Garbo Talks

No cultural figure represents the transition of time more elegantly than Greta Garbo. She seamlessly navigated the shift from silent cinema to the talkies with unparalleled elegance—and also knew when to step off the stage and retain her autonomy. In doing so, she became a prolific artist and collector.

A number of decades ago, Greta and I evidently crossed paths. She was a frequent visitor to V’Soske, designing rugs for her Sutton Place apartment, while I was creating a collection that would ultimately be in the Whitney High Styles Show “100 year of design”. She is someone who I’ve always admired, so when I learned we had been in the same place at the same time, I was all the more inspired to celebrate her in the best way I know how—through design. Together with Paul Jackson, we curated a number of important modernist works in richly hued reds, oranges, and pinks, which was the pallet of her New York apartment—as well as historic objects including a carpet that Garbo designed, to create a chic, well-designed tableau we hope is worthy of the legend.