Beauty & Mischief: The Design Alchemy of Blackman Cruz by Adam Blackman and David Cruz; Forward by Ryan Murphy | Cameron Books
At the intersection of outré and classic lies the esoteric world of Blackman Cruz, the Los Angeles design firm founded by Adam Blackman and David Cruz in 1993. Their first showroom, on La Cienega Boulevard, was known for its eclectic vision and collection of sometimes macabre objects, like mug shots, coffin carts, and embalming slabs, all rubbing shoulders with works by masters like Jean Prouvé and Frank Lloyd Wright. In 2007 they purchased the Highland Avenue space formerly occupied by the notorious gay disco, Probe, immortalized in the film “American Gigolo”, and created a showroom that is part cabinet of curiosities, part design temple. Now the pair has released Beauty & Mischief: The Design Alchemy of Blackman Cruz, a visual feast that explores their own designs, their inspirations, their own interiors, and the artists and creators they represent. The book is a journey through not only their own history but also the world of design.
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