When he was growing up in Jamaica, Matthew Harris can recall his excitement at visiting New York City on a trip. Passing through John F. Kennedy International Airport, he was dazzled by an artwork hanging overhead: Alexander Calder's mobile sculpture Flight, with its 45-foot span. He remembers being fascinated by the work, which looked to him like a giant earring.
Years later, Harris moved to New York and became a jewelry designer. Soon after he founded his brand, Mateo, in 2009, Rihanna was spotted wearing one of his silver zipper necklaces. A line of chandelier earrings inspired by Calder followed, and Mateo quickly gained a cult following with clients including Zendaya and Oprah.
Given his longtime fascination with Calder, it makes sense that when Harris was designing his new pied-à-terre in Lisbon, he was determined to include a piece by the artist. "It was always a dream to own a Calder, but most of the prices are in the stratosphere," he says. With the help of art adviser Christopher Wolf, he set his sights on a more attainable purchase: a 1975 jute tapestry made by Guatemalan artisans from a design Calder donated to raise money for earthquake victims. Now its organic red and blue pattern hangs over the dining area in his Lisbon apartment.
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Elle Decor US.
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This story is from the April 2023 edition of Elle Decor US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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