Hello, my darlings. I have a treat for you today! Fashion designer, Cynthia Rowley, is in town to promote her new project, Exhibition A, which allows young art collectors to purchase limited edition pieces from top contemporary artists for only $100-$500. Cynthia was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for me...
What made you decide to help launch Exhibition A?
We started an initiative at our company called “Pretty Penny,” which helps encourage Cynthia Rowley employees to put forth their own business plans. I’m an entrepreneur at heart, so I love seeing that spirit live in the people that work at the brand as well. I am so personally and professionally inspired by fine art that when Laura Martin, my business director, came up with the concept for Exhibition A – a retail site that would really allow young collectors to get in the game and participate in the market – it seemed like a no-brainer. It’s such a timely, important idea!
What advice do you give to young art collectors?
Make sure that the work you invest in is meaningful to you, because you have to live with it. Being informed is also a big part of art collecting: take the time to learn about the artists and works that you’re considering. Exhibition A offers helpful information and commentary on each artist that’s being sold, but if you want to dig deeper, sites like moma.org, artforum.com or artnet.com are also excellent resources.
What is your own most cherished piece of art?
Wow….it’s impossible to pick just one. I’ve been fortunate enough to accrue some really extraordinary things over the years, and I can't imagine ever parting with any of them. The works especially close to my heart are those by family members: my grandmother's self-portrait or anything created by my kids!
Can you tell me the inspiration behind your Spring 2011 collection?
For Spring, I was really interested in the idea of ‘bareness’ – both physically and conceptually. You’ll see the interplay of positive and negative space in the designs—via brightly-colored cabochons and laser cut-outs, respectively—but I also felt the need to strip the shapes themselves down to their barest essential. Planarity, geometrics, invisible knit cardigans and sweaters, and a bright, fresh palette all contributed a very clean, very straightforward appeal to the collection.
What are your favorite trends for the upcoming spring/summer season?
I think all of the brightly colored trousers are a brilliant new trend; our hibiscus double-knits have been a huge hit so far. I also really love the jewelry that's around for spring. It’s all very graphic and sculptural. It’s great for decorating a look in the warmer months without feeling too weighed down.
Thank you so much, Cynthia! For my local lovelies, she will be at the Seattle Art Museum today with artist, Nick Cave. And at the Kirkland boutique, Promesse, for a trunk show from 6-8pm. Come take a peak at her new collection!
{Images by Exhibition A}
