I wanted to attend FOG Design + Art 2015 and my sister needed to be picked up from the airport in SF, so it was the perfect excuse to head up the Peninsula and kill two birds with one stone. Since art school, I have been into David Zwirner, a New York City gallery. They have shown some of my favorite artists including Mamma Andersson (currently showing), Marlene Dumas, Neo Rauch, Kerry James Marshall, Jockum Nordström, Raymond Pettibon and Luc Tuymans. How one gallery could have such taste has driven me to frequently check the site over the years and also the main reason I wanted to attend the fair.
Fred's in Sausalito, CA
We started the day by heading out to foggy Sausalito for breakfast at Fred's. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out. Here's how you know: the guy eating across from us ordered TWO BREAKFASTS! Yes, you heard that right. He ordered the deep friend french toast with millionaire's bacon along with a Benedict since he couldn't decide. I'll let you use your imagination on our breakfasts. You'll have to go to know just how good it is. Perfect after a hike on Mt. Tamalpais.
Sausalito was a bit foggy and cold to stay too long, so we headed back over the Golden Gate Bridge to FOG Design + Art. I really felt like I was back in art school while at the fair. For one, absorbing high-end contemporary art in person has not been something I have been doing as much in these last few years. Two, there were many works of art from my art school textbooks. Three, they had a great bookshop, with the best art and design books. When I was in college, I would check out up to 80 art books at a time from my school library (we were allowed up to 100 for research).
I instantly recognized this Molly Hatch plate installation from the entryway of the building. I love the way she is influenced by historical decorative arts and makes something of her own. I recently attended her spectacular online course Pattern Design: From Hand to Screen to Surface.
Jockum Nordström and Mamma Andersson (above), Mamma Andersson below
Jockum Nordström and Mamma Andersson are a couple of my favorite artists who also happen to be a couple. This Swedish pair never cease to mesmerize me with their color palettes and narratives. I was so happy to find this wall from Crown Point Press.
Kiki Smith from Pace Gallery
These sculptures stopped me in my tracks. The somewhat naive quality and beautiful textures were so beautiful in person and hard to capture in a photograph. When I read the label it was like, "Of course! Kiki Smith." Her creativity and inventiveness has always fascinated me. If you haven't seen her section of Our City Dreams or this episode of Art 21 with Kiki Smith, please do yourself a favor and change that.
I've been a fan of Stefan Kurten since art school. His detailed and nostalgic works provide a world of depth and texture from another era. The gold paint in this piece added a sunsoaked vibe to the gorgeous thin layers of ink.
Stephen Hannock, titled Paul's Rocket at First Light
I like the surprise of light in this landscape by Stephen Hannock.
Hiroshi Sugimoto photograph of a theater
The photography series of theaters by Hiroshi Sugimoto is stunning with silvery white details glowing in a dark room. These photographs almost appear as paintings. The glowing white screen, deep blackness and emptiness of the room create a mysterious setting.
Unknown artist
This gorgeous textile made such an impact in person. Animals and trees circulate within a celestial backdrop. I searched around to find a label, but never found it. I'll update when I find out who the artist is.
Don't you love these everyday objects in ceramic by Matthias Herkel Hess?
I was immediately drawn to these objects by Matthias Herkel Hess. The milk crate and laundry basket (unseen here) were among my favorite of these usually boring everyday objects. In 2006, I created a painting installation of everyday rooms with furniture and objects, so these resonated with me. You can read more about his work in this NY Times article.
Installation by Misha Kahn for Friedman Benda
Misha Kahn's work is fun, inventive and excessive to the point of creating a new and strange soft and textural world. Definitely a show stopper with lava rocks, inflatable sculptures, working ceiling fan and full tile floor to entice you. I love the imagination and bizarreness of this world. I thought it would be a good one to end with.
There were a lot of other great artists at FOG Design + Art: Raymond Pettibon, Paul Wackers, Lawrence Halprin and more. This field trip turned out to be awesome: breakfast, art fair, a little shopping, ice skating at Union Square, dinner and, oh yes, a pickup at the airport. The best thing about attending the fair is that I wanted to go home and make work. Lots of it.
Until the next field trip...