Giancarlo Valle's award-winning international design practice takes a holistic approach that encompasses architecture, interiors, and the decorative arts across residential and commercial disciplines, from thoughtful refinement to total reimagination. This year, he graces our Design & Art Advisory Council, and we asked him some rapid-fire questions about the exhibitors he's excited to see at the fair, his favorite artist to collect, his introduction to design, and more.
What’s your favorite piece of art/design in your own home or collection?
I have a large ceramic by Peter Schlesinger that I absolutely adore living with—it's shaped like a cactus.
Who is your favorite artist to collect?
Jane and I have a few pieces by Anastasia Bay. I love her figurative paintings and the energy that they bring. There is a clear sense of history but with a modern and lighter touch which makes it easy to live with.
What's your favorite NYC museum?
The Frick—it’s one of the few surviving house museums and I think it's such a unique and intimate way to experience art. I love the feeling of walking through someone's home and seeing how a collection is built and lived with.
How would you describe your own style when it comes to interior design or decorating?
I’ve been trying to consciously move away from the idea of style and more toward the idea of feeling and emotion around design. I find this approach has more longevity and it can be built upon over time. It's my approach to design which is more geological and layers.
What was your introduction to design?
I studied architecture and spent the first ten years of my career squarely in the world of architecture. It was not until Jane and I had the opportunity to design our own home that interest in the decorative arts made its way into the picture. I then started to see the overlap in the world of objects and their spaces. This synergy has occurred in certain areas.
What are the first three songs on your "get work done" playlist?
"Opportunities" - Pet Shop Boys
"Burning Down the House" - Talking Heads
"Big Energy" - Latto
Best design book/podcast/meme/blog/article you've consumed recently?
Book: Casa De Vidro, Lina Bo Bardi
If you were designing your dream home, which pieces would you choose?
What exhibitors are you excited to see at the fair?
Crosta Smith, David Gill, Galerie Chastel-Marechal and Galerie Marcilhac.
What's your advice to an entry level design collector?
I like to collect artists that I know. There is personal connection and a story that makes living with art the most enjoyable.
What's the best design advice you've ever received?
"After you do all the corny things, and all the ignorant things - then a little bit of brilliance starts happening. There's a process to get to brilliancy. Any corny thing that comes to your head, do a sketch of it. You're emptying the brain of ignorant and the dumb things ... and there's nothing left but the brilliant ideas... Pretty soon you get ideas that no one else could have thought of because you didn't think of them - you went through this process to get to them. These thoughts are the ones you use." - David Hammons; 1986
What's a recent assignment or project you're proud of?
We are working on a retail project in Mexico City for a Latin American skincare brand.
What's a recent project you found challenging?
We work internationally often and with more frequency. Some projects we don't get to visit as often and find that we need to develop new ways for how we work. Adjusting to each environment is both exciting but also a challenge. I like the challenge as it keeps the work evolving.
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
We are developing a 500-acre private island which will house a resort with cottages, a few restaurants, spa, gym, and other amenities.
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