Designers likely know of the Westedge Design Fair in Los Angeles since 2013. This year marks the first Dallas Westedge Design Fair, co-located with Artexpo Dallas. There was noticeably more art representation than design, in terms of vendors, but I would imagine that next year will have momentum based on what I saw this year. There were some interesting vendors bringing international quality and creativity to Dallas, and I’m hoping the show gains momentum in the future.
Artexpo
Below are some show highlights and photos of various booths:
Starting with my favorite art booth, Renssen Art Gallery from Amsterdam. I would give this one Best In Show overall for quality and inventory. The artists represented were Picasso and Ressen. Renssen is a modern master, influenced by Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Gris, Van Gogh.
This Picasso, The Cannes Studio, is both noteworthy and documented. Note the two signatures and dates. It is a 17 color lithograph, which is unusual. The backstory follows.
This is the original 6 color version of The Cannes Studio, signed and dated in 1956. Picasso was going to sell one of the prints to somebody he knew, who felt that it was boring and not interesting enough. So he reworked it, resulting in the more colorful image. He dedicated it to Gilbert’s Duclad and Serge Chauby, his dealer in Cannes at their Galerie 65.
The Renssen works are stunning. They look right at home next to the Picassos and had me questioning my art history degree when I didn’t recognize the name. I asked the lovely woman in the booth about the artist, who turned out to be her husband! The art is so incredible that I can hardly wait to get to Amsterdam to see more of it in their gallery. Collectors: this is one to proudly snap up while you can.
Above we have the muse, his wife Suzka, the subject of this gorgeous painting. Wow. Serious talent. Follow Renssen Art Gallery on instagram and facebook @renssenartgallery.
This next artist, Ken Orton, gets my best-in-show vote for hyper realism. Incredibly talented. The above painting is part of his bottles series, and below from his western series.
Photos do not do justice to the perspective, depth, scale or detail of these paintings. Very interesting works of art that have hundreds of hours invested in them.
While those two booths are my favorites, there were so many more representing colorful and interesting styles, see below:
Sebastien Courty, textile artist from New York.
Westedge Design Fair
This was the first year for Westedge Design Fair in Dallas. I am very much looking forward to what future years bring- I’m secretly hoping that it becomes Dallas’ version of New York’s ICFF. Let’s take a look at some of the vendors:
Flavor Paper. If you don’t know this wallpaper vendor, you should. This company started in New Orleans and moved to Brooklyn, completely smashing the notion that wallpaper is boring. Their witty and clever designs and applications with wallpaper are anything BUT boring, with Warhol collections and so much more, all customizable.
The above fishing lure paper requires a double take. The “lures” are objects found in the New York waterways, turned into lures.
From the Warhol series, this Frenchie is Yves Saint Laurent’s dog named Moujik. Little known fact: he actually had three of the exact same dog with same name at the same time. I know, crazy, I don’t get it either. This wallpaper, like all of Flavor Paper’s come in fun color-way options and is customizable.
Another incredibly cool DOT MATRIX design, which looks completely different from afar than up close.
Flavor Paper’s designs are so fun and adventurous that they invite creative uses for wallpaper, like this papered ceiling, above from a showhouse in Kingston, NY. Follow Flavor Paper on instagram @flavorpaper.
Super handsome hardware from England, Turnstyle Designs. They have North American representation so be sure to check them out! @turnstyledesigns on Instagram
Signature Kitchen Suite
Kalamazoo- this one was new to me. The hybrid Fire Grill uses any combination of gas, wood, and charcoal… offers a variety of grate patterns, and a versatile range that allows you to sear quickly at 1,000 degrees or smoke low and slow. A seriously impressive high-performance grill. Yes please!
That’s it for the highlights of a successful first year of Westedge. Can’t wait to see which additional brands jump on board for next year.
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