A Walk Through Color and Time

When you walk through the space Where Color Meets Character the first thing that hits you is a sense of quiet harmony. The exhibition at Tim Clarke Studio in Santa Monica doesn't present objects in isolation, it creates an atmosphere where history, art, and modern texture lean into one another.

Standing near the center of the showroom, your eye is immediately drawn to the expressive, vibrant canvases of mid-century French master Lucien Bénière. Hung in rhythmic sequences along the walls, his rich greens, deep reed, and watery blues act as visual anchors. Rather than competing with the surrounding furnishings, Bénière's abstract brushwork seems to draw out the subtle patinas of the pieces sitting below them. 

As you move through the room, you begin to notice the deliberate, layered dialogues. A towering, hand-carved empire mirror anchors a moody charcoal wall. Sitting beneath it, an industrial worktable topped with iron pins and carved wooden vessels brings a raw, tactile weight to the composition.

Along the rich mahogany dining table, handcrafted ceramics in seafoam green and earthy terracotta echo the natural pigments in Bénière’s paintings behind them, while high-backed carved chairs add a sense of understated drama. Nearby, supple tan and worn black leather sofa anchored beside rustic wooden benches offer an inviting place to linger, balancing industrial elements with refined comfort.

Every turn through the exhibition uncovers another layer. A conversation between the bold expressiveness of 20th-century art and the enduring character of crafted objects.

Step inside, walk the room, and experience these dialogue filled spaces in person.

I’ll be in the gallery on Tuesday, September 17th from 11 AM – 2 PM to answer questions and walk you through the pieces.

WHERE COLOR MEETS CHARACTER

Lee Stanton Antiques | Schumacher | Sydney Harbour Paint Company | Tim Clarke Design On view at Tim Clarke Design (2630 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica) through October 5th.