Kelly Wearstler and Rotganzen’s melting disco balls honour LA

Debuting a series of new collaborations for her online shop, Kelly Wearstler presents a special edition of ‘Quelle Fête’ by Dutch art collective Rotganzen, five melting disco balls inspired by the city of Los Angeles

Distorted disco balls by Rotganzen for Kelly Wearstler
‘Tiffany Queen’ and ‘Cracked Actor’, $16,000 each, by Rotganzen for Kelly Wearstler
(Image credit: press)

Kelly Wearstler unveils the latest evolution of her brand, an expansion of her studio’s e-commerce platform to present the work of artists, craftspeople and other international creatives whose work she collects or features in her projects. The first iteration of the initiative is marked by the launch of a special edition of ‘Quelle Fête’ by Dutch art collective Rotganzen, five new versions of the artists’ Dalí-esque, melted disco balls inspired by the city of Los Angeles and available through Kelly Wearstler's Gallery. 

Kelly Wearstler x Rotganzen

Seemingly melting disco balls on a table, speciall edition of Quelle Fête by Rotganzen for the online Kelly Wearstler shop

The full ‘Quelle Fête’ collection by Rotganzen for Kelly Wearstler

(Image credit: press)

‘Rotganzen’s work is unique, elevated and playful. The studio has an incredible dedication to creation, craft and experimentation, and of course the fun spirit of design,’ says Wearstler. The American designer first bought a Rotganzen piece for her home a couple of years ago, and then regularly introduced the collective’s work into her projects.

‘I am constantly curating, sourcing work from, and collaborating with artists and craftspeople for many of my projects. It is truly my passion,’ she adds. ‘It is these artisans and their work that make my projects shine.’

Two melted disco balls on a marble bench, designed by Rotganzen for the Kelly Wearstler shop

‘Sunset People’, $22,000

(Image credit: press)

The five new pieces feature Rotganzen’s distinctive mirrored surfaces and melted forms, and their names evoke the city that’s home to Wearstler and her studio: ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘LA Woman’, ‘Cracked Actor’, ‘Tiffany Queen’ and ‘Sunset People’. 

‘When we were asked to design an exclusive series for Kelly, we wanted to stay true to the concept of “Quelle Fête”, which is that they are a playful representation and a melancholic reminder of the great glamour clubs of the 1970s and 1980s,’ comment the artists. ‘We also wanted an homage to LA, Kelly’s hometown, and the city that inspired so many musicians. So, we designed five pieces based on music about LA. The leading soundtrack while designing became the track that captures LA so perfectly: Buddy Collette’s “Santa Monica”.’

Kelly Wearstler’s online shop

Hanging melting ball from the wall

‘LA Woman’, $16,000

(Image credit: press)

Kelly Wearstler’s e-commerce offers a curated selection of her home accessories, furniture, books, and more. This new initiative opens up the e-commerce platform to new horizons, expanding its reach through exclusive collaborations. ‘Incorporating artful objects in the home can be intimidating: I want this to be a place for people to discover new designers, artists and artisans, and see how they can use their works in their interior spaces,’ says Wearstler. 

‘Since I launched the e-commerce platform, we have continued to evolve and diversify,’ she continues. ‘There are so many amazing opportunities for designers and business owners, and I’m always exploring new ways to engage with my community.’ 

Small melted disco ball by Rotganzen on the edge of a console table

‘Tiny Dancer’, $2,499

(Image credit: TBC)

INFORMATION

‘Quelle Fête’ by Rotganzen is available from 14 October 2021, from $2,499

kellywearstler.com

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.