To The Brafa Art Fair in Brussels, 2019

Highlights From Our Trip To The 

Annual Brafa Art Fair in Brussels

written by Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

chocolate and treats from Maison Dandoy

More and more designers from the United States are finding it helpful both for their business and their creative inspiration and sources to attend the international design and art trade shows.  Paris shows Maison Objet and Deco-off  are quite popular with designers here in New York.  This year, we attended the Brafa Art Fair in Brussels, Belgium the same week as the Paris shows, and it was an exceptional experience. An added bonus was seeing this beautiful, historic city with cobblestone streets.  Known for their beer, chocolate and waffles, there is certainly a lot to do besides take in the design at the fair.  The fair showcased a milieu of the classics, beautiful historic art that keeps you enthralled.  But, make no mistake this international art fair, showcases modern art and artists as well. There is also plenty of decorative arts at the fair.  I especially loved the showhouse-like designs sponsored by Delen Bank in Belgium and created by mother and daughter interior design team, Anne-Sophie Delen and Marie-Alix Delen.  The rooms were gorgeous and jam-packed with rich art, mid-century furnishings and vintage lighting.  It was wonderful to see how European designers put all these factors together in a home-- this certainly gave us fodder to bring home to our projects.  

 interior designers

Anne-Sophie Delen and Marie-Alix Delen

One of the artists at the fair who drew my attention was Julian Opie represented by Patrick De Brock gallery.  The artist renders his subjects with minimal details in thick black outlines then fills it in with solid areas of that same color. I particularly love the portraits, including "Lucia 1" which he painted in 2017.  It's a must-see for modern art lovers. His oversize sculpture installations are stunning as well and they appear in a multitude of applications from hospitals to other public spaces and of course private gardens and homes.

  JULIAN OPIE, Lucia 1, 2017 Silkscreen on acrylic panel

more art we spotted...

please see more of my musings from Brussels 

over on the 

Aspire Design and Home magazine Instagram

Meet IFDA NY Members Column, Summer Series

IFDA NY's New Column, Meet Our Members...

This Week, Let's Get To Know Artist,

Garette Johnson of Garrott Designs

As part of our new series to support and collaborate with our IFDA NY Chapter members, we created this column. Please stop by each month to read a new profile where we will showcase the talents, interests and inspirations of our members. This week, meet Garette Johnson of Garrott Designs...

What inspires you day in and day out?

“Design Your Space, Create Yourself.” is my brand and my motivation. Empowering people explore personal expression and create spaces that make for meaningful experiences.

What do you do?

I am an artist, designer and trend analyst working in the fashion industry. I'm excited to make a pivot into the world of interior design and architecture because lifestyle and self expression is as much about our environment as our personal sense of style. I create expressive and colorful artwork for the well-curated space.

Why are you great at what you do?

Mostly because I am curious and want to see what else we can do while we're here.

Why did you join IFDA?

Well, full disclosure, I met the most amazing three ladies on a total whim at the Design Center, and that felt so ridiculously clandestine that I had to double down. I always say, “Find your Tribe.”  Since joining IFDA, I've felt as if I've found a tribe of creative shakers and doers that I just enjoy being in a room with. We lift each other up; it's awesome.

How can we learn more about your business?

I'd love to make your acquaintance at an upcoming IFDA event such as CCC. In the meantime, my website is www.garrottdesigns.com and I am on most social platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest as @GarrottDesigns. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn by searching for Garette Johnson, Trend Analyst. Note that my name and the brand name are spelled differently.

More to know...
Our environments have a huge impact on our thoughts, feeling and actions. We can co-create the world around us. It's not a set of parameters but a place of discovery and play.

Calling all art aficionados....NY Chapter member exhibiting in NYC this month

Fall...Art....New York City...

the perfect trifecta!  

Patricia Bouley works in progress

"Art is the language I use to express the spirit of being alive.  My natural tendencies are to focus on color and abstraction layered with story telling and observations of change."

artist, Patricia Bouley 

Please stop into IFDA NY Chapter member 

Patricia Bouley's art exhibit on October 23.  

See the invitation below for details, 

and to learn more about the artist, 

check out her website here.

The piece above is entitled,

Prepare to Leave

   Acrylic on Newsprint

   5" x 7"

Paul Thomas' new collection, Heaven, on display in New York City

IFDA NY Chapter member, 

Paul Thomas 

will be showcasing his new art collection,
Heaven
 in New York City 
for two exciting events--
this week's Affordable Art Show 

then a solo exhibit at 
Galerie Protégé

story written by Tamara Matthews-Stephenson

author of Nest by Tamara 

About Paul Thomas:

Thomas creates beautiful, colorful abstract paintings exploring color, form and spatial differentiation.  There seems a ray of light infused into his vibrant paintings.  Paul studied at the Arts Student's League in NYC, and his works have been in public and private display in the US, Canada, France and Italy.  

click here to purchase tickets to the Affordable Art Show
The Opening Gala for the Affordable Art Show 
is this 
Wednesday, April 3 from 7-10 p.m.

the Affordable Art Show
takes place four days (April 3-7) in downtown's Metropolitan Pavilion.  80 galleries exhibit thousands of contemporary art with prices ranging from $100-$10,000.

The Galerie Protégé is located on 197 9th Avenue (lower level), and gives emerging artists who create works in a range of mediums the opportunity to exhibit in the Chelsea gallery district of New York City.  
 The gallery will exhibit Thomas' new works on canvas and paper
 The Opening Reception is April 18 6-9 pm,
and the solo showing will continue from April 18-May 16th.
This is Thomas' second time exhibiting his work at the Galerie Protégé.
                                                                 

“Heaven gives us a revealing answer, unique perspective and clear vision, brought forth by an unmistakable glory of well-calculated shapes and an explosion of color… Thomas' prophetic images are conducive to meditation.  Through his technique, he brings forth well chosen colored ideas, which in time become addictive and manage to alleviate in us the deepest ingrained sorrow.  The paintings form a harmonious whole.  The vivid, wild, sensual, elegant and colorful meditations, worked unhurriedly, resonate within us, and in return seek comfort in the utopic heavens.” 
Mariana Carpinisan. 
Curator/Art Critic/Art History Professor

Pieces from the Heaven Collection
are dramatic and sized 
36" X 54"

and, yet another chance for members to view his work,

the IFDA NY Chapter's  CCC on May 6 will

be hosted at Galerie Protégé from 5:30-7:30 pm.

We hope to see you there!