Copyright Greco Disco – The Art and Design of Luke Edward Hall, published by teNeues, www.teneues.com
Leave it to Luke Edward Hall to whip up a book as whimsical as his acclaimed interiors. Released this month, the U.K.-based artist and designer’s colorful debut monograph, Greco Disco, details his early inspiration and most treasured projects. Editor-in-Chief Pamela Jaccarino chatted with the creative about all things fashion, home, art and design. Here’s a snippet of the lively exchange.
Your new book is a refreshing alternative to many design books out there. Tell us about the inspiration.
Greco Disco presents some of my favorite projects worked on since I set up my studio in 2015. It is also, I hope, a kind of portal which will allow readers to enter into my universe and understand what my work is all about. I’ve included bits and pieces made as a child and later as a teenager and at university, as well as extracts from my favorite books and my own travel writings and photographs. The title was a neat way for me to sum up what it is that I aim to do: I’m taking inspiration from the past and creating colorful, joyful, romantic work that feels bold and contemporary.
You’re a dapper fellow, so, if you were attending a gala at a Greco Disco, what might you wear?
Hmm… A double-breasted suit in dusty pale blue corduroy, a white shirt with a frilly collar and cuffs, and a crown of golden laurel leaves.
You’re regarded for your energetic color combinations. What hues are turning you on lately?
At the moment, pale lavender and caramel-ish brown are really doing it for me.
We love how you capture the essence of a place through your artwork. We have a private jet ready to whisk you and your partner away. Where are we headed?
We’d like to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a proper cowboy holiday. I’ve only been on a horse a handful of times, but I want all the gear — belts, waistcoats and lots of turquoise.
Does art influence design or vice-versa?
All forms of art and design are forever inspiring each other.
Who is your favorite Bloomsbury Group creative?
Duncan Grant, because I love his drawings. I’m a big Vanessa Bell fan, too; I collect books with her cover designs.
We’re inviting you to live in any English countryside home or estate from any time period. Which residence will it be?
I think it’d have to be Chatsworth [dedicated to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire], because I adore its golden window frames. Wilton House would also be high on the list; I’d throw wild costume parties down by the Palladian Bridge.
What is the philosophy that shapes you and your view on the world?
I’m a dreamer and a romantic. I’m all about creating work that has a sense of fantasy and wonder about it. I live my life in the same vein; I want to make every single day less ordinary.
What big dreams lay ahead for you and LEH in 2020?
I’m working on the interior design and art direction of a new hotel and bistro in Paris’ 10th arrondissement that will open next spring. I’ve also illustrated a new book of Diana Vreeland’s famous quotes, made with her grandson Alexander Vreeland and Rizzoli. Look out for it next year!
