A man of many hats (including his now-trademark park ranger hat, a vintage design by Vivienne Westwood) singer-songwriter, producer, and fashion designer Pharrell Williams will try on the role of curator at Galerie Perrotin, Paris, with an exhibition scheduled to debut May 27.
The 41-year-old musician has teamed up with longtime friend and gallery-owner Emmanuel Perrotin, to co-curate the inaugural exhibition at the gallerist’s newest art space, Salle de Bal, in the Hôtel d’Ecquevilly in Paris’s Marais neighborhood. As reported by artnet News last month, the show, which shares its title, “G I R L,” with the singer’s upcoming album, will feature 40 artworks, 10 of which have been created specifically for the event.
Takashi Murakami, Portrait of Pharrell and Helen – Dance (2014).
Photo: Terry Richardson, courtesy Galerie Perrotin.
The theme of the work is a celebration of women and love, but Pharrell also figures prominently in several pieces. Takashi Murakami offers a colorful portrait of a plaid suit-clad Pharrell and his wife, Helen Lasichanh, (in a plaid ballgown) dancing in front of a backdrop of smiling cartoon flowers titled Portrait of Pharrell and Helen – Dance.
Rob Pruitt turned to the singer’s oversize hat for inspiration, covering a canvas couch with pop-culture themed doodles. Pharrell and his chapeau dominate the work, which is dubbed Studio Loveseat (Pharrell). In Studies into the past (Single Cover of “Lost Queen” by Pharrell Williams), Laurent Grasso depicts the musician as Napoleon in the Egyptian desert.
Rob Pruitt, Studio Loveseat (Pharrell) (2014).
Photo: courtesy the artist.
It would seem the artists were all too happy to turn to the music superstar as a muse, with Murakami telling the New York Times that “the moment you use Pharrell as a medium, pretty much anyone is able to release this magical power that brings out the best you have to offer.”
Laurent Grasso Studies into the past (Single Cover of “Lost Queen” by Pharrell Williams).
Courtesy Galerie Perrotin.
“G I R L” will be on view at Galerie Perrotin‘s new Salle de Bal space in Paris, May 27–June 27, 2014.