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To celebrate the opening of her solo show at London’s ICA, fashion illustrator-cum-artist Julie Verhoeven transformed Valeria Napoleone’s elegant Kensington residence into a punk Christmas grotto, complete with mammoth tree, lace stockings, and rolls upon rolls of toilet paper.
It was a sight to behold, but even the craziest decoration paled when compared to the hostess, who welcomed her guests in full Verhoeven regalia: with oversized breasts sewn onto her dress (one dramatically longer than the other) and a toilet roll and marigold kitchen glove in lieu of a crown.
The “Soiree of Festive Fancies,” which bridged the art and the fashion worlds, was animated by mischievous pixies and a milk maid, who spent most of the evening with her feet stuck in milk buckets.
Napoleone has long been a prominent London collector, best-known for her staunch support of women artists. She is also an active patron, most notably for the cutting-edge non-profit South London space Studio Voltaire–and one who never hesitates to roll up her sleeves.
When Studio Voltaire launched its annual pop up show, House of Voltaire, she took up a shift behind the counter (see “Need Holiday Gifts for Your Art World Friends? Look No Further.“). Napoleone is also an accomplished chef, with a published cook book, the Catalogue of Exquisite Recipes, under her belt. For Verhoeven, she went back to the kitchen, cooking up a feast of chicken, pasta, cheesecake, and tiramisu.
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