The Collectors
Image by Tasha Tylee
Each week on the IN BED Journal we’re fortunate enough to be granted a window into the lives of creative people we admire. What’s more, we catch a charmed glimpse of the artwork on their walls, all while being regaled with stories of just how and why these prized possessions were procured. As we add to our own personal collections, we recall the tales that moved us, and the individuals - and homes - that shared them.
Ryan & Jon, Echo Park Los Angeles
Behind the facade of a Spanish-style apartment in Los Angeles’ Echo Park, lies a haven of art, rare objects and design - curated at the hands of photographer Ryan James Caruthers and designer Jon Anthony. Almost everything in the space holds emotional resonance, from a wooden fish sculpture by Korean artist Minjae Kim to a floor-to-ceiling artwork in the heart of their home.
We originally had intended this piece for our bedroom, but upon getting it inside — we realized that at its height, it would only fit in the living room.
“One highlight is the large-scale painting that sits in our living room. The piece was a sketch of The Battle of Hastings, done in 1935 by Italian artist Pasquale Giovanni Napolitano as a commission for the Federal P.W.A. project. We originally had intended this piece for our bedroom, but upon getting it inside — we realized that at its height, it would only fit in the living room.”
Pip & Nic, Gippsland Victoria
For Pip, Nic and their two cats each day begins amongst a chorus of nature, their only neighbours being the native wildlife that also call the Uralla Nature reserve home. Other inhabitants that Pip refers to as the ‘soul of the house’ are the eclectic artworks that adorn almost every nook of this tranquil space named ‘The Nak’ - part gallery, part abode.
I was searching for a piece that would speak to and for this house and after many, many hours of hunting, I came across this amazing painting by Lottie Consalvo.
“We have a painting downstairs that I found while trawling Art Gallery online stockrooms in one of the many lockdowns last year. I was searching for a piece that would speak to and for this house and after many, many hours of hunting, I came across this amazing painting by Lottie Consalvo. It is called ‘It Held the Sky Above the Sea’ and there could simply not be a more perfect painting for this space. The colours, and the movement of the piece manage somehow to let this building say everything that it wanted to say to us...”
Raukura & Moko, Grey Lynn Auckland
Architect & artist Raukura & her partner Moko’s co-housing apartment is an extension of their community, made complete with an accumulation of works both traded and bought from their talented contemporaries. At Cohaus, designed by Studio Nord, almost everything is shared - from a communal vegetable garden to a collection of electric cars and bicycles to explore the progressive suburb of Grey Lynn.
Most of the art works here that aren’t mine are works of friends of ours.
“Most of the art works here that aren’t mine, are works of friends of ours, and we’ve been really lucky to be able to get pieces in the early stages of their mahi, that supports their practice. We’ve got two pieces from Victor Webster who is a friend of mine and Moko’s who is also a tattoo artist.”
Tilly, Eltham Victoria
An aesthete and naturalist's dream, Tilly Barber’s home is the former studio of pioneering architect Alistair Knox - a man responsible for many of Eltham’s most popular addresses. With careful placement of furniture, art & objects Tilly has managed to divide the open plan space into a family home for her and her son. Owner of furniture brand Monde and vintage reseller, Homebody Tilly’s work and life is influenced by her fellow creatives, many of whom have contributed to the decoration of this bush sanctuary.
Accumulating artwork is such a nice slow process; I only have a handful of pieces, but they all hold a story, memory or meaning.
“Accumulating artwork is such a nice slow process; I only have a handful of pieces but they all hold a story, memory or meaning. On my walls I have; a work by Camille Moir, a few weavings by my friend Anna Fiedler, a block print by Allie Webb and a commission by Sam Steinhauer aka Streetshebowka of our former Eltham home ‘Stringybark’.”’