05/18/2026
I was asked to do a tour of alongside the incredibly knowledgeable Luciano de Marshillac for a group of 10 to 15 people.
When preparing for the tour, I did a few walkthroughs of the show and thought a lot about what I wanted to convey. I felt it was important to touch on a few overriding themes of the show, rooted in history, as well as a few contemporary galleries that were important for me to introduce to the group.
The talent Les Lalanne (Claude and François-Xavier) was showcased on multiple occasions, from Claude’s iconic bronze botanical-inspired mirror and candelabra to the rare grouping of four marble birds by François-Xavier.
I wanted to communicate how traditional African and Oceanic ritual masks had inspired the work of Picasso, Modigliani, and Brancusi, and how their influence was present throughout the show, particularly in pieces from the 1930s and 1940s, when these forms and masks were often replicated. During that period, artists were grasping for authentic, ritualistic inspiration.
Of course, we touched on the icons: Giacometti, Prouvé, Perriand, works by Chuck Close and Luciano Fontana.
I also had to make a stop to show off the work of Manolo Valdés and his incredible sculptures. Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Sarah Myerscough Gallery were also part of the tour for their contemporary curation of current master artisans and craftsmen.
