For Robert Stilin and Sarah Gavlak, the best business collaborations are often personal. The designer and gallerist, respectively, have been both friends and colleagues for nearly 25 years — and have created a formidable bond over their love of interiors and art. Now, Stilin and Gavlak are mixing business and pleasure once again with their latest endeavor, Living with Art and Design, which is currently on view through Sunday, March 16.
Located inside West Palm Beach’s historic Norton House, which once served as the residence of famed sculptor Ann Weaver Norton, the exhibition is an immersive experience that explores the dynamic discourse between design and art. After all, art should never be confined to a sterile gallery: It should be enjoyed just as much as your favorite armchair or covetable credenza — and setting the exhibit in a beloved, lived-in property creates the groundwork to do just that.
“Robert has an incredible gift for creating homes where art feels like it belongs, not just displayed but lived with and loved,” she says. “His vision aligns so beautifully with what we do at GAVLAK.”
According to Stilin, who celebrates the “fun” of analyzing the intersection of the two disciplines with Gavlak for a quarter of a century, Living with Art and Design is a homecoming of sorts.
“I got my start in Palm Beach over thirty years ago,” he notes. “I thought it would be fun and interesting to come back to Palm Beach, where I’m also doing several projects, and put together a show that reflects my point of view on living well in Palm Beach.”
The secret to living amongst “well-considered, creative pieces,” he says, is curation. Stilin sourced furnishings, lighting, and home décor from premier New York institutions like Maison Gerard and Demisch Danant, while Gavlak used her astute eye to provide contemporary artworks.
Two people building one exhibition might seem like a challenge — a task that’s rotten with conflict and inevitable style-clashing — but Gavlak says she and Stilin have developed a deep synergy over the years. “Contemporary art and design go hand in hand,” she explains. “They bring spaces to life and make them truly unforgettable. It’s such a joy to work together and share our passion for blending art and design in a way that feels personal and inspiring.”
Photography by Tim Lenz.
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