I'm very excited about the new artists I have had the opportunity to exhibit and represent once we made the front portion of our store a gallery space. The first artist we showed in June and July was Asser Saint-Val. His work is surrealist with a whimsical nature that really captured me. He works with all sorts of media trying to achieve an array of textures. This collection was known as "The Melanin Project." I had to take home two pieces. Here are a few we showed:
I have also shown the work of a ceramist named Gerbi Tsesarskaia. She makes all her work out of soda fired grolleg porcelain which means it can be used functionally as it is safe to eat on, or aesthetically as art.
This Thursday is our opening reception for Steve Williams, who created a show entitled "Currency" for us. For those of you who may not know, I also maintain a blog on our website where you can read more about Steve and how he created this exhibition. If you're in the area I hope you will stop by to have a little wine and cheese with me, this Thursday, January 27th at 7 o'clock.
Paintings by Asser Saint-Val hang over a vintage composite stag
Olga Granda-Scott stands amidst the work of Eric Besson
After undergoing aesthetic renovations during the spring, the repurposed Alhambra Antiques space in downtown Coral Gables hosted a vernissage on June 16th with a new look and fresh vibe.A cross between antiques store, art gallery, and cultural space, the “new old” Alhambra Antiques is an intellectually stimulating experience.The current exhibit has been curated to include unparalleled vintage, antique, and select contemporary offerings with innovative creative artists Asser Saint-Val, Eric Besson, and Fiorella Chelini showing selections of their work.
Art collectors, designers, and aficionados gathered at the event to benefit the VizcayaMuseum and Gardens, a charity which has always been dear to the hearts of directors Olga Granda-Scott and Douglas Scott.Attendees included interior designers Jim Murphy, Diane Sepler, and Kevin Gray; Vizcayans president Don Kress, art dealer Marvin Ross Friedman, artist Asser Saint-Val, and celebrity columnist Daisy Olivera.
“The way the space is staged makes walking through the store a mysterious adventure.Humor, wit, and curiosity can all be used to describe the creative vignettes” said attendee Cristina Romney Espinosa. “I’ve come to expect the unexpected every time I visit—as well as a great party!”
As part of the new three artist group exhibition, the surrealist paintings of Asser Saint-Val brought much color and life and were particularly well received.The Haitian artist, who lives and works in Miami and has sold works to important collections including the Rubell family, hesitated before showing his works in a non-traditional gallery space.But once he saw the way they could be juxtaposed with some of the very elements used to create his fictional characters, he loved and appreciated the tension created.
“Asser’s work is a bit of reality spun into a whimsical character which spoke to me when I saw it.I love incorporating humor into my installations, and I felt that he had embodied that sense of blurring the lines between practicality and fiction” explained Olga Granda-Scott. “It is a very exciting process to be able to find interesting work and expose our clients to a new way of living and collecting.”
The exhibition will be on display through August 15th, when a new roster of artists will be unveiled.
Alhambra (Antiques) continues to redefine the boundaries of the antiques trade with their latest offering: the design works of contemporary French artist Eric Besson. At a time when many antiques stores are closing their doors, Alhambra (Antiques) continues to take their 20-year venture in ever-expanding directions.
“We don’t offer only antiques,” says Olga Granda-Scott, “my hope is that we offer the unconventional – items and objects of distinction. We appeal to people who have a strong sense of individuality – and of course good taste.”
After undergoing aesthetic renovations during the spring, the repurposed space will open again with a new look and fresh vibe. A cross between antiques store, art gallery, and cultural space, the “new old” Alhambra (Antiques) is an experience not to be missed. Exhibits will be curated to include unparalleled vintage, antique, and select contemporary offerings sprinkled with innovative creative artists who share a similar aesthetic.
The first exhibit, opening on June 16th, will feature hand-forged furniture by French artist Eric Besson. Mr. Besson works with pieces of industrial repurposed metal creatively mixed with vintage elements. His work has been selected by leading designers for important commercial projects, including the flagship John Varvatos store in New York City. The collection exhibited at Alhambra (Antiques) features furniture works with sleek lines adorned with letters from old printing houses.
Mr. Besson’s work will be exhibited alongside the whimsical sculptural work of Italian artist Fiorella Chelini, the surrealist paintings of Asser Saint Val, and the arrival of a new shipment of antiques from all over Europe.
I'm very excited about the new artists I have had the opportunity to exhibit and represent once we made the front portion of our store a gallery space. The first artist we showed in June and July was Asser Saint-Val. His work is surrealist with a whimsical nature that really captured me. He works with all sorts of media trying to achieve an array of textures. This collection was known as "The Melanin Project." I had to take home two pieces. Here are a few we showed:
This Thursday is our opening reception for Steve Williams, who created a show entitled "Currency" for us. For those of you who may not know, I also maintain a blog on our website where you can read more about Steve and how he created this exhibition. If you're in the area I hope you will stop by to have a little wine and cheese with me, this Thursday, January 27th at 7 o'clock.
