Collection
Collector Profile - Erin Fetherston
Erin Fetherston
Designer
Designer Erin Fetherston has shared her vision for inspired living on and off the runway for years. From the Left Bank to the Left Coast, she’s welcomed us into her breathtaking homes, revealing that her celebrated fashion sense is rivaled only by her gift for interior design.
Fetherston has a knack for making any space feel bright, light, and airy. Where she cultivates serenity and elegance, she also welcomes playful whimsy. Her interiors, while modern, exude warmth and reflect a connection to nature.
Erin’s design instincts draw from her personal experience. Having lived in Paris, New York, and now Los Angeles, Fetherston believes that good design should work hand in hand with lifestyle. Mother to three young boys, Erin creates homes where children and adults cohabitate seamlessly without compromising on design. Her talent for family friendly spaces has made her a go-to resource for celebrities like Jenna Dewan, James and Kimberly Van Der Beek, Jamie Lynn Sigler, and Odette Annable.
Q.
What is your earliest memory of art, and what led you to start collecting it?
A.
My step-uncle was a well known artist, Robert Thierrien, and as a young child, I can remember conversations about his work and career in our family, which was probably where I first grasped the idea of art and collecting.
As a designer, I am always seeking visual input to keep myself inspired, so art is a natural extension of my inspiration and design process.
Q.
What are some of the most meaningful pieces in your collection?
A.
I am very fortunate to have worked with Ellen Von Unwerth who collaborated with me several times when I was getting started as a fashion designer. I have her photos lovingly displayed in my studio.
Q.
What was the first work of art you fell in love with?
A.
Picasso’s “Dove of Peace”. I actually had an original print of this work in my apartment in Paris, which I later gifted to my right hand design assistant of many years who I loved dearly. There is something so special about that work, it always spoke to my heart.
Q.
How has the sentimentality of your collection evolved over time?
A.
I actually see the sentimentality has been quite consistent. I’m drawn to ethereal pieces that evoke nostalgia, romance, and whimsy.
Erin Fetherston says:
“Buy what you love and don’t think of artwork like commodities. By purchasing a work from an artist you believe in, you are enabling them to be who they are and continue to do what they do.”
Q.
Describe your collection in three words.
A.
Ephemeral, feminine, light
Q.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
A.
The archetypal fairytale is always in the subconscious mind of my work, whether I’m designing fashion or spaces. It’s not even something I intentionally draw from, but it often finds a way to surface. I guess at the end of the day, I just love a princess in an enchanted castle.
Q.
How do you go about finding new pieces to expand your personal art collection?
A.
I believe in magnetism. The right pieces will just find you if you keep your receptivity active.
Q.
What inspires you to collect the work of emerging artists?
A.
It’s very important to support emerging talent. I know how much that support meant to me when I was in the early years of my fashion career. You can actually play a role in how their career will unfold, even if indirectly, and that’s a way to contribute to creative circuitry in the arts.
Q.
For new collectors, do you have any advice you wish to impart; Do you have a collecting ethos or philosophy that you want to share?
A.
Buy what you love and don’t think of artwork like commodities. By purchasing a work from an artist you believe in, you are enabling them to be who they are and continue to do what they do.
