Love Letter: Roy McMakin

Share on Facebook

I became enchanted with the artist Roy McMakin back when the ultra serious Richard Meier, architect of the just completed Getty Center in Los Angeles, had a tantrum over the furniture McMakin was commissioned to create for the complex.  The furniture was a little roly-poly and a tad goofy, juxtaposing a sentimentally sweet wink to Meier’s absolute purity.   Maier was outraged, AND I LOVED IT!

McMakin is that rare talent that slides seamlessly between architecture, furniture, and art making. Over the years, his Domestic Furniture/Architecture Company has created special buildings and interiors all over the country for artists, art collectors, and people of style.   Simultaneously, his art is sold at one of the most blue chip galleries in New York – Mathew Marks.  His “art” often looks like furniture.  His “furniture” often looks like “art.” 

I was tooling around the internet and found these incredible interiors where painted shapes bisect the furniture and rugs of the space.  My friend Robert had suggested I paint a rectangle on the ceiling over my bed the other night – almost like a canopy.  Then, low and behold, I ran into the image below.  Pretty GREAT, huh?!

 

 

 

I thought The below images/pieces were pretty neat too.  I like that something is sweetly “off”  in all of the objects/rooms.  Whether misaligned, out of proportion, strangely colored – there is a memory game going on in McMakin’s work that is sometimes hard to pin-point, but the imperfection is quite beautiful and haunting to me. 

 

 

 

Comments

[David Nolan]

I love the circular table with the white, and the concept of continuous color for an area no matter the objects but what I really like is the hole drilled in the table to string the wire through and it coming out down at the base and running along out of sight under the carpet I believe. I hate cords and I am glad to see someone else does whatever it takes to hide them.

The black balloons are amazing as a sculpture.

Hopefully Meier is getting used to the idea that there will be art inside his construction that will detract from its sheer monsterous and minimal pale beauty.

[david stark]

You said it brother, and good eyes on that cord strung down the center fo the table. Good eyes -- I didn't notice that until you pointed it out.

I love your comments and feedback. Keep 'em ooming, ok?!

D.

[Matthew Robbins]

Hi David,

Just had to send a quick note to say thanks for the fantastic inspiration. One day we will finally meet...our paths cross on a regular basis and you are one of the very few "event designers" I truly admire. I find pure, true inspiration in what you create. Thank you for sharing this great post. I also (finally) had a look at your site...so wonderful!

Hope to meet you in the near future.

All the best,

Matthew

[IP address finder]

Examples of different thinking.