A Conversation with Jacqueline Terrebonne

Jacqueline Terrebonne has served as Galerie's Editor in Chief since 2018, after originally joining the team as Design Editor in 2016. Her varied artistic interests and deep sense of curiosity inform the diverse and eclectic mix of design, fashion, and visual arts in every issue of the magazine. She has also written seven books on design and architecture with talents including Jeffrey Bilhuber, Richard Mishaan, Stewart Manger, and most recently the firm Magni Kalman. As a returning member of our Honorary Committee, Jacqueline joined us for a rapid-fire round of questions on changes in the collectible design world, collecting myths, and more.

Salon Art + Design is celebrating its 15th anniversary. What do you think has been the key to the fair's lasting success

I haven’t missed an edition of Salon Art + Design over the last 15 years and believe what sets it apart is the consistency of quality across art and design. There’s such a beautiful parallel at the fair with how we cover the intersection of both these worlds at Galerie.

What's the biggest change you've seen in the collectible design world over the past 15 years? And what gives you the most optimism for its future?

There’s so much more personality in collectible design as compared to 2011. You can really see the hand of the maker more than 15 years ago when the style was a bit slicker. There’s also now more reverence for the past instead of always looking to the future.

If you could bring home one museum-quality work of art or design, what would it be—and why?

I’d be pretty excited to live with a Brancusi sculpture. His graceful shapes are both modern and timeless—and their ability to evoke emotion and awe is extraordinary.

Whose work has had the greatest influence on your eye as a collector?

I’m always amazed by the work of William T. Georgis of Georgis & Mirgorodsky. He has such a gift for bringing together a mix of styles and periods into a fascinating dialogue. His spaces are fearless and impossible to replicate—but most of all, true reflections of the people who inhabit them.

What's one object you've lived with—or encountered—that continues to reveal something new every time you see it?

In my living room, I have white plaster box-shaped lanterns by Stephen Antonson that dangle from the ceiling. They move ever so slightly, and I love how those small shifts can change the way light reflects off the plaster and emerges from the openings.

What's one piece of advice you'd give someone buying their first significant work of art or design?

Buy what you love—something that if you walked away from it would haunt you forever. Don’t listen to what the buzz is or what other people are excited about it.

What's one myth about collecting that you'd love to debunk?

To be a collector, you don’t have to buy things that are expensive—what something is worth can always change with the times. The real value comes from the joy something brings, the special story behind it, and the way it makes you look at the world differently.

What do you hope Salon Art + Design is known for 15 years from now?

I hope that people continue to see Salon Art + Design as a place to go to learn about and become enchanted by new artists and artisans as well as ones of great talent from that past that have been overlooked or forgotten.

What's currently capturing your attention—whether it's a project, a collection, or a new area of interest?

We’re currently finishing our Collectors Issue of Galerie, so that’s all I think about day and night. Our editors put together a wonderful annual portfolio of collectors, and I’m currently captivated by each of their unique stories and passions.

What's the best exhibition you've seen recently—or one you're especially looking forward to this fall?

This July, I visited Arles for the photo festival and was transfixed by Julianknxx’s exhibition at LUMA Arles titled “In Search of… Incredible.” He combines video installation, sculpture, found objects, and sound to create a dreamlike experience that explores what a memory is and how it can change. It’s stayed with me ever since, especially the lullabies sung by a choir and the mountains of salt depicted in black-and-white film.

What's one object you wish you'd bought when you had the chance?

My husband, Austin Smith, is from Mississippi and loves George Ohr pottery. I wish we had purchased more of his work before he recently gained popularity. The shapes and glazes are magnificent, and I marvel that he was creating these wildly imaginative and inventive pieces over 100 years ago in Biloxi.

What's one artist or designer you think deserves much more attention right now?

You’ll have to read the winter issue of Galerie to find out. This edition focuses on emerging talents across both worlds that are worth knowing. There’s so much to discover.