INSPIRATION: The black-and-white charcoal nudes of Chicago artist Francine Turk.
INTERPRETATION: The distressed-with-sleek, black-with-white, vintage-with-new aesthetic of Beth Brace’s Chicago home and shop (The Painted Lady). That shabby chic feel has come to define Brace’s look, and it was an encounter with Turk’s art five years ago that helped push her down that path.
“She showed me her charcoal nudes in antique frames, and I just loved them immediately,” Brace says. “They went right along with the shabby chic, modern-elegant thing I was doing — and made me want to do it more.”
Turk’s influence shows up in Brace’s shop through distressed finishes, wrought iron beds, architectural accessories and a lot of black and white. It shows up in her West Town home in mixes of old and new — and even more black and white. “Her paintings have been an inspiration for me to add a shot of black, or shots of modern,” Brace says. “Like maybe a modern glass table next to a primitive wood chair.”
BRING IT HOME: See Brace’s home furnishings (and select pieces of Turk’s nudes) at The Painted Lady, 2128 N. Damen Ave., 773-489-9145, thepaintedladychicago.com.
Turk’s art is represented permanently at the Chicago Art Source Gallery, 1871 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-248-3100, chicagoartsource.com.
Turk also takes appointments at her studio, which is located at 18 E. Cullerton St. Call 312-674-1818 to schedule; francineturk.com