THE ARTIST'S STUDIO: FRANK STELLA
“I’ve been very fortunate in my life and career to having met many artists and creatives I admire. Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Bernar Venet, Andy Warhol, Vincent Gallo, Prince, Spike Lee, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Vereen, Naomi Campbell, Joseph Kosuth, Russell Simmons, and the list goes on and on. The afternoon I spent at Frank Stella’s studio in Upstate New York was one of the highlights of my life.”
My best friend Alexander Venet, the son of sculptor Bernar Venet mentioned his dad Bernar and Frank are good friends. He asked if would I be interested in interviewing Frank for a cover feature in Artvoices Magazine. Are you kidding me? Frank ‘Black Paintings’ Stella! The Black Series I, 1967, made Frank famous. He was influential to my early art practice: development, voice, and signature.
"All I want anyone to get out of my [works] and all I ever get out of them is the fact that you can see the whole idea without any confusion. What you see is what you see." –Frank Stella
Alex set up the studio visit. I invited Noah Becker the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Whitehot Magazine to have a conversation with Frank, while I documented the visit with my camera.
Alex drove, I was riding shotgun and Noah was in the backseat. Sharing this experience with two of my favorite people in the World was priceless. Two men who have always been there for me in good times and bad, this moment together meant everything.
When we arrived, Frank had a huge sculpture in the front of the space. I remember Noah standing there admiring the work and soaking up the atmosphere. This was our moment in the company of greatness.
We walked into the studio that resembled an airport hangar. Frank’s studio is massive. He had work everywhere. There were a few Venet pieces in the space, I was told Frank and Bernar both collect each other.
We were met by two of Frank’s trusted assistants that have been with him since the beginning. Frank was sitting in his chair with a sketch of something he was working on.
He was very polite, quiet, and reserved. We took a tour of the space and piece by piece we were was blown away by the scale and work.
In walks French Art Dealer Daniel Templon and his Executive Director Anne-Claudie Coric. They were looking at work. I became a fly on the wall and searched for the anything that touched me on a personal level.
The images I captured which I’ve titled: “My Afternoon with Frank,” are for posterity and a reminder that we are all a few degrees of separation from anyone and everyone. I am thankful I was able to meet someone whom I hold in high esteem.
After a few hours we left but not before visiting the studio next door that was working on a new Jeff Koon’s piece. What an afternoon.
Frank Stella is the Vanguard, and an Art Thug.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FRANK STELLA
