Louise Bourgeois’ untouched New York home
There was a lovely piece in the Telegraph yesterday about the home and workspace of artist Louise Bourgeois, which has been preserved since her death in 2010. It’s in Chelsea, New York – not far from the High Line I think – and it’s in the process of being converged with the neighbouring house to become a centre for scholars that will open next year. The artist famously had a fear of abandonment linked with her childhood and made aggressive works about her father. She had been something of a hoarder in life, so in between the peeling walls of the house is an abundance of stuff – boxes of fabrics, used tubes of paint, old hairbrushes – the hair still on them, biscuit tins, empty bottles and such. When her eyesight had deteriorated she started writing important phone numbers on the walls above her fireplace – we’re an inch away from doing that here in the office.
Her huge pin board is filled with photographs of her three children, her childhood home and a photograph of herself with Tracy Emin who she worked with on a series of paintings not long before her death. A newspaper clipping of a headline also pinned there reads – ‘Does feminism conflict with artistic standards?’
Read the full feature for a more detailed account of the artist, including some touching accounts from her friend and long-time assistant Jerry Gorovoy. Their friendship began with her giving him a sharp telling off for how he curated her work in a Soho gallery in 1980, but they later became friends. I boasted once before about how I interviewed Louise Bourgeois. It was only over email, but I’m enjoying imagining that Jerry took down her answers in this busy apartment before sending them back to me.
I love the thought of Jerry writing down your answers too.
Thank you for sharing this article and evocative pictures. I will be sure to visit the house, and perhaps take a short course at the new centre, when I can next get to New York. In the meantime I shall muse over the question Louise posed – Does Feminism conflict with artistic standards!
I like the door design. The sky blue is just right. Thanks
That house is so inviting! It’s just a place to be creative and inspired. Must visit place, undoubtedly!
I am in New York in June. Can I visit the apartment. I have been studying her work at Hereford College of Arts & I love her.
Kind regards Lin x