We recently spoke to Gloria Gonzalez, Interiors Tastemaker and Founder of Directorio Deco and asked her a few questions:
What’s your main source of inspiration when it comes to interiors?
Interiors from the past usually inspire me the most, whether in old magazines, books or museums. Travel also fuels my creativity and inspiration, I was recently in the Andalucia, where I visited some beautiful properties like Palacio Portocarrero, Palacio de los Leones or Triana House. All full of character and wonderful details.
You used to work for the Spanish fashion brand LOEWE where you started your hugely successful blog and Instagram account. How did working there inform your taste and choice to move into the world of interiors?
Working for LOEWE was a great experience, I started as an intern in their private archive and museum. There, I learnt a lot about the brand’s heritage and also about craftsmanship and leather (my department was located where the accessories were being made.)
After that, I worked on the PR team at an exciting time for the brand as the LOEWE foundation launched the Craft Prize. LOEWE has always been closely linked to the design and art world. My love for interiors had always been there, but thanks to my Instagram and blog, I met people in the world of interiors - both in Spain and London- which opened the doors to an industry I absolutely love.
What three words best describe your own style?
Classic with a twist - (does this count as three?!)
Do you have any favourite artists and/or periods of art?
That’s a tough question to answer (particularly for an Art Historian like myself!) I love portraits; one of my favourites is ‘The Tagliapanni’ (The Tailor) by Giovanni Battista Moroni. I remember being completely mesmerised the first time I saw it at the National Gallery in London. I also love John Singer Sargent, and if I have to name a current portrait artist, I would say, Phoebe Dickinson, who I recently featured on my blog. I love her work.
Sorolla is also a favourite of mine (I highly recommend a visit to the Sorolla Museum in Madrid). One of my favourite works from him is a series of panels called ‘Visions of Spain’ commissioned by Archer Milton Huntington, founder of the Hispanic Society in 1911. They depict the people, costumes, and traditions of various regions of Spain. Both Sorolla and Huntington noted that the series represented a Spain that was already on the point of disappearing.
What do you collect?
I wouldn’t say I have a proper collection yet, but I love ceramics. These are recent purchases. The little ceramic dish and pot I bought last week in Provence from a local artist. The pomegranates I got from an artisan in Israel last summer. There were the last three small ones he had left. I liked that they were all different and, in a way, reminded me of my two sisters. The pear painting was a birthday gift from a dear friend.
Do you have any tips on how to start and grow your own brand/online platform?
This sounds a bit of a cliche, but I genuinely think thatif you are passionate and honest about what you do, the rest will follow. Work hard, be consistent and most importantly, be yourself- copying or mimicking what others do won’t take you far.
Which is your favourite work from our figurative landscape exhibition?
I love George Potter's work, particularly by the river and trotting horse (I'm writing this as I wait at the airport for my flight to Seville - I love this city and Potter's was able to capture the beauty and light of this city perfectly)
Afternoon in the Terrace, Jerusalem by Lotta Eale - I like the the simplicity of it and the colours. There's something very calming about it.
Golden Hour by Lucy Kent - I particularly love the contrast of the blue and the green, it's striking and cheerful. I'm a big fan of Lucy's landscapes.
For this exhibition we are celebrating leading contemporary artists painting in nature. We are highlighting the beautiful work of our Ukrainian artist Denys Gorodnychyi who paints landscapes from life, and supporting a charity called UKtoUkraine to mark a year since the war started. We know you’re a fan of figurative art, why is this style of painting so important to keep alive do you think, and what makes you love it?
As human beings, we feel the need to be connected with what surrounds us. While I admire abstract artists and their work, I feel a stronger connection with figurative artwork and artists. The way an artist can portray someone's face and expressions or the amount of colours and strokes they can use to depict a flower or a mountain - I find it quite incredible.
