If you ever have one of those days – and you know the kind I mean – then a visit to Vanna Curated Living in the Railyard is a recommended remedy. The store, salon, and gathering place had its soft opening Wednesday, February 11, but owner and curator Nelly-Joy Irakoze invited us in for a sneak peek of our own.
A Place of Joy as Vanna Curated Living Opens in Santa Fe
The palette is primarily black and white with gentle touches of earthy browns, like the woolly woven rugs from Morocco stacked neatly and inviting you to touch and explore. It’s at once soothing, welcoming, and distinctly Nelly-Joy. It doesn’t hurt that you’re greeted by Nelly-Joy’s welcoming mini-doodle Vanna who now shares her name with Irakoze’s new endeavor.
What Artists Can You Find at Vanna Curated Living?
You’ll find work by international artists and craftspeople as well those practicing closer to home like Lisa Jensen whose handmade pendant lights feel like they’re glowing orbs floating in the air, as well as tactile ceramics made with stoneware clays, textural grog, and sands. Jensen incises her work with undulating etched lines that are she fills with porcelain in color to contrast with the clay body.
Zeitgeist – the Cape Town-based design group founded by Maxine Ginsberg and Wilko Risser – is a welcome addition to Santa Fe fashion. The pieces feature strong black and white patterns and gender-neutral styling. It’s a considered move on Irakoze’s part to promote inclusivity. “If you see a nice coat, it will be for anyone – not putting a label on it but just embracing the ying and yang in us,” she says.
Artist Stefani Kimche creates unique strands of collected and artist-created beads. Her work gets its inspiration from her college studies in both archaeology and fine art, resulting in a passion for both the beauty and historical importance of bronze sculpture and beads.
Janel Nordstrom – another artist at Vanna – began making jewelry in 2013, inspired by a project she undertook using household hardware pieces. Nordstrom looked beyond their functionality to see beauty and elegance or as she says, “Hardware made elegant!”
More Than a Place for Purchases
These are just of a few of the artists and designers Irakoze is showcasing in her new space. She envisions this as more than a store – it will be a spot to hang out with friends (new and old), drop in for book signings, or meet artists and craftspeople to learn about their work and artistic practice.
“I want this to be a space for gathering,” she says. “A space where you can be and create and a living space – a salon where people come in and gather and showcase beauty. Have a glass of wine, a cappuccino and just talk and not necessarily swipe your credit card but share your story.”
Irakoze speaks of people ‘rehoming’ the treasures they’ll find at Vanna Curated Living. A sense of people finding the piece that is meant for them, their life, and home. “Everything has a story,” she says, “and that’s my dream.”
Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Photos Courtesy of Vanna Curated Living
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