Luke Edward Hall collaborated with Rubelli for a new wallpaper series titled "Parade."
Photo: Courtesy of Rubelli
Rubelli Collaborates with Luke Edward Hall on Customizable Wallpaper
For Parade, the artist and designer conjures a spritely cast of whimsical characters, Grecian antiquities, and garden settings
British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall Photo: Claudia Zalla
If one could mix Oscar Wilde’s wit, Jean Cocteau’s boundless fluidity, and Dorothy Draper’s unabashed use of color, the result might look something like the work of British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall. His style evokes such a magical mélange it seems to hearken back to a past era while still feeling refreshingly relevant. That same enchanting spirit prevails in his interiors at the Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris, as well as in collaborations with Rubelli fabrics, Diptyque fragrances, and Ginori 1735 dinnerware.
But Hall’s most recent collaboration with Rubelli might surpass them all due to its unbridled freedom. For Parade, a collection of made-to-order wallpaper panels, he conjured a cast of characters that can be orchestrated into a fantastical narrative. Printed on vinyl or nonwoven fabrics in muted colors or in a shadowy grisaille, these wall coverings allow design lovers to cast their own sequence of figures, from Greek gods to trapeze artists and harlequins. After choosing the players, one literally sets the stage by opting for frames of curtains, columns, and more—all painted by hand in Hall’s irresistible signature style. “I like the idea that this collection opens up the concept of installing a mural at home,” he says. “To me, Parade fills a really nice gap between traditional off-the-shelf wallpapers and full-blown bespoke hand-painted murals.”
Rubelli's Flower Vase wallpaper panel by artist Luke Edward Hall. Photo: Courtesy of Rubelli
For inspiration, Hall looked to the theatrical costumes seen in Serge Diaghilev’s dance company, Ballets Russes; the sprightly illustrations Cocteau imposed on nearly every wall of the grand Villa Santo Sospirin on the Côte d’Azur; and the soundtrack From the Circus . . . to the Sea, a symphonic blend of chamber pop and electronic music by British group The Irrepressibles. “A lot of my work takes its cues from music as well as visual sources,” he says. “I draw and paint quite quickly—I like bold marks and lines. I really wanted to bring this style to the works.”
“Designing a wall has never been so much fun”
Nicolò Favaretto Rubelli
The fanciful selections provide yet another example of how Rubelli has recently reimagined itself while staying true to its heritage. “This wallpaper can easily cover the walls of a small room as well as be impressively large in a hotel lobby yet still keep the flavor of a hand-painted watercolor,” says Nicolò Favaretto Rubelli, CEO of the storied Venetian brand. “Designing a wall has never been so much fun.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Fall Issue under the headline “Scenic Route.” Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: Luke Edward Hall collaborated with Rubelli for a new wallpaper series titled "Parade."
Photo: Courtesy of Rubelli
More from Galerie
