Wil Phearson III and Karla Gordy
It’s a bright and beautiful day in West Hollywood, but there is an autumnal crispness in the air that seems appropriate for turning over a new leaf. That is why it is a perfect time to be at the Luminaire showroom. On the coming Saturday, they will celebrate an exciting collaboration with Loisir Art Gallery. So I have arrived for an advance tour of the exquisitely appointed showroom with some very special guests.
Lars Hypko of Luminaire greets us so warmly, he could easily be escorting us into his own gracious home. This feeling of familial welcome is reinforced by the presence of his wife Fernanda Hypko — an art specialist who co-conceived Loisir — and their lovely child. Also on hand is artist Todd Williamson; several of his works are currently on display at Luminaire. And art adviser Wil Phearson III is also with us to offer his thoughtful perspective on these exciting juxtapositions of art and design.
When Art and Design Meet: The Theory
The collaboration makes all the sense in the world. Luminaire is celebrating 50 years of providing thought-provoking design — through locations including this beautiful showroom in West Hollywood as well as further afield. But where their showrooms were once dedicated to presenting product, Lars now sees them as opportunities to help clients live well. Enter Loisir with its specialization in contemporary art and interest in reinventing the state of art collecting and investing.
With input from art experts, Lars is presenting the kind of vignettes one might discover in a truly fabulous LA home. They choose pieces with particular care — pairing them with furnishings and accessories such that their colors, textures and themes resonate to create even more potent sensory experiences. Lars sees it as a shame that for too long, so-called real art has been locked away in galleries — leaving showrooms to fill space with lesser work. Phearson notes that collectors who enjoy these presentations are often surprised to have not seen such combinations in a gallery before.
Lars and Fernanda Hypko
When Art and Design Meet: The Practice
It’s worth noting that these vignettes are not meant to have some other piece plugged in when one sells. That is because so much intention goes into crafting them. “The feeling should be that, when you take the art out, something is missing, Lars explains. And as we tour them, I feel myself considering them with the energy I might bring to wandering an exciting museum exhibition.
That said, a tour of the showroom is also definitely fun. Where other art purveyors seem to aim for forbidding, Luminaire delivers warmth. They want visitors to feel a sense of family — a showroom experience that is both welcoming and fully immersive. Williamson notes that part of his own process is to take his creations home and live them for a while. He explains that getting a sense of the emotional connections one can make living with a piece is important. And that sense of connection is something Luminaire is trying to deliver.
“I think art, design and architecture are one and the same — that when art design and architecture come together,” says Williamson, “it creates the most perfect package.”
And Now It’s Time to Celebrate…
When the night of the celebration arrives, the atmosphere feels festive. Guests sip libations — notably including buzzy alcohol-free wine from French Bloom. Everyone seems engaged with the vignettes of art and furnishings, and the showroom feels like an estate where an amazing lounge gives way to a delightful seating area, leading to a gorgeous living room. The art world is well represented in esteemed presences such as Karla Gordy, Chair of the Beverly Hills Arts & Culture Commission and Debra Carrington.
The rest of the crowd is a who’s who, as well. There’s titled nobility in the person of Sir Knight Laurent Khaiat, Marquis of Sicily. Notable philanthropists here include Victoria Barbara and Donna Croel. There are Kate Lister of L’Officiel, producer and activist Lanette Phillips, major developer Robert Herscu. Meanwhile, Lars, Fernanda and Phearson circulate among them — encouraging engagement.
“A partnership with Luminaire is about extreme precision, putting in the work and curating space,” says Phearson. “So it’s going to add some expansion for people to breathe.”
Fernanda adds that “the partnership between Loisir Gallery and Luminaire is extraordinary — in that we magnify the magic that happens when art and design align.”
“The reason we do what we do is to improve people’s lives. It’s really about respecting our client’s time and giving them the best options,” says Lars, “and making the experience fun.” And judging from the reaction, they are succeeding.
Photography courtesy Luminaire.
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