A Conversation with Kelly Behun
Described by The New York Times as “an interior designer with the eye of a gallerist,” Kelly Behun is known for creating artful, deeply personal interiors that blend design, architecture, and contemporary art. Her work reflects a distinctive curatorial sensibility, balancing refinement with striking, unexpected gestures. As founder and creative director of her eponymous studio, Behun leads a multidisciplinary team on a wide variety of residential projects in the U.S. and abroad. As a returning member of our Design + Art Advisory Council, Kelly joined us for a rapid-fire round of questions on what she looks for first at Salon, client tastes, and more.
After 15 years, what do you think continues to set Salon Art + Design apart?
Salon has always understood that the most interesting rooms—and collections—aren’t built around categories. Art, design, furniture, objects, things with provenance and things that are entirely new can all be in conversation with each other. There’s a real point of view to this fair, but also a sense of discovery that keeps it fresh and in the category of “must-see.”
What’s one question you always ask a dealer or gallerist before recommending a piece to a client?
I always want to know more about the artist and the context in which the work was made. The story shouldn’t be the sole reason you buy something—you have to respond to the work itself—but understanding where it came from can certainly deepen your relationship to it.
What makes you confident recommending a significant purchase to a client?
When I can imagine the client loving it long after we’ve all stopped talking about why it was “important” to buy. A significant acquisition has to work on multiple levels: intellectually, emotionally, and within the life they’re building around it. The best pieces exert an almost talismanic power, especially when they become part of the family narrative and are passed down to future generations.
When you walk into Salon, what are you looking for first?
I’m looking for the thing I haven’t seen before. I try not to arrive with too much of a checklist because then you inevitably miss what’s actually interesting. I’m looking for the booth—or sometimes just the single object—that makes me stop in my tracks and want to know more.
What are you seeing clients become more adventurous about right now?
I am finding my clients embrace work that is a little harder to categorize. I think people are increasingly comfortable with the idea that not everything has to match, or even make immediate sense together. I love objects where people can’t quite decide what they think about it at first. I’m usually more interested in things that provoke a question or a reaction rather than something that everyone immediately agrees is beautiful. There’s much more openness to tension and surprise, which always makes for more interesting spaces.
