Women artists are prominently featured in a vibrant interior design collaboration between COS and Studio Ashby.
Revamped Interiors: COS and Studio Ashby's Art Revolution
Three European COS stores have teamed up with London-based design studio Studio Ashby, inviting an eclectic assortment of women artists to enliven their spaces. Spanning continents and artistic mediums, this collaboration brings together works ranging from painting to sculpture, figurative to abstract that captivate with their vibrant color palettes and unique materiality.
"A distinctive materiality," as Sophie Ashby, founder of Studio Ashby and the creative force behind the project, puts it. Ashby, who also heads the interior design studio, picked artists from around the globe to breathe life into the COS stores on Regent Street in London, Rue Tronchet in Paris, and the newly opened location on Aleksanterinkatu in Helsinki.
Studio Ashby's discerning eye selected artists such as Milla Vaahtera from Finland, Erin Chaplin from South Africa, and British artists like Dalia James, Anna Ilsley, and Alice Neave. Each store showcases a unique array of artworks that complement the space's architecture and ambiance.
The Regent Street store in London features a mesmerizing light installation by Milla Vaahtera, blending heritage craft techniques with bold, colorful glass orbs and delicate touches of brass. Paris plays host to Alice Neave's exploration of materiality, color, and texture, while Erin Chaplin's works in Helsinki investigate the intricate relationship between the natural and artificial world.
Ashby selected the pieces for each store by assessing their scale and materiality – aligning them perfectly with the opportunities present in the stores' interiors. One particularly striking installation in Helsinki features a woven piece by Dalia James, alongside an evocative oil painting by Anna Ilsley that touches upon the complexities of motherhood.
"It's impossible to name a favorite because each piece resonates with me in a unique way," says Ashby, "but I personally adore Ilsley's moving portrayal of motherhood, which graces the walls of the Helsinki store. All the paintings boast delicate, subtle palettes that invite observation."
The artworks, a permanent addition to the COS collection, contribute to the brand's global stores, adding splashes of color and texture that seamlessly blend with their minimalist designs. From bespoke micro-paper and plywood tables by Paper Factor to hand-tufted wool rugs by Kasthall, the brand's international stores feature subtle moments of design that resonate with contemporary art and culture.
This project reinforces COS's enduring commitment to merging fashion with art and aiding women artists by showcasing their work in vibrant urban settings.
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- The vibrant, captivating artworks from artists like Milla Vaahtera, Dalia James, Anna Ilsley, and Alice Neave, curated by Studio Ashby, are not only invigorating the interiors of COS stores but also reflecting the brand's dedication to merging fashion and art, with a focus on women artists.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, one might consider the artistic exploration of the intricate relationship between the natural and artificial world, as seen in Erin Chaplin's works displayed in Helsinki, as a subtle extension of women's health, taking into account the harmony between our environment and our well-being.
- Beyond the realms of fashion and art, the collaboration between COS and Studio Ashby underscores a broader commitment to lifestyle, home-and-garden, and interior-design aesthetics, as evidenced by subtle design elements like bespoke Paper Factor tables and Kasthall rugs, which elevate the overall ambiance while resonating with contemporary art and culture.
