Kim Jones at Charleston farmhouse in East Sussex, England, which was the former home and studio of Bloomsbury group artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.
Photo: Nikolai Von Bismarck
Kim Jones Shares the Story Behind His Treasured Matisse
The creative director of Dior Men and Fendi womenswear and couture, and recent Hennessy collaborator, reveals his passion for cross-collecting
“One of my favorite pieces is a beautiful portrait of Lorette, who was Matisse’s muse; he painted her over and over again. I initially came across this work on Instagram, and it didn’t say who the artist was, but I had to have it. There was an exhibition in Paris where one whole wall was just portraits of Lorette. I have my Lorette portrait displayed right next to my library door, so I see it every day. When I walk past it, I see a different brushstroke every time. Living with art means you get to look at it in a different light. I might reference the color in a painting for a fashion collection, or a brushstroke can make me think of a silhouette—the inspiration can be tenuous.
Henri Matisse, Lorette au Châle Vert, 1917. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
As a child, I was always around people who were obsessive collectors: my father, my uncle. I’ve always been a collector, too—first of toys, then books and clothes. Once I had the funds—and a nice house, which helps with wall space—I started buying larger artworks. I like art mostly from the period between 1910 and the 1930s, and not the normal things that people would expect, either. There’s always something a bit off. I have pieces by Gauguin, Picasso, Magritte, Francis Bacon, and Peter Doig. I like classics as well as modern. I also have a lot of works by Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry, and the Bloomsbury Group. I like the combination. They are all things that I want to live with, and they have to fit together. I feel lucky to live with such beautiful things.” —as told to Lucy Rees
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Summer Issue in the section In Focus. Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: Kim Jones at Charleston farmhouse in East Sussex, England, which was the former home and studio of Bloomsbury group artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.
Photo: Nikolai Von Bismarck
