Atelier Jolie, New York, crédit : EV Grieve
Atelier Jolie, the brainchild of renowned actress Angelina Jolie, designed to serve as a communal space for artists to come together as a "global family" while simultaneously offering an environment of enjoyment, has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis, enveloped in a fresh coat of vibrant pink paint. Situated on 57 Great Jones Street, a location once associated with the artistic legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the storefront has shed its former graffiti-clad appearance to reveal an almost entirely pink façade. This aesthetic shift marks a notable departure from its previous state, characterized by an artistic interplay of street art.
The process of this transformation carried out over the course of the past week, remains shrouded in a veil of intrigue. Despite attempts to reach out for clarification, Atelier Jolie's official Instagram account has yet to provide any insight or comment on the matter.
In the initial stages of securing the Great Jones Street space, Angelina Jolie expressed a sincere commitment to "uphold and pay homage to" the rich artistic heritage embedded within the building's history. Industry insiders, as reported by Artmajeur, conveyed Jolie's aspiration to perpetuate the essence of Basquiat's artistry, thus preserving the "Basquiat feel" that characterized the location. However, the present ambiance diverges significantly, leaning more towards an aesthetic that evokes the hue of Pepto-Bismol.
Notably, the newly emerged pink exterior has garnered diverse reactions from the community. While some embrace the change as a fresh perspective and a reimagining of the space, others express sentiments of attachment to the previous artistic interventions that graced the storefront.
As speculation continues to swirl around the motives and inspiration behind this transformation, one observant commenter on the matter, reflecting on the ever-evolving nature of artistic expressions in public spaces, notes optimistically, "History has shown that even amidst transformation, the spirit of artistic intervention finds a way to endure." This sentiment echoes the notion that the artistic journey of Atelier Jolie's storefront is bound to evolve and take on new dimensions as time progresses.
Selena Mattei