One of the most fascinating artists of the moment, Nicolas Party, has a knack for finding projects that place his vibrant, mysterious characters in the most interesting of situations. His newest opus, perhaps our favorite, is the recently opened Marble Ghosts, a site-specific installation of works at the Marble House at the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island. Starting on the front lawn and continuing throughout the interior of the mansion is an interplay of Party's very intoxicating sculptures and paintings, cleverly placed in and around the house, some in surprise locations and others interacting with the space.
Nicolas Party is a Swiss-born artist, best known for his conceptual approach to the ideas surrounding portraiture. The installation reflects Party’s own interaction with the space, his fascination with the original owner of Marble House Ava Vanderbilt Belmont, and his experience working with marble. Party finds much influence within the Surrealist movement, paring elements generally considered “mismatched” in an attempt to draw attention to visual details often overlooked.
The installation, curated by Dodie Kazanjian, is jointly presented by The Preservation Society of Newport County and ART&NEWPORT. Marble Ghosts is part of the contemporary art initiative at The Preservation Society of Newport County, which presents installations and exhibitions that explore and honor innovation, craftsmanship, and artistic creation, correlating the past with the present in an attempt to inform our future.
All images via KarmaKarma.org