Artistry on a Roll / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, October 20, 2008

Associated Press

October 20, 2008

Photo Gallery

Remember wallpaper? For many of us, the word evokes prim florals or a parade of dancing vegetables across the kitchen wall.

But today's papers are worlds removed - sophisticated sheets of art that may banish any memories of bad taste.

At this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, there was buzz around the booth of Trove Wallcoverings. Jee Levin's photoprinted papers featured moths, birds, blossoms and other natural forms in ethereal, muted tones. They were almost like stop-action films; in fact, Levin's "Indi" design, a flurry of swallows startled into flight, seems inspired by Hitchcock's "The Birds."

Given Campbell is another of the new breed of wallpaper designers. The young New Yorker designs and sells some of the most assured and striking graphics on the market, as well as some of the most charming. Her "London" series depicts some of that city's signage and iconic images, but she also has some fun with bubbles, ripples and elephants.

Over at Bunny Maxwell's online shop, Bunny, aka Courtney Bush, has stocked her e-shelves with girly silk chandelier shades and retro-inspired kitchenware, but she also sells intriguing wallpapers from Canadian designer Judit Gueth.

The French firm Elitis pushes the envelope even further with a collection featuring crocodile-printed "leather," vinyls that mimic color-saturated glass mosaic tile, photoscanned pebbles, even densely woven straw.

And for the very daring, a flocked metallic called "Tenue de Soiree" ("Evening Dress") that is both lacy and racy. What would grandma say?