Join us as we dive into the world of Kelsey Rose Williams, a design scholar, historian, photographer, and American living in France. With a passion for modern architecture, archival preservation, and cross-cultural exploration, Kelsey shares her journey through art history, her work with iconic institutions like the Eames House, and her inspirations behind her captivating Substack, Absolument. We explore her love of connecting seemingly unrelated artists, stories from her travels, and the joy of weaving together influences from art, architecture, and culture into a vibrant creative tapestry. Don’t miss this intimate and inspiring conversation on The Art Elevator podcast!

Links Mentioned:

Substack: https://kelseyyrose.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyyrose/

Website: https://www.kelseyrosewilliams.com/

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/kelseyyrose

This episode is brought to you by Sarah and Larissa of Artifactual History Appraisal and Larissa Wild Fine Art. To help support us in our efforts to bring you free educational and inspirational content about art, design, collecting, appraising and creativity, we invite you to consider purchasing one of our paid product offerings listed below:

Sarah Reeder

SILVER 101 course: https://artifactualhistory.teachable.com/p/silver-101

Ray Eames book: https://www.amazon.com/Ray-Eames-1930s-New-York/dp/B09PHBWT17/

In this episode we speak with returning guest Tanzy Ward, who is a scholar, book author, educator, antique jewelry dealer, & historic preservationist. Her book publications include Hidden Legacies: African Presence in European Antiques and Unsung Portraits: Anonymous Images of Black Victorians and Early 20th Century Ancestors. Her second historical non-fiction book Unsung Portraits was selected as a 2022 Contingent Book List Award for Historian Authors.

Tanzy's passion for Black material culture and heirlooms has presented her with the opportunity to be featured in critically acclaimed exhibits, including Yale University's 2022 show Allegories, Renditions, & A Small Nation of Women.

Tanzy's connoisseurship training includes the Asheford Institute of Antiques and she is a proud member of the Asheford Associate Membership Program & The American Society of Jewelry Historians. Her expertise and scholarship have been featured in various decorative arts and jewelry publications, including National Jeweler.

In this episode we discuss:

- The inspiration and process of writing her second book

- Tanzy’s scholarship, and how she actively engages with artifacts of self-representation in portraits, in fashion, and in jewelry to illuminate and give voice back to individuals who haven't always been included in historical scholarship

- Tanzy’s philosophy about being a conduit to steward the perspectives of "unnamed ancestors" as she describes them in her book

- How she utilizes modern platforms like Instagram for positive educational impact, creating beautiful content that also shares hidden stories

- How Tanzy’s work has expanded into new historical eras such as Mid Century Modern with her "Modern Black Glamour" themed posts

Links mentioned in the interview:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanzyward_antiques/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanzyward/

Books: https://zanathiajewelry.com/collections/tanzy-ward-books

Zanathia Jewelry: https://zanathiajewelry.com/

Tanzy's first episode on The Art Elevator Podcast: https://www.larissawild.com/podcasts/the-art-elevator/episodes/2147617546

In this episode of The Art Elevator Podcast, Sarah Reeder and Larissa Wild speak with Vanessa and Alexander Wendl of Toad Atelier on their exhibition at Larissa Wild Fine Art: Selections from the Toad Atelier Collection. This show will feature 35 rare artifacts from their collection of over 3,000 objects that highlight the history and impact of mid-century modern design.

Through this discussion, Vanessa and Alexander delve into their collecting journey, share their collecting philosophy which centers on three core principles: preservation, sharing, and enjoyment, and highlight how sharing their collection brings joy and fosters connections with like-minded individuals.

The episode is rich with anecdotes about specific pieces in the collection, such as the large-scale photograph of a New York scene and the Herman Miller Collections prototype catalogue. Alexander shares his profound connection to Irving Harper's work, explaining that Harper's creative process and the calming nature of his paper sculptures serve as a source of inspiration for Alexander's own artistic pursuits. The Wendls emphasize the therapeutic nature of creation and the importance of engaging with art for personal fulfillment and relaxation.

Alexander and Vanessa's story serves as an inspiring example of how passion, preservation, and creativity can come together to create a rich and fulfilling journey in the world of art and design.