A Look At The Studios Of Great Artists, Architects And Designers

  • 1 Sep '20
  • 9:30 am by Nuriyah Johar

From Antoni Gaudi’s meticulous models of the Sagrada Familia to Le Corbusier’s deep connection with Purism, the studio of an artist or a designer can offer intimate glimpses into their personalities and creative processes. These sacred spaces evince a sense of genius that we see manifested into grand buildings, treasured art and iconic furniture. They raise questions and spark intrigue – Karl Lagerfeld’s complete espousal of the Memphis design movement for his apartment in Monaco may have been fleeting, but it offered a keen insight into the German designer’s artistic sensibilities. The cane chairs and classic terrazzo floors in MF Hussain’s Bombay home studio evoke a sense of shared nostalgia, which, for a moment, allows one to identify with the renowned artist. Frida Kahlo’s richness of spirit shines through the many paintings and figurines that feature in her workspace. Cramped, chaotic workrooms and sprawling ateliers alike have borne witness to these great artists and designers develop their styles, build their oeuvres, and leave behind legacies.

Here are some of the most iconic images of studios belonging to history’s greatest artists, architects and designers.

Antoni Gaudi – Workshop of models at Sagrada Familia, 1917. Photograph Credit – Gaudi Club
B.V. Doshi in his Ahmedabad studio, Sangath. Photograph Credit – Vinay Panjwani
Eileen Gray in her studio. Photograph Credit – National Museum of Ireland
Frida Kahlo in her studio in Mexico, 1940’s. Photograph Credit –  Art Gallery of NSW
Karl Lagerfeld’s Memphis home in Monaco, 1983. Photograph Credit – Jacques Schumacher
Le Corbusier at his studio in Paris. Photograph Credit – Fondation Le Corbusier, Brassaï
SH Raza – young Raza in his studio in Paris. Photograph Credit –  Art News & Views
Willi Smith at the WilliWear executive office designed by SITE. Photograph Credit – SITE Architecture
Jackson Pollock painting in his studio, 1947. Photograph Credit – Archives of American Art, Herbert Matter