JOE : LIVING

JOE : LIVING

Marcus Samuelsson Creates Art in the Kitchen & at Home

Words by Andre J Durall

Photography by James Webber

From the moment Marcus Samuelsson made history as the youngest chef to receive a 3-star rating by the New York Times, life for the Somali-born, Swedish-raised chef and co-owner of Scandinavian restaurant Aquavit (and co-owner of a sushi restaurant named Riingo) has been one never-ending flurry of TV shows and cookbooks. Eighteen months ago, the 36-year-old Samuelsson made a decision to relocate from his midtown apartment to a newly renovated Harlem condominium complex where he could, in his own words, put himself first. “I’ve always wanted to live in Harlem,” Marcus confesses. “There’s something special about being a person of color and living in Harlem.”

As a world-renowned master chef, Samuelsson is known for uniting international influences with traditional fare to create tasty culinary masterpieces. This knack for creativity and innovation weaves its way not only into his cuisine but also throughout his living space. “Modernism, traditionalism and timelessness can always fit when I do a project,” says Samuelsson of his 2100 sq. ft. loft-like penthouse duplex, which at first glance appears more “downtown” than west Harlem.The duplex’s lower level—like some of the Scandinavian dishes Aquavit is well known for—is sparsely decorated. Its three bedrooms are accentuated only by abstract art on the walls and windowsills. The penthouse, in sharp contrast, is a decorative bonanza, where a bright orange rug looks as natural against the polished wood floors as the sleek, black metal framed chaise lounge. Hoisted in the center of the back wall hangs a black-and white-framed work by Harlem based artist Sanford Biggers. A visually stunning image of a gnarled, elongated black fisted Afro-pic, it is a piece that Marcus is quite proud to own. “I like to look at things,” he explains. “I select pieces that make me want to look at them on and on and on.”

Every item in Samuelsson’s home tells a story. On the walls, interspersed among the work of local artists, are Samuelsson’s own creations: mixed media collages fashioned out of magazine and newspaper clippings. One utilizes a controversial 1970 LIFE Magazine cover from which Angela Davis peers unapologetically. In a more recent work—a commemorative collage—Samuelsson remembers the innocent lives lost on 9/11. The role that politics, art and fashion play in Samuelsson’s decor is perhaps made most evident in his dining room, where the chairs are decorated as collages, with subject matter ranging from Kate Moss to Rosa Parks to the fallen soldiers in Iraq.

Samuelsson’s duplex is an amalgam of art and design indicative of a new Harlem that is redefining how it utilizes space. As Marcus approaches his second anniversary there, the ever-industrious chef considers his home a work in progress and is in the process of making plans to enhance his already impressive 800 square foot terrace. “I have big drawings for this place,” he says, “but you have to do one space at a time.” You can already sense Marcus’s creative juices flowing as he beams charmingly and says, “It’s going to be nice.”