West Elm Shares FMS Mag's Good Taste!

One of the fab house stories in the latest issue of Flea Market Style was the "Modern Family" piece about sculptor Stephen Antonson and the swell New York home he shares with Kathleen Hackett, his wife, and their kids, Finn and James.

Antonson works his artistry on plaster, from everything from chandeliers to mirrors. He recently launched a line for modernista magnet West Elm, and you can read about their raves for the Master of Plaster here and here)!

But we thought you'd like to hear from Antonson in his own words. A consummate flea marketer, he is a guy after the collective FMS heart. He's all about reuse!

Here are our Qs and his As:

Q: Who calls you the Master of Plaster? Is there another title you'd like better?

A: Writers call me that. If I'm in New York I say Im an artist. Elsewhere I say I'm an accountant and no one asks questions.

Q: Your funny bio on your site (and the copy that accompanies your FMS story) shows a sense of humor and individuality. Did you try to let that show through for your West Elm collection? What is your favorite piece for that collection and why?

A: I wanted a body of work that suggested a handmade quality. It's very difficult to make objects that are interesting and funny. If they miss the mark they become trite. I think I pulled it off with "Pie’d Pan".

Q: How did the deal with West Elm come about? Was it one of those serendipitous things?

A: I know Shane Powers and David Stark, both of whom have collaborated with West Elm. I just dropped off a package one afternoon addressed to Alex Bates, the Creative Director at the time, and crossed my fingers. She emailed me the same day asking me to come in.

Q: You do custom work through Dessin Fournir. Is this your first mass retail gig?

A: Yes. I show my custom work in Dessin Fournir’s showroom in New York and Chicago.

Q: What is your favorite thing about working with plaster?

A: I can paint AND sculpt with it and it comes off in the wash.

Q: What is "the next big thing" you're working on?

A: I will be covering the Guggenheim in plaster.

Q: What is one thing no one would ever guess about you?

A: I only recently started wearing turtlenecks.

Q: What's your favorite thing about Flea Market Style?

A: It's full of interesting people doing interesting things that are real.

Just like Stephen! The FMS team is already at work photographing homes and writing the stories of the flea market fans who inhabit them for the Fall/Winter issue! Watch this space for more details soon!

Kim