FEELING INSPIRED – PEEL GALLERY, HOUSTON TX
Recently I took a trip to Texas and it turned out to be immensely inspirational and rewarding. Along the way I found a charming shopping block in Austin, discovered a tremendously talented jewelry designer, and re-visited an inspiring art/design gallery – Peel Gallery in Houston.
Owner and Gallery Director, Steven Hempel, established the gallery in 2005 as a design and exhibition space focusing mainly on decorative arts and design. Peel serves as a gallery as well as a retail space for art and design products including jewelry, objects, and furniture. The mood is relaxed and puts quality design front and center in an artistic environment, which in turn transcends the shopping experience into an altogether different kind of approach.
Which of course is why I love this gallery.
Hempel focuses on emerging talent as well as established designers providing a community where designers, clients and the curious gather to share projects and ideas. He finds his talent worldwide and has an amazing eye for what is forthcoming in the art scene. Exhibitions are switched out monthly, each collective always trumping the next.
Former photo exhibition by Larassa Kabel
Mexican jeweler Iker Ortiz
I often say I draw a great deal of inspiration from art and my visit to the Peel Gallery was no diferent. At the time the gallery was showcasing an installation by Houston-native, New York based artist Jordan Sullivan, titled “A Temporary Place“. Sadly the show has recently closed on Aug. 2nd, but regardless it was brilliant and the gallery has a good eye for great art and it is definitely a must-see whenever you might find yourself in Houston.
Jordan Sullivan’s “A Temporary Place”
The grainy photographs hung over lit tube candles works well together to convey a rustic sense of airiness, much suited to the southwestern theme.
An Overview of the main display wall, The installation of photographs, image collages, and sculptures combines to tell a southwestern story.
I love the mood of this entire collection, so dreamy and nostalgic
There’s a sense of sadness and a hint of a love story set in New Mexico (with Jordan’s ex-girlfriend, famed jewelry designer Pamela Love, as his muse).
There were also larger scale sculptures that come with subtle irony.
Porcupine Halo - $3,500
Horseshoe Cross - $3,500
Other shots from the exhibit:
The gallery has many exciting projects coming up starting in late August with a site specific installation by fiber designer Gabriel Dawe as part of his Plexus series.
I want to take a trip back to see this one. The artist will be creating and designing the installation on site which will result in something amazing to the eye. Make sure you go and check it out if you are in Houston in September! And if you are traveling to Houston anytime in the future, make sure you stop in and visit Steven and the Peel Gallery.
As far as purchasing Jordan Sullivan’s work, unfortunately the exhibition has been closed, but you can visit the artist’s website for more info on his upcoming exhibitions as well as his contact info - http://www.jordan-sullivan.com/.
Peel Gallery is located at 4411 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006. Visit the gallery’s website here to view other current exhibitions and to learn more about the gallery.
