ARTIST BRIAN WILLS & MY LIVING ROOM ART

Untitled Brian Wills art in my living room! (above)

When I put up photos of my living room the other day to get your thoughts on my new COCOCOZY Fence rug, I didn't even think about describing some of the pieces in my living room including the large turquoise painting over my sofa.  Well besides the size of the rug, it was the most commented on piece from my living room in my little cottage in the Hollywood Hills.  I received dozens of emails and a few Facebook comments asking about the origin of the art in my living room.

Well today, I'll give you the scoop.  The work is by the super talented Los Angeles based artist Brian Wills. Brian's work is abstract, linear, modern and fresh. I am truly a huge fan of what he does.

Back in 2003 (I think), my sister and mother gave me the gift of art.  Back then, my sister had been introduced to an up and coming Los Angeles artist named Brian Wills.  She had acquired a few of his pieces. At Christmas (or my birthday...I can't recall), she and my mother felt I needed art in my living room so they gave me a Brian Wills much to my delight.  Well...me being me...so picky...way too picky...while I loved the piece they picked out for me, I wanted to see what else Brian was working on.  I remember, it was a cloudy day in December (or January...oh dear...can't remember anything), and I went to his studio (I may or may have not been with my sister...or I may have been by myself...I have no memory past yesterday...oy va voy).   I walked into the artist's studio, introduced myself to Brian and was thrilled to see there were lots of works in progress.  It was so cool to go into an artist's work space and in a way to see what and how he was thinking through his works in progress.  I spotted this turquoise piece in a corner and I immediately said "I want that one".  It is a huge wood piece...about 4ft x 6ft in size...it is made up of small painted strips of wood...lined up to create a visual staccato of sorts...there is a rhythm to his work that I just love. About a week later after my studio visit, Brian came and delivered the work to my house himself and he installed it...and it has been basically hanging in the same place ever since.  I love it!

I have owned this wonderful Brian Wills turquoise wood and paint piece of art for about 10 years! (above) 

Lexi Brown of Nye + Brown who represents Brian sent me these fantastic images below of his 2013 works.

Brian Wills

Untitled, 2013

Oil, rayon thread on wood

36 x 36 in.

Brian Wills

Untitled, 2013

Enamel, rayon thread, bass wood on wood

24 x 24 in

Brian Wills

Untitled (Blue Cross), 2013

Oil and rayon thread on wood

36 x 36 in.

Brian Wills

Untitled (Peacock Blue), 2013

Enamel, rayon thread, and linear polyurethane on wood

12 x 24 in.

Brian Wills

Untitled (Pink), 2013

Rayon thread, oil and linear polyurethane on wood

48 x 36 in.

Brian's new pieces pictured here range from $7000-$16,000 each.  There are other pieces in his collection not pictured here that start at about $2000 each. An investment well worth it!

If you are interested in artist Brian Wills and his work, please contact:

Lexi Brown
Nye + Brown
2685 S La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 559-5215
lexi@nyeplusbrown.com

To learn more about Brian Wills and to read about his last show called Unwound, please click here.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Tomorrow, am so excited...I am going back to Brian Wills' studio for a visit with the artist and to see his latest works!  A private visit.  Woohooo!!   I have invited TE along...he might bring EE.  I am going to see if my sis and my mother want to come too!  Anyone else??? :-)

P.P.S. Must run!  Have a great day!  Still haven't solved my dilemma of what I will wear to the black-tie-wedding.  I tried on a black Herve Leger dress I own last night...one of those bandage dresses...super tight...must do tons of sit ups and not eat for a week to look good in that...back to the drawing board!!!

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AN art, blue, Brian Wills, cottage, decor, decoration, fine art, living room, paintings, turquoise, wall art

MY NIGHT AT THE CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM!

Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

Mark Rothko, No. 61 Rust & Blue, 1953 - My favorite painting of all times that is in MOCA's permanent collection!(above)

A girl (me) walks into a museum (the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A.) the other night (Saturday) and sees the head of said prestigious museum and then immediately tells him that one day she wants to buy a piece of art (Mark Rothko's No. 61 in Blue and Rust) that is currently in the museum's permanent collection (it's been there for around 30 years)...so the question is...who does this girl (me) think she is? Right?

Well the above scenario is not at all fictional...this took place this last weekend at MOCA's Fresh Auction - a silent auction that raises money for the museum. 

I (the girl) walked into the museum on Saturday night wearing vintage Prada I might add (vintage meaning it has been in my closet for about 10 years - so instead of calling it an "old dress", I'll be like those other girls who do not over share and call it "vintage").  Sis DS and I were on the host committee of the event.  Rather than greeting Jeffrey Deitch, MOCA's Director with normal light party banter as you should probably greet the head of a major world recognized museum...I barely said hello and launched into what was on my mind.  Basically I told Jeffrey that I wanted to one day buy a very famous piece of art (the one pictured above) and asked if that would be possible. Simple statement and question.  Oh did I mention that said art is part of the museum's permanent collection and is probably worth millions, if not tens of millions.  Just a few obstacles. My sis DS looked at me amused and slightly surprised that I would use the little time we had to say our hellos to Jeffrey with my odd announcement and question.  Sis DS is very friendly with Jeffrey as she sits on some museum committees and they go to dinner from time to time so I think that's why he indulged me and didn't totally look at me like I was bonkers (although he may have thought it).  They both grinned and then Jeffrey actually said "Good question"!

Before I had a textiles collection, before the interior design blog, before I was a t.v. executive, a television producer and a news reporter, before I went to law school, I was an art history major in college.  I've spent years going to museums and appreciating art...but as of late I've had little or no time for art.  So it was great being back at MOCA and wandering through the galleries enjoying the amazing art!

Here are some pictures from my night at the contemporary museum!

The crowd at the MOCA Fresh Auction (above)

Robert Rauschenberg, Lotus II, 2008 was up for auction with a retail value of $22,000! (above and below)

This Chris Oatey, Diffusion, 2008 was also part of the silent auction. (above)

My favorite L.A. artist Brian Wills also contributed a mixed media piece to the auction...Brian is known for his linear graphic designs. (above)

After enjoying the auction, we then headed over to the museums permanent collection wing to take a tour...the galleries were empty as I think auction guests didn't know that they were open to the public! (above)

Me spending a little quiet time in front of my favorite Mark Rothko painting. (above)

This work by artist Jackson Pollock is an iconic classic and is also part of MOCA's permanent collection.  It is entitled Number 1, 1949 and is enamel and metallic paint on canvas. Love it. (above and below)

Cy Twombly, Untitled 1967. Oil and crayon on canvas.  My sis DS loves this modern classic. (above)

The party was held at MOCA on Grand Street...a full blown party upstairs and the auction downstairs...it was quite a sparkling night! (above)

Are you a fan of contemporary art?  If you had to chose a famous painting for your home, what might that be?  Do you like anything you see here or is this all too modern for you?

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  After the museum, we headed to popular Los Angeles downtown restaurant Church & State and had a lovely meal.  Very lively at 9:30p at night (we had to wait 15 minutes for a table) and the food was absolutely delish...haven't been there in a few years and this time the food was excellent.

Church & State in Los Angeles. (above and below)

P.P.S.  Helping best of friend FF with a little something having to do with her huge New Orleans mansion!  I hope it works out and I have stories to tell later in the year!

P.P.P.S.  Was on the phone with other best of friend AM the other day and she was telling me how I need to watch Downtown Abbey.  She watched all of Season 1 online and got caught up a few weeks back and totally loves the show.  When I said, "Oh, I think I would like Downtown Abbey".  She replied, "Duntown".  I said, "Downtown".  She then said "Duntown".  Then I said, "Downtown". And she said, "No it's Duntown." This went back and forth at least 4 times.  It seems that those in the "Downtown Abbey" know pronounce don't pronounce "downtown" the way the rest of us unsavvy pronounce the word.  Who knew....hmmmm.....???? Realized later I was misspelling and incorrectly pronouncing the name of the show which in fact is Downton! You live and you learn.  Although you would think best of friend AM might say something instead of going back on and forth with me!  LOL!

P.P.P.P.S.  CL, I did get your emails about not being able to go the auction but getting a chance to go to the preview.  Next time you'll have to make it to the event!  It was very exciting.

P.P.P.P.P.S.  Happy Tuesday again! Hope you have a fantastic day.


Photos in this post by Coco of COCOCOZY

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AN art, art gallery, events, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, MOCA, museum, paintings, party, Robert Rauchenberg

THIS OR THAT: THE ART OF ARRANGING ART!

Total design non sequitur but I must share...

So was out to dinner at Eveleigh on Sunset last night...it is the latest "in" restaurant in Los Angeles. It has a covered outdoor patio with a huge skylight and for some reason my seat was conveniently placed right under a huge ominous billboard of Paris Hilton (see Nbaynadamas Twitter to see what my view was all night!).

Anyhooo...was with a fun group of girlfriends at this Eveleigh establishment; two of whom are visiting from San Francisco.  We were seated at a communal table at the center of the restaurant.  We  ordered few little starters (including a to-die-for quinoa salad) and then we ordered some main courses to share. When our main dishes arrived, there were no side dishes...only protein on the plates (no veggies no starch...just a small entire sea bass (bones and all), a plate with 4 huge shrimp on it. and a tiny little steak...there were five of us). We asked the waiter if he had any side dishes for us to chose from (namely carbs) and he looked at us as if we were bonkers...he said "Well we had one pasta dish but we don't have that anymore, a few months ago we used to have macaroni and cheese on the menu but the chef took that off, oh yes we do have some roasted potatoes maybe...maybe...would that work?" Then he went onto add as he looked at us like we were aliens, "Sorry, we don't have any carbohydrate type food really because no one here in L.A. really orders that kind of stuff". Well I'm in L.A....I order that "kind of stuff". (Btw, after much prodding and begging...we managed to get him to find some french fries somewhere in the back not necessarily on their seemingly carb free menu!). Everyone at the table in our group was relatively small (ranging from a size 0 (and she is a mom) to maybe a size 4 (or max 6))...no one was obese...but the waiter certainly made us feel like food criminals for even asking - the look on his face was one of total confusion ("what is a carb?") and horror (with a little disgust and disappointment thrown in)...  Oh life in Los Angeles. Totally surreal.

Anyhoooo...onto design...

I love collections of art.  A mix or grouping of paintings, photographs and/or prints.  Love the visual interest that the arrangement alone can add to the space not to mention the art itself.

Here are two rooms...with collections of art...very different in feel. The first room is white and clean and the art (a series of four photos or paintings of palm trees against a blue sky) is symmetrically arranged in a row above the fireplace.  I love this room and the look.  Then there is the living room below where the collection of art covers the wall and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and formats...it creates an eclectic warm artsy vibe in the space.

So in today's THIS OR THAT I ask you which one do you like better...this one or that one?

Okay, if you read Nbaynadamas regularly, you can probably guess which room I gravitate towards (the first one)....but please please please I want to hear what you like best and why! Do weigh in please.

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco


Photo: Coastal Living; Kristen Buckingham Interiors

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AN art, living room, paintings, photos, pictures, THIS OR THAT, wall art