciplines. I don’t want to sound corny, but it’s actually true: to be able to make a living out of what I do and to have the family that I have is a dream come true.

Flavia's window for Hermes in Buenos Aires

There’s very little I can add to the depth, purity and honesty of Flavia’s answers. I dare you not to be in love with her after you see her works (and read her interview)!

The End of the Year – A Personal Note

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:50:00 +0000

2010 has been one of the most exciting years, ever, for me. I have been incredibly lucky and I’m grateful for all the projects, clients, friends, opportunities and wonderful ideas that have been a part of my life. I am also very grateful to the many consistent people who read my blog and have been following me through social media. December is such a fun month and the Holidays are exactly what most of us are looking for in life: family, friends, warmth, happiness, celebrations, magic and inspiration. And that’s exactly what I got a at the beginning of this month, being invited by the French Institute Alliance Française (FI:AF) to celebrate the accomplishments of a man who has worked tirelessly for more than two decades pursuing his dreams. The one and only Marc Jacobs, known for making women and men look beautiful, sexy, playful or empowered through his designs (he can also get artists of the caliber of Takashi Murakami or Richard Prince collaborate with him to create the coolest Louis Vuitton bags or pick up his phone and get Madonna or Mikhail Gorbachev be the face of the LV campaigns). Every year, the FI:AF gives the Trophée des Arts to an extraordinary artist or cultural icon who has exemplified FI:AF’s mission of French-American friendship and cross-cultural exchange. I was elated when I knew Marc was going to be honored this year and even more excited when we chatted that night, before he received his award from that powerhouse that is Anna Wintour, the Editor in Chief of American Vogue.

Marc doesn’t consider himself an artist; he insists he is a designer (though his fashion presentations seem to firmly say that he is an amazing artist). I found him humble, kind and grounded. I admire his will and determination. I asked him what his advice is for young people--it was to keep pursuing their dreams. He feels that if you are consistent and driven, one way or the other, you are destined to be successful in whatever makes you happy and what you feel a passion for. And Marc is really the embodiment of a lot of interesting qualities that are worth imitating: he is an amazing art collector (and not afraid to acknowledge that he started collecting contemporary art late in his life, more precisely in 2002); a man who is fearless when taking risks (either with ad campaigns, fashion shows or with his own personal style of wearing kilts and Birkin bags) and somebody whose curiosity and eagerness to learn more and know more have made him who he is. In the words that Anna Wintour had for him the night of the gala, “Marc is someone who makes you want to rush out and do things”. And that’s how I leave 2010: inspired by the greatness of other human beings and looking forward to doing lots of great things in 2011. Happy New Year!

Art Basel Miami Beach 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:40:00 +0000

One of my favorite booths at ABMB: ZieherSmith presenting a triptych by Eddie Martinez called "The Feast". Sold in seconds on the opening night to Charles Saatchi.

My yearly tradition is to attend Art Basel Miami Beach. The ninth edition of the tropical “baby sister” of the original Swiss fair is actually becoming as important, if not more so, than its European “big sister”. I love everything about Art Basel, the fair and its satellites, as well as the crush of cocktails and parties surrounding it! Some of the best galleries in the world gather in one place, and it is the perfect place to be introduced to new artists. And of course, this is of benefit to my clients! This year ABMB broke records in attendance as it builds a much bigger audience. Although not everybody who goes to the fairs will purchase art or become a collector, everybody there will develop awareness, an interest in art and will have gotten some access to the sometimes exclusive and “codified” world of contemporary art.

The young and supertalented Argentinean Flavia Da Rin who works mostly with self portraits and manipulated photography. The piece above is her own image and so are the fairies behind her.

Art Basel Miami Beach, the main fair, was fantastic as usual! In my top list of gallery booths were: 1) the wonderful Argentinean Galeria Ruth Benzacar and her Oh-My-God-I-Gotta-Have-This, up and coming artist Flavia Da Rin (more about Flavia in a future post); 2) the Swiss Galerie Gmurzynsk which brought modern art mostly from the 50s, but was inventive enough to have a prominent and extraordinarily well-located booth designed by Zaha Hadid. In that booth I actually was introduced by a common friend to the wonderful German-born artist Rotraut Klein-Moquay (the widow of Yves Klein) and had the opportunity to chat with her and her current husband. (He is actually the man who manages Yves Klein estate, fascinating!); 3) Tony Shafrazi Gallery (NYC) for having the coolest and most original curatorship, funky wallpaper and a humongous sculpture by Robert Williams; and 4) ZieherSmith (NYC) who presented an Art Position (sector of the fair where each of the galleries participating were to showcase a single major project from a new talent) by New Yorker Eddie Martinez. The colossal triptych that Martinez created for ABMB and called “The Feast,” resembled an informal last supper with a myriad of interesting characters sitting along the table. This incredible piece was sold on the opening night to mega collector Charles Saatchi. Write Eddie’s name down and buy something from him if you can!

Oldie but goodie. An iconic "Love" piece by Robert Indiana.

From the 14 satellite fairs I must say that once again, Pulse and NADA had the best selections and the widest variety of new talent: bright illuminated books by Korean artist Airan Kang, a fantastic video art screen mounted on a very interested pedestal by New Yorker Claudia Hart, the Kate Moss portfolio of the model’s 11 photographs as captured by an excellent variety of the best contemporary and fashion lenses presented by Dazinger Projects and the fantastic photographic compositions of Abigail Reynolds.

Abigail Reynold's Trafalgar Square 1975/1971 (2010) at the NADA Art Fair

I also went to a bunch of parties and cocktails, to a point it was overwhelming. Among the many soirees there were some notables: the amazing fête hosted by Aby and Samantha Rosen at the “W” Hotel, the Andy Warhol Tribute at Wall hosted by art dealer Vito Schnabel. Other standouts included the Maybach Night honoring artist Julian Schnabel and actor Sean Penn, the MAM cocktail and the Vanity Fair dinner in honor of Bruce Webber.

Carol Hart's video "The Swing" at Pulse Miami

I left Miami with a few pieces under my arm, a much wider landscape of the contemporary art world as of today and a bunch of new ideas to incorporate in my projects. Couldn’t be any happier or more grateful for the opportunity to be there and I’m already looking forward the 10th anniversary next year!

Waste Land - The Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:04:00 +0000

"Sebatiao as Marat-Pictures of Garbage" / Photograph by Vik Muniz - Courtesy of Vik Muniz Studio

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the official opening night of the documentary “Waste Land” http://www.wastelandmovie.com/index.html in New York City. Waste Land is a most touching and impressive account of what happens when an artist decides to expand and open his world to some of the humblest and poorest people in the world. Waste Land follows the extraordinary journey of Vik Muniz when he travels to Rio de Janeiro in his native Brazil and immerses himself in Jardin Gramacho, the world’s largest landfill. For those who don’t know Vik, he is one of the most amazing contemporary artists of our time and based in Brooklyn, although he also maintains a studio in Rio.

The extraordinary Vik and I at the official opening of Waste Land at the Angelika Film Center

A still from the movie, Tiao in Jardim Gramacho being photographed by Vik - Courtesy of Vik Muniz Studio

This is Irma, another fabulous woman who still lives and works in Gramacho. The amazing image was captured from the heights in Vik Rio's studio. Pretty impressive! - Courtesy of Vik Muniz Studio

Vik in Jardim Gramacho: love his spirit - Courtesy of Vik Muniz Studio

Vik works with all sorts of different materials when photographing his pieces (for more information, check my older post on Vik here: http://mariagbrito.blogspot.com/2010/02/genius-of-vik-muniz.html), including junk. For three years, Vik worked closely with some of the garbage pickers who live in the landfill. Little did Vik know when he set foot in Jardin Gramacho for the first time that he was going to create such an impact and change the lives of so many people as he did with this project. And little did he know of the profound transformation that meeting the pickers and getting so close to them was going to bring to his own life.

Lucy Walker, the director of Waste Land, also deserves great praise! She got completely involved in the process and as a result, the movie was a beautiful masterpiece. As a bonus, the soundtrack is by Moby!! The movie has already won many awards, including the prestigious Sundance Film Festival Audience Award World Documentary. I was incredibly touched by Waste Land, and everyone else who has seen it agrees with me. It’s one of the best movies of 2010. Don’t miss it!

The Model as Muse/Becoming Art: My Interview with Christy Turlington

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:06:00 +0000

Christy photographed by Steven Klein for a 2009 Vogue feature

I met Christy Turlington about a year and a half ago and ever since that moment I have been impressed by her inner and outer beauty, her generosity and her intelligence. We’ve chatted about everything from childbirth and preschools in NYC to infectious diseases in Africa and I must say, Christy is not only gorgeous and iconic but so authentic and generous! This girl really needs no introduction. She was and still is one of the greatest supermodels EVER!

Captured by the genius of Bruce Weber's lens for the Eternity ad campaign in 1990

I have always thought of Christy as an influential figure both in the fashion and the art world. She’s so very relevant that it doesn’t matter if we are staring at a Calvin Klein’s Eternity ad (the first of which was shot in 1989) or the latest Louis Vuitton campaign (launched in the fall of 2010). Her grace is absolutely timeless. A couple of weeks ago, I went to Phillips de Pury for a private viewing of the pieces offered in the Photographs auction and I saw a beautiful portrait of Christy by Albert Watson taken in New York City in 1990. The image not only struck me as sensuous and mysterious, but also reminded me how much of an icon Christy is and how many artists and photographers have been inspired by her extraordinary features.

One of my favorite Vogue covers of all time. Iconic picture taken by Steven Klein in 2002

In Los Angeles, a collaboration with Kurt Markus. An amazing series of self-portraits

Christy wearing Valentino shot by the master, Herb Ritts

Some of the mannequins created by Ralph Pucci and modeled after Christy

Since I have been exploring the intersection of fashion and art and the whole idea of the model as a muse I thought about asking Christy a few questions about art and about “becoming” art. Here is our interview:

A lot of the images where you have posed for big-ticket fashion photographers end up in auction houses, museums and private collections. You have become art. How does that feel to you?

Well, as a collector of photography myself it feels both strange and good. I don’t think of myself generally as an object of art but I have on occasion felt that I have contributed to images that may be seen as works of art.

I love to think about the possibility of expanding anyone’s work product into different realms and directions. As a model, your photographs have moved beyond fashion. Which has been your most fulfilling collaboration with a photographer and why?

I once collaborated with Kurt Markus on a series for British Vogue that were based on the idea of a book of self portraits called “I, Camera.” Basically, Kurt would let me choose the location for his large format camera that he would then set up in various rooms of the Chateau Marmot Hotel in Los Angeles. Once the camera was in place and set, he would leave the room or turn away and I would pose and then press the cable release. It was such a nice way to work. It was really just the two of us and we only took a few frames for each photograph. I wonder if I have any of them...

In 1993 Ralph Pucci commissioned mannequins based on your face for the Met’s Costume Institute. The same year the Met said that you represented “The Face of the 20th Century”. Wow! I can imagine how big that feels. You are not only making art but making history! Why don’t you tell me a little bit about how did all that happen? It’s a major milestone in your career and life, I assume.

I was obviously quite flattered to become a face associated with the Met’s Fashion Institute back in 1993 (I can’t believe it was that long ago!) I remember hearing from Harold Koda, the curator of the exhibition, and then squeezing in a series of sittings with the sculptor over the course of several weeks before Pucci completed the mannequins. A little known fact from the exhibit is that they made versions of several mannequins from my face, including faces of men and children.

Marc Jacobs and Harold Koda did an extraordinary job with the exhibition “The Model as Muse”. You were an important part of it. What did you like best about that show, particularly considering that it was put together in 2009? Basically you were looking at it with the experience of someone with more than 25 years of modeling under your belt…

I never actually saw the “Model as Muse” exhibition but I do have a book as a memento. I was out of the country at the time of the gala and then thought it would be weird to be there as a spectator having participated in such an intimate way. That it has been twenty five years that I have been contributing to the fashion industry as a model is rather mind blowing in and of itself.

What do you miss the most about the late 80s and 90s in terms of art and artists? If you could make a reference to the art world or an anecdote that you remember from those days…

I remember my early days in New York when Andy Warhol and Keith Haring were alive and out all the time. I was lucky to have met them along with Francesco Clemente, Julian Schnabel and Jeff Koons as a teenager. It was a magical time to grow up in this city.

I’m sure you have an art collection, when did you start it and how did you develop it?

I started to collect photography years ago and I focused on collecting nudes and flower prints. The staples of my photography collection are two stunning Irving Penn Tulip prints and a nude of an African woman reclining. I also have another favorite, a Sugimoto print taken inside the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and my husband gave me two gorgeous Thomas Struth photos for my birthday a few years ago of the neighborhood we live in but taken around the time I first moved to New York City. I have a great Robert Frank of some boys in drag taken in the city around the same time as well...

Quick Q&A:

Who’s your favorite artist(s)? Rothko, Cy Twombly, Modigliani

What’s your favorite wine? Quintessa

What designer(s) are you wearing lately? Isabel Marant

Best museum in the world? The Tate Modern

Most avant-garde city in terms of design? Tokyo

There’s no question why Christy has had the phenomenal career and the very fulfilling life that she enjoys. Being a muse is not only about being beautiful, but also about having the charisma and the grace to inspire others as well as the ability to engage those around you. Christy has it all.

The Mondavis and the history of winemaking in Napa Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:25:00 +0000

Family portrait: Cesare and Rosa Mondavi with their four kids

Last week, I had the great opportunity to be part of an historic event in the wine world: the reunion of the famous Mondavi family. It took place in different Morton’s Steakhouses—inlcuding San Francisco, Las Vegas, Honolulu and NYC. I’m not usually a fan of steak restaurants, but red wine really goes well with meat and the Morton’s people really put together a lovely evening for us. Why was this reunion such an amazing fete? Because the Mondavis, as the good passionate Italians they are, have been fighting for ages and after many disputes, disagreements and lawsuits, the families of Robert (who died in 2008) and Peter (who is currently 95) reunited last week for the first time in literally decades.

Robert Mondavi was for many years the most important name in the Napa Valley

The Mondavi representative in New York was the sweet and nice Carissa Mondavi, one of Robert’s granddaughters, and a partner of Continuum wines. Continuum is a winery that was started in 2005 by Robert himself and two of his children: Timothy and Marcia. Carissa lives and breathes wine and she’s really proud of the Mondavi name and of having been able to expand the business that the family started almost seventy years ago.

The entrance to the Charles Krug vineyard that the Mondavis first bought in 1943

The Mondavis are the royalty of American wine. Robert Mondavi was really instrumental in developing the wines of the Napa Valley as we know them today. He was obsessed with the idea that Napa wines could be as good as their European counterparts. And as we know, he did accomplish his objective and much more.

The Mondavis who opened Continuum: Robert Mondavi sitting on the front with his children Marcia and Tim. On the back are Margrit Mondavi (Robert's wife) and Carissa Mondavi (Tim's daughter)

It all started back in the first decade of the 20th century, when Cesare and Rosa Mondavi arrived from Italy and eventually settled in California. They started trading grapes, and after Prohibition, entered the wine business. Rosa and Cesare had four children but it was the two boys, Robert and Peter, who became enthralled by the fascinating world of winemaking. In 1943, Robert and Peter convinced their father to buy Charles Krug Winery in the Napa Valley and the three men ran the business. Cesare died in 1959 and in 1960, after many disagreements, Robert was exiled from Charles Krug leaving Rosa and Peter in charge.

The entrance of the Robert Mondavi Winery, today owned by Constellation Brands

But Robert, as ambitious as he was, had already greater plans, and in 1966, helped by his three children, opened the Robert Mondavi Winery. This was really one of the most important milestones for the California wine business. Robert and his brood grew the winery, forged alliances and took winemaking in the United States to the next level.

The label of Continuum, proudly designed by Chiara Mondavi

After many, many years of great success and expansion, and again, not without drama and confusion, the Robert Mondavi Winery was sold to Constellation Brands in 2004. Robert was 90 years old. So what’s the Mondavi legacy today? Michael, the elder son of Robert, owns Folio Wine Partners. His wife Isabel and his children work with him too. Timothy and Marcia, also Robert’s children, own Continuum Wines. Peter Mondavi still owns the Charles Krug winery and his children Marc and Peter Jr. run the business with him.

The Barrel Room of Folio Winemakers' Studio, simply fabulous!

The true legacy of the Mondavis, particularly of Robert, is how he pushed and inspired a new generation of American winemakers to be extraordinary and to elevate Napa Valley to be one of the finest wine regions in the world. The Mondavis truly are the ultimate inspiration and the embodiment of the American dream. Cheers to them!

Opening Night at the MoMA: Four Fall Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Image of a fun night: art lovers hanging out at the MoMA sipping a few cocktails!

One of the perks of being in the art world is to be involved with museums, and to get to participate in so many different events and activities organized by the curators, the trustees, the committees. My favorite museum in New York is the MoMA. I am happy to be involved in the museum and support its show and exhibitions any way I can. The past week, I attended the opening night and cocktail party for four shows that will be running throughout the fall and part of the winter: Abstract Expressionist New York, New Photography 2010, Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen and Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement.

Willem De Kooning said "Flesh is the reason oil paint was invented". Here is his famous "Woman, I"

The Museum was packed with art lovers –and artists (including the great Amy Sillman)- excited to partake of such great night. The DJ was fantastic and even the garden was booming despite an earlier rain that had threatened the fun of being outside during the last warm days in the city.

Another great Abstract Expressionist work, "Cathedral" by Hans Hoffman

After a few cocktails, I worked my way from the fourth floor down. My favorite show by far was Abstract Expressionist New York. This movement put New York in the center of the art world back in the 1950s and replaced Paris as the artistic and creative capital of the world. And gave a specific voice to artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell, in an era focused on the tragedies and scarcity of the Great Depression and the World War II. Fascinating.

One of my favorite pieces of the exhibit: Jackson Pollock's "Stenographic Figure"

The show was entirely put together using pieces from the extensive MoMA collection-- it was beautifully curated and impressive all around. The Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis room deserves a special mention—so many beautiful Rothkos were masterfully assembled in there. Amazing scene.

One of the pieces exhibited in Abstract Expressionist New York- Mark Rothko's #10, 1950

Robert Motherwell's "Western Air"

The second exhibition I visited was New Photography 2010, featuring the works of four new artists: Roe Ethridge, Elad Lassry, Alex Prager and Amanda Ross-Ho. After this show neither their lives nor the price of their prints will remain the same! The four artists displayed very different techniques, each with its own specific flavor. Prager, my favorite, photographs women in settings that look part Pulp Fiction, part retro-glam. I loved the brightness and visual stimulus provided by the vibrant colors and neatness of his prints, not to mention the “dramedy” feel of it all. I'll be mentioning his name to my clients a lot.

Alex Prager's "Susie and Friends". Simply fabulous!

Amanda Ross-Hu's "Expose for the Shadows Develop for the Highlights"

The third exhibition “Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement” shows eleven architectural projects on five continents that respond to localized needs in underserved communities. Very interesting developments that helped solve the difficult problems of overpopulated communities in places where there was a lack of economic resources (but obviously not a lack of great architects and bright minds!). Among the projects that caught my attention were the ones that relieved dangerous or very cumbersome situations in the “favelas” of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the Shanty Towns of Port Elizabeth in South Africa and the Metro Cable up the hills of the “barrios” in Caracas, Venezuela.

Noero Wolff Architects. Red Location Museum Of Struggle, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 1998–2005. Photo credit: Iwan Baan

The last show: Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen, presented a cool assembly of artifacts and objects found in the post-war kitchen of the 20th Century including a complete example of the iconic “Frankfurt Kitchen,” designed in 1926–27 by the architect Grete Schütte-Lihotzky. There was also artwork presenting food and culinary instruments like Tom Wesselman’s famous Still Life #30 or a grouping of World War II propaganda posters for the British War Office/Ministry of Food. Brilliant.

Wesselman's iconic "Stil Life #30"

Artifacts from the modern kitchen, artfully displayed.

I love the fall in New York City. Not just the cool weather and the beautiful warm tones of the foliage, but also nights like this one, only a single example of the enormous possibilities that the city offers to all of us, New Yorkers, who love art, culture and cocktails!

The Intersection of Art & Fashion – Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Fashion has been steadily raising its profile to become a form of art as important as any other. From fashion shows to events, editorial and advertising campaigns. The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York curates two shows a year each devoted, for example, to fashion and costuming (The Goddess), an important fashion icon (Jackie Kennedy) or a group of people (The Model as a Muse). This just underscores how inseparable art and fashion have become. This year, fashion cements itself in the popular culture/art forum during Fashion Week, which has just moved from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center. One day you're watching Carmen, the opera, and the next day you are attending the largest public fashion show in New York history, which occurred this very season.

The streets of SoHo on Fashion's Night Out: packed!

(Image courtesy of Kirna Zabete)

Last Friday, the stores (and in many cases, the streets) of New York and many other cities in the world including Paris, Lisbon, Berlin, Istanbul, London and New Delhi, hosted Fashion's Night Out, the brainchild of Anna Wintour created to push the fashion industry and stimulate shopping in the aftermath of an economic crisis. This year, the second annual celebration of Fashion's Night Out has taken more spectacular proportions, having not only the aforementioned public show but also a cool occasion where celebrities, models, designers and the public mingle, hang out and buy clothes until late.

Sarah Easly, Jason Wu and Beth Buccini

(Image courtesy of Kirna Zabete)

I decided to spend FNO in SoHo -which by the way, turned itself into a big and packed street party during a beautiful and slightly cold night-, and hit a couple of different stores before settling into the fabulous concept store, Kirna Zabete http://www.kirnazabete.com/, owned by my friend Beth Buccini and her partner, Sarah Easly. They opened this store 11 years ago to fill a void in the marketplace. The idea was to present very special selections and very edited pieces from coveted high-end designers such as Lanvin, Stella McCartney, Balmain and Balenciaga and offer them along with more fun, edgier and affordable pieces from younger designers such as Proenza Schouler, whose cute creators Lazaro and Jack were also at Kirna Zabete that night and en route to another event at Gagosian (hello, fashion and art!) or Thakoon and Peter Som both of whom were also hanging out with us that night. Beth and Sarah are pioneers who opened the store when everything that was around was Prada and Gucci but not many other riskier, alternative options for the more daring clotheshorse. Today, Kirna Zabete is like a small Colette, they also carry books, fabulous jewelry, shoes, bags, the occasional home accessory and other fun stuff.

DJ Wolf spinning tunes.

(Image courtesy of Kirna Zabete)

Beth and I talked about the evolution of fashion as art and she's really an authority on all these topics. Having been a fashion editor at Mirabella (beautiful but long gone magazine) and New York Magazine before opening the store, she has witnessed fashion shows all over the world, met hundreds of designers and in some cases, she has also put them in the map for the first time... I asked Beth why are we seeing more of these mega-fashion shows that not only push the envelope but also resemble art installations or theatre performances to which she answered that for many years, the fashion shows in Europe have been cutting-edge, artsy and innovative and it was only a matter of time and a natural evolution that the shows in New York would catch up, spreading the magic throughout... The best local representation of such fantasy and theatricality, according to Beth, is that done by the Mulleavy sisters, the creators of Rodarte, and I happen to agree.

See what I mean when I say "very edited"? Absolutely fabulous selections in every corner of the store.

Beth’s favorite designers (this was a tough one) are Lanvin because of the playfulness and all the mixing and matching that Alber Elbaz has brought to the house, Celine, because Phoebe Philo has taken the label to a younger and more interesting level, and Alaia, because of his unique talent and his refusal to following trends, instead creating them. The night was spent in the fitting room, dancing to the tunes of DJ Wolf and hanging out with designers and dear friends including fitness queen, Tracy Anderson. When I called it a night and on my way out, I bumped into Jason Wu whose latest collection, according to him, was inspired by one of my favorite artists, and one whose works I have placed many times in the house of my clients, the extraordinary Carioca, Beatriz Milhazes. No doubt, fashion IS art.

The Intersection of Art & Fashion – Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:05:00 +0000

September is a wonderful month in New York City. It marks the beginning of the fall and with it the arrival of new gallery shows and exciting museum exhibits as well and Fashion Week (now for the first time in Lincoln Center). Of course, there will be lots of parties and events, including the fun and brilliant Fashion’s Night Out which is actually tonight! http://www.fashionsnightout.com/ (more about that in next week’s entry).

Linda and I having coffee at 9:00am in a local cafe. And yes, I posed sans makeup next to a supermodel!

I’ve always thought that fashion IS art and this is about their intersection and how much one informs the other. I recently sat down for coffee with Linda Vojtova, who is not only super gorgeous but also very smart, grounded, poised and good natured. Linda is a supermodel born and raised in the Czech Republic who has been modeling since 2000. Linda has been able to maintain a high-profile career for more than 10 years and still gets fabulous gigs, it really speaks volumes of the caliber of who she is. She has done over 14 seasons of Fashion Week in New York, Paris and Milan and there she has rocked the runways of Armani Privé, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Hermès, Emanuel Ungaro, Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Rosa Cha, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Chanel, Prada, Burberry Prorsum, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera just to name a few. She has also been the face of Fekkai, Armani Collezioni, Bergdorf Goodman, Bill Blass, Bloomingdale's, Diesel, Escada, Giorgio Armani, La Perla, Mango, Max Mara and Neiman Marcus and as if it were not enough she has graced the covers of international editions of Vogue, Elle, Glamour and Amica and many, many more. In fashion circles, she’s known as “Baby Gisele”.

Linda in Jean Paul Gaultier's show - Fall 2008

In Dior Couture's show - Spring 2008

This picture was also taken at a Dior Couture runway but it was the Spring 2009 show

Linda on the cover of Vogue Australia. Gorgeous.

Linda and I discussed photographers, how they create magic with their lenses and how an editorial shooting or a campaign sometimes does become art. It’s not uncommon that many of the photographs taken by big names such as Steven Meisel and Patrick Demachelier (Linda has worked with both), Mario Testino and the sorely missed Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts become, at some point art hanging on the walls of many collectors and in museums. The brilliant Peter Lindbergh is Linda’s favorite photographer, and with whom she has a close relationship. Being old-school, Lindbergh takes the time to understand his subject, he really believes in the “muse” and that image-making is indeed art.

Linda as the face of Fekkai, captured by Peter Lindbergh

Elle Mexico

Linda recently shot an editorial for the iconic fashion magazine Dazed & Confused in the UK. Artist Simon English painted on Linda’s face and body, another extraordinary intersection of the beauty produced when art and fashion collide... And we also covered the subject of fashion designers—they create a lot of art and magic. Their clothing, is, of course, amazing, but fashion shows have evolved over the years into extraordinary installations where art, music and theatre converge with celebrities and other creative notables. Linda’s favorite shows are Christian Dior, because honestly, who better than Galliano to show the world what fashion as art really means, and who truly pushes the envelope as he does. Linda also loved working with Jean Paul Gaultier, who she considers an artistic genius, and Marc Jacobs whose shows are always the best. Balmain, McQueen and Lanvin, are, however, the collections she considers to be the most avant-garde and edgy.

One of the images for Dazed & Confused's editorial where Linda's hair, face and body were painted by Simon English

Linda is an avid collector, and among other great pieces, she has a few Andy Warhols, her favorite artist. And she loves how Andy married –in his very own way- the worlds of fashion and art. She also loved the recent show of Mr. Brainwash in the meatpacking district which she attended with her boyfriend - a renaissance man who paints, collects, has a rock band, loves fashion and has pretty much worshipped Linda for the past six years. And I totally get why.

Collecting Wine- Tips by Michael Madrigale, Head Sommelier at Bar Boulud

noreply@blogger.com (Maria) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:04:00 +0000

Michael Madrigale, Head Sommelier, Bar Boulud

Collecting wine, how to collect wine, what to do, where to look…. These are such vast topics, they each deserve a blog post (and more) on their own. However, it is my mission to make things simpler and a bit more accessible than what they seem to be. So I went after Michael Madrigale, Head Sommelier at Bar Boulud http://www.danielnyc.com/barboulud.html, social media master (follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/BARBOULUD) and overall, a really cool and down to earth guy who absolutely loves what he does. Despite the long hours managing the cellar, buying, budgeting and running the floor, talking to diners, tasting wine….

Bar Boulud

Bar Boulud is Daniel Boulud’s fabulous Upper West Side bistro, which, besides having delicious food, is very wine centric. Michael’s preferences inform the wine collection at Bar Boulud. The majority of the outstanding wines at this über-cool spot are Burgundy and Rhône, because they really complement the restaurant’s menu. They are also extraordinary wines.

The day-to-day cellar in the basement of the restaurant is truly AMAZING!

Every night, based upon his weekly discussions with the chef, Michael selects a Magnum (1.5 liter bottle for all regions) or Jeroboam (3 liter bottle of Bordeaux) or Methuselah (6 liter bottle of Burgundy) or Imperial (6 liter bottle of Bordeaux) to be poured and sold by the glass. He also Tweets his choices. The selection is always distinctive, including fabulous vintages, Grand Crus, and more. And no glass of wine is ever more expensive than $25. Michael’s Twitter followers don’t walk, they RUN to Bar Boulud to drink from the coveted bottle and everybody has a blast. As a bonus (and what a bonus), the art that is hanging on the walls of the restaurant is a whole series of wine stains made especially by Vik Muniz for Daniel. Here, Vik explores the duality that exists between something as divine as wine and something as despicable as the stains they leave behind. Brilliant.

One of Vik Muniz's wine stains photographs. Since Rhone is one of Michael's faves, I chose Guigal "La Turque" 1991, a Syrah that got 99 points by Robert Parker

So I asked Michael to give me his tips on how to collect wine. He feels the most important thing that collectors or aspiring collectors should do is read a lot: understand the wines, the production, the philosophy behind each vineyard and the passion of a winemaker. It also helps to understand the nuances of the wine market without jumping to buy whatever is being offered on the internet or at auctions (which are often priced higher than the wine is actually worth). My own favorite references in this area are “The Wine Advocate” (Robert Parker’s famed bimonthly super-specialized magazine) and Wine Spectator, which is fun, colorful and filled with excellent advice and information. On the blog side, I like Dr. Vino http://www.drvino.com/ and of course, Gary Vainerchuck’s Wine Library TV http://tv.winelibrary.com/

Michael's "Hall of Fame"

One other thing that Michael mentioned a lot is how the crazy wine market can make affluent people spend inordinate amounts of money for cases of wine that aren’t really worth that much. As an example, he mentions the Californian wines of 1999 and 2000 , describing the frenzy they provoked but the ultimately disappointing quality of the wines. Michael also advises to be very careful at wine auctions: prices will always be increased due to premiums and other fees and most of the time, for the really good wines, there will be other guys pushing very hard to get a case of that fabulous (and hard to find) Burgundy or Bordeaux.

One of Michael's selections of the week! Le Pergole Torte, a fab Sangiovese!

Michael’s advice for collectors who love French wines (and who doesn’t?)—explore the northern Rhône region, which he finds (and I agree) spectacular and still accessible; including the reds from Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage, which have some of the best Syrah out there. All in all, Michael’s passion is contagious and his love affair with wine is one of those things that must be experienced in person. If you are in NYC, go and have dinner at Bar Boulud, or, even better, check what’s being poured tonight and get excited on your way there! À votre santé!