Galerie56 partnered with renowned Swedish gallery Jackson Design to launch Garbo Talks, an exhibit celebrating Scandinavian design inspired by legendary actress Greta Garbo. The exhibition is co-curated by Galerie56 founder Lee Mindel and Paul Jackson, and is part homage, part celebration, and part Modernist retrospective, featuring more than 50 pieces inspired by Garbo’s iconic work and passion for Scandinavian design. These exceptional and historic objects designed by the finest Swedish talents from the 30s through the 70s (including Panton, Frank, Axel Einar Hjorth as well as Jean Royère lighting masterpiece) are available for sale, many for the first time in North America.
Mindel remarks, “No cultural figure represents the transition of time more elegantly than Greta Garbo. She seamlessly navigated the shift from silent cinema to the talkies with unparalleled elegance—and knew when to step off the stage and retain her autonomy. In doing so, she became a prolific artist and collector.”
Mindel’s passion for Garbo goes back several decades, when he apparently crossed paths at V’soske rugs. She was a frequent visitor to the intimate design atelier while she was working on rugs for her Sutton Place apartment, and Mindel was creating a collection that would ultimately be in the Whitney High Styles Show “100 Years of Design.” Mindel adds, “She is someone who I’ve always admired, so when I learned we had been in the same place at the same time, I was even more inspired to celebrate her in the best way I know how—through design.” He continues, “Together with Paul Jackson, we curated a number of important modernist works in richly hued reds, oranges, and pinks, which was the pallet of her New York apartment—as well as historic objects including a carpet that Garbo designed, to create a chic, well-designed tableau we hope is worthy of the legend.”
Garbo Talks will be on exhibit at Galerie56 through January 22, 2024, and includes works by Margareta Köhler; Josef Frank; Philip Johnson; Carl Hörvik; Frits Henningsen; Richard Kelly; Jean Royère; Elsa Gullberg; Verner Panton; Svenskt Tenn; Barbro Nilsson, Ingegerd Torhamn, Paavo Tynell, Axel Einar Hjorth; Erik Skawonius; Alfred Grenander; Borge Clausen; Björn Trägårdh: Astrid Sampe; Vicke Lindstrand; Elis Bergh; Gertrud Lönegren; Wilhelm Kåge; Axel Salto; Stig Lindberg; Friedly Holzer-Kjellberg; Marie Louise Idestam-Blomberg; Johannes J. Bjerg; and Simon Gate. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 10am to 6pm, and appointments can be made for viewings through the website, galerie56.com.
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