A New York Design Guru Shares Tips on Flea Market Fashion and When To Grab Furniture Off the Street

Patrick Parrish, a renowned dealer in high-end design, reflects on his decades-long career, which began with buying furniture from the back of trucks at the sprawling Chelsea flea markets. He discusses how the flea market landscape has changed significantly since the pre-internet era, noting the decline of New York's once-vibrant scene, which previously attracted celebrities like Andy Warhol. In contrast, he highlights that Los Angeles still maintains a strong flea market culture, largely due to venues like the Rose Bowl, which benefit from favorable weather and ease of access for car owners, unlike the aggressive, weather-dependent environment of New York. Parrish, now with a young son and ongoing home renovations, no longer engages in early morning buying trips. Instead, he shares his accumulated wisdom in his book, "The Hunt: Navigating the Worlds of Art and Design," published by Powerhouse Books. This book offers advice for both novices and seasoned collectors, including a strategic tip to always ask to use a dealer's bathroom to discreetly scout for hidden inventory. He explains that his current method of sourcing pieces is less about physical excursions and more about discerning opportunities, such as selling specific pottery pieces to fund bathroom tile for his own renovation, illustrating the fluid nature of his business. The discussion also touches upon various design trends and predictions. Parrish expresses a nuanced view on the Memphis Group, a postmodern Italian design movement, acknowledging its cyclical revivals while humorously recalling its original production and subsequent re-emergences. He candidly admits his inability to consistently predict the "next big thing" in design, citing past instances where he overlooked valuable pieces, such as Paul Evans's brutalist metal furniture, which now commands high prices. He speculates that the next trend might transition from Memphis to streamline American and European design from the 1910s, particularly Italian futurist styles, which are characterized by colorful yet severe aesthetics and the use of real materials over laminates. Fashion at flea markets is another topic addressed by Parrish, who advises on wearing layers due to unpredictable weather and dressing appropriately to avoid affecting negotiation outcomes. He explains that dealers, including himself, can often gauge a buyer's financial capacity based on their attire, influencing price discussions. For instance, high-end clothing or accessories worn by a buyer can make dealers less inclined to lower prices. Parrish also shares personal anecdotes, including missing out on a valuable Frederick Weinberg plaster wall light in the 1990s and his experience acquiring exclusive Tom Sachs Mars Yard Nikes. He notes the unique ethos behind the Nikes, where the artist encourages wear and tear over pristine preservation or resale. A significant point of discussion is the underrepresentation of women designers in the art and design world. Parrish expresses his frustration with the imbalance, actively seeking recommendations for talented women designers to feature in his gallery. He acknowledges the difficulty in finding them, often resorting to platforms like Instagram to discover emerging talent. Finally, he offers practical advice on dumpster diving and sidewalk finds in New York City, cautioning against upholstered items due to bedbug concerns but encouraging the retrieval of solid, non-gross furniture if no one is around, drawing from his own experience of finding a stool recently. #DesignDealer #FleaMarket #DesignTrends #CollectingArt #VintageFurniture #NewYorkDesign #MemphisGroup #InteriorDesign #PatrickParrish #DesignDealer #FleaMarket #DesignTrends #CollectingArt #VintageFurniture #NewYorkDesign #MemphisGroup #InteriorDesign #PatrickParrish

94 months ago

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