ARTIST/DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: PORTER TELEO
ARTIST/DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: PORTER TELEO
I am wildly obsessed with the design duo of Porter Teleo – artist Kelly Porter and designer Bridgett Cochran. They have combined their enormous talent to develop a unique, hand-printed and hand-painted line of fabric and wallcoverings. Their work has been featured in many publications from, House Beautiful, Luxe, Veranda, Elle Decor and many more.
PORTER TELEO | FLORAL GRAFFITI - VERTE FONCE
After I discovered Porter Teleo (and fell madly in love), I just had to speak with these ladies about their work, lifestyle, and inspirations.
AW: How did Porter Teleo become who it is today?
BC: One small step at a time. It is wild to look back and see how far we have come. I think Kelly and I shared a vision, an amazingly optimistic outlook, and a strong work ethic that all helped fuel our growth.
KP: Bridgett Cochran and I had a wild idea to bring the best of both worlds together – fine art from my background and interior design from her background. We brainstormed ideas over dinner and a bottle of wine. 6 months later, due to a lot of hard work and some unique and fresh designs, we had a line! We worked together to create the beginnings of the collection, we started tiny, and then built it up over time.
AW: Who are a few artists/designers you admire and why?
BC: I absolutely love Miles Redd’s work – every time I see a space that he has created I can tell it is him, not because the rooms are the same, but because they have such depth and character. I am a big fan of Celerie Kemble as well, she always gives an unexpected twist that still feels completely livable and I have never seen a room designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber that I wouldn’t want to live in. As for artists – I also love Cy Twombly and am drawn to Helen Frankenthaler’s paintings, especially her palettes.
KP: I love Cecily Brown, Francesco Clemente, Cy Twombly, and all of the abstract expressionists from the 50’s. Design-wise – I love Kelly Behun’s style, Nicole Fuller, Jackson Paige, and Miles Redd. It’s hard to name those, because there are so many more!
AW: What are some of the things that influence your work?
BC: Color, natural order, contrasting values, and balance.
KP: Nature, organic form, botanical life, naturally created pattern, geology, Ancient art, religious art.
AW: What is a typical day behind the scenes at Porter Teleo?
BC: The best thing about the career that we have created for ourselves is that there is no typical day! There is absolutely no opportunity to get bored here! We might be working on a new collection for two days and quickly need to switch to digging in on a new marketing plan and then back to the studio to mix color and finalize new colorways for new collections. It is exciting and fulfilling and provides endless opportunities for learning new ideas and processes.
KP: We do a bit of everything! It is always exciting – mainly because we are privy to information about the most exciting interior design going on in the world. Our clients are top notch, so we see everything in the works, as we are creating patterns, product and color schemes for these amazing projects by the best designers in the world. That is what I love about our days – that there is always inspirational info around us.
AW: What are your everyday essentials?
BC: The essentials change based on what we are concentrating on in the studio. The one thing that is always essential is our team! They are smart, creative, adaptable, interesting people.
KP: Paint, Ink, brushes, elevations, and a good creative team that is positive and ready to go!
AW: A typical day in your life includes…?
BC: Many hats! I feel so lucky to have a work life that allows me to enjoy my home life and my children as much as I do. Kelly and I knew early on, and before we became mothers, that we both wanted to create a life that allowed us to express ourselves in our work while still leaving energy to feel alive in our personal lives.
KP: I keep really busy – I have two young daughters who mean everything to me, then I work hard at Porter Teleo, then when I get home and on weekends, I work a lot on my own paintings – oil on canvas.
