Cityorkers

What makes you a real Cityorker?

I share my time between Paris and New York over the course of my different projects. And since I have a studio in both cities, I really feel a part of both of them.

How did you become one?

I was born in Versailles and grew up half in Paris and half in the south of France. I came back to live in Paris when I was 18 to go to art school. I discovered New York much later, in my late 20s. The first time I went there was just to visit. But I soon decided that I wanted to take advantage of the city’s artistic buzz – and the new people you can meet there, both work contacts and friends. This means that nowadays I could work with Jérôme Dreyfuss, the fashion designer, as much as with the architect of a leading Manhattan restaurateur, while continuing to exhibit in museums and art galleries… I feel much more free.

Which other Cityorkers do you know?

My friend Jérôme Dreyfuss, who you have already interviewed on your site. And I was amused to discover, among his recommendations, several places I have introduced him to that we go to together! There is also Shirley Jaffe, an American painter who lives in Paris. She was the one who encouraged me to work in New York. And not to forget Anne Couillaud, a French art critic who has lived in New York for the last 10 years, and Arthur Schalit, a French painter who I studied with at the Paris-Cergy art school. He used to regularly come on short trips to the Big Apple, before deciding to move here permanently a few months ago.

What do you think makes a plane journey special?

I try to get a good sleep between New York and Paris in order to suffer as little as possible from jetlag. And, conversely, I try to stay awake for the whole return journey.

What is the first thing you do when you arrive in New York?

Since I generally arrive in New York in the evening, around 9pm, I always try to avoid going to bed too early, so as not to wake up in the middle of the night with jetlag… So when I get home, I immediately call a few friends to invite them for a drink at the Union Pool, a café in Williamsburg. We start off quietly in the bar, having a few drinks and eating tacos made in a truck in the garden! The atmosphere soon becomes electric, and we generally finish the evening dancing in the concert hall next door.

And in Paris?

I immediately connect to the Paris I know. I go to the Marais to see my great friend Jacques, who was one of my patrons. As he is a contemporary art collector, he shows me his latest acquisitions. I then head to Belleville, where I have lived for a long time and book a table at Reuan Thaï, my favorite Thai restaurant, to treat myself to one of their curries and a raw beef salad.

What is the last thing you do before you leave New York?

Since cooking is one of my great passions, I always visit one of the most incredible stores dedicated to gastronomy. The Brooklyn Kitchen is more than a delicatessen, it is also one of the best butchers in New York and a store for kitchen utensils. It also sells fresh organic and local products, vintage knives, cake molds in the shape of pirate ships, and everything you need to brew home-made beer! A real treat for the eyes and taste buds.

And Paris?

Since I live in Aubervilliers, in the inner suburbs of Paris, I like to take time to explore the area. So I jump on a Vélib’, one of Paris’ free bikes, and take the cycle path along the Canal de l’Ourcq, to the north east of the city. It takes me along the water’s edge from the Parc de la Villette, where I can admire all the renovated industrial buildings, like the Moulins de Pantin, along with masterpieces of contemporary architecture and active art centers, such as the Centre National de la Danse in Pantin.

What is your favorite time of day in New York?

Nighttime, especially in the Ridgewood and Bushwick districts of Brooklyn. There are a lot of alternative rock venues there, which host young groups as well as more famous musicians (like Sonic Youth). These are generally in warehouses, or sometimes even in people’s homes, in loft apartments. At Silent Barn, for example, the stage is in the kitchen. So don’t be surprised to see pans and other utensils swinging to the rhythm of the drums! To keep up to date with what’s on, I read Show Paper magazine, which lists all upcoming concerts.

And in Paris?

Evening again, but more in museums! I like to take advantage of evenings at the Louvre or the Pompidou Center, especially for major exhibitions. There are a lot less people than during the day and they seem more relaxed and attentive to what they are looking at. Sometimes they even look like they are taking communion together in front of the works… That happened to me once, one evening at the Pompidou Center. I found myself alone in front of a painting with Formula 1 driver Alain Prost. I felt we were experiencing it together.

What about New York do you love/get excited about?

Its energy and all the people you can meet there.

And Paris?

Its familiarity – its old stones, my old friends…

Do you have a ritual intimately associated with either city?

In New York, at the end of the day, I go to private viewings at galleries in Chelsea or on the Lower East Side. I try to go to as many exhibitions as possible – there are about 40 every week. And that is just a very small proportion of what you can see in the city as a whole. There is always a work, an idea, an energy at each of them which stimulates me and sparks my curiosity, making me want to get back to the studio and work.