Objects of Desire

The Wick Culture - Bella Freud, the London-based fashion designer, created a t-shirt with Tyrone the bunny print drawn by Tyrone Smith.

Objects Bunny Unisex T-shirt by Bella Freud

£95

This unisex organic cotton, straight-fit t-shirt has a beautiful story behind it. New Zealand-based artist Deborah Smith was introduced to Bella Freud by her friend the fashion designer Susie Cave. Cave asked Freud to attend a Cloud Workshop Smith was holding in a community centre in North London, to help children suffering bereavement through creating. When Freud went to help at the workshop, Smith had recently lost her brother, Tyrone Smith. Later, Smith sent Freud a book she had made of Tyrone’s artworks and photographs – and Freud was especially compelled by his drawings, and this one in particular, a bunny, who Freud dressed in her 1970s jumper. “There is something about this creature that makes me think of the Greek myths as well as all the comic books that sustained me as I was growing up. I feel a very strong connection to Tyrone and Deborah and his mythical creature has become an integral part of my work.” Freud says.

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The Wick Culture - Bill Cunningham Graphic Print T-Shirt - Sacai

Objects Bill Cunningham Graphic Print T-shirt by Sacai

£195

‘Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life’ Bill Cunningham once said, and now those words are emblazoned on a t-shirt, made by Sacai, the influential luxury Japanese fashion house. The late American fashion photographer – who designed women’s hats before embarking on his career with a camera – is celebrated for his On the Street series for the New York Times, an early precursor to street style blogs, and the first time the paper began to run pictures without the subject’s permission. But as well as publishing his pictures, Cunningham wrote fashion criticism too – interrogating the scope and place of fashion in the wider culture, and changing many people’s perception of it. That’s why this t-shirt feels so perfectly apt for the photographer – his wisdom imparted in words, and words as images.

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The Wick Culture - Unisex KAWS + Warhol UT Graphic T-Shirt - Uniqlo

Objects KAWS + Warhol Graphic T-shirt by Uniqlo

£19.90

This week we are all about artist t-shirt collaborations. Let us begin with this very affordable, recently-released KAWS + Warhol tee for Uniqlo, produced to coincide with the KAWS + Warhol exhibition at the Warhol Museum which began its global tour earlier this year, and will continue around the world until 2027, landing next in Tokyo. Uniqlo has a history of major collaborations (with artists like Keith Haring and Takashi Murakami featuring previously on their designs) leaning on a certain type of street-inspired pop that embodies the idea of ‘art for all’. This KAWS collaboration consists of four t-shirts, with the main image on the back of the shirt – and has already proved to be one of their most popular to date. Also available in children’s sizes.

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The Wick Culture - Cobalt Swirl Tumbler by Eagle & Hodges

Objects Cobalt Swirl Tumbler by Eagle & Hodges

£65

“If you have a really nice glass, everything tastes better,” says creative director Alex Eagle. Hand blown just outside London in small batches made to order by a master glassblower, these wonderfully whimsical glasses by Eagle & Hodges are a more subtle nod to Surrealist style. We love the captivating cobalt colour, but they’re sold individually in an array of other lucid shades. As if we needed an excuse to visit Alex Eagle’s divine Soho studio, where all the objects are handpicked and curated by Eagle with the creative director’s ideals of modern luxury essential in mind.

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The Wick Culture - Eye Chairs by Charlotte Colbert, at The Conran Shop in London

Objects Eye Chair by Charlotte Colbert

£3,600

We’ve come over all Surrealist this week at The Wick – perhaps it’s the hazy heat, or the anticipation of big shows on Surrealism at The Hepworth Wakefield and the Henry Moore Institute opening later this year. The leading purveyors of Surrealist Pop, Charlotte and Philip Colbert, might also have something to do with it: their pop-up at The Conran Shop on Sloane Square continues until 26 August. Among our favourite pieces is this “Eye-conic” Eye chair by Charlotte Colbert, a handmade, powder-coated wrought iron wonder. “I like…creating little windows into a narrative, allowing for anyone to fill up the missing pieces with their own stories,” says the photographer and screenwriter.

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The Wick Culture - Mytheresa, L'OBJET Haashtray Large ashtray

Objects Haashtray Large ashtray by Haas Brothers x L’Objet

£565

What do you get if you cross the Mojave desert landscape with the wild imagination of the Haas Brothers? This porcelain ashtray, that’s what. For their second collaboration with L’Objet, Hass Brothers have taken Surreal to new heights, with this handcrafted sculptural piece, with gold-plated details on the fantastical silhouette of this strange anthropomorphic creature, a vessel for depositing ash and cigarette butts, if you wish.

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The Wick Culture - Objects Rocket Vase by Sophie Alda

Objects Rocket Vase by Sophie Alda

Sophie Alda is an artist, designer, maker based in Bristol. She says her objects “approach materiality and tactility in a playful way, rejecting the hierarchy of the practically useful art/object within craft or otherwise”. They are the embodiment of the Greco-Roman vibe, with their bright blue touches recalling the Loulaki-painted homes seen all over Greece, to their classical figurative elements and irresistible curves recalling ancient vessels. The delicious Rocket Vase is hand painted with glazing on the outside and inside – robust enough for water or stems.

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The Wick Culture - Handpainted Palm Ceramic Candleholder, Les Ottomans

Objects Handpainted palm ceramic candleholder by Les Ottomans

286 euro

The Wick is just a wee bit obsessed with Les Ottomans, the home design brand born out of a love of Turkey, merging eastern and western influences, enhanced by the exotic charm of the Bosphorous. This exquiste handpainted ceramic candleholder epitomises their perfect merging of functionality and fashion: crafted in Italy, your table will never be dull again. We love the blue – but it’s also available in other colours, and two sizes.

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The Wick Culture - Il Viaggio di Nettuno Set of 4 Coasters by Luke Edward Hall

Objects Il Viaggio di Nettuno Set of 4 Coasters by Luke Edward Hall

£180

We’ve come over all Greco-Roman this week at The Wick – perhaps its the soaring temperatures or dreams of the Aegean. These handcrafted pure porcelain coasters are the perfect party piece: Inspired by Luke Edward Hall’s love of Greco-Roman mythology, each of these stunning coasters is decorated by hand. Part of the Il Viaggio di Nettuno collection, available at Ginori 1735. Far from ordinary, they’ll turn any table into an artistic installation.

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