It doesn’t have to be a story to be a book.
Before even meeting Colette Fu, we were fans of her art. Her complex compositions of photography and pop-up paper engineering have been shown internationally in galleries and monumental institutions, including China Central Academy of Fine Arts and National Museum of Women in the Arts. We weren’t surprised to find out her bright persona illuminates just as much as her pieces of art.
Searching for Colette’s perfect space required a full intake of her bustling life. With family along the east coast and parents who may visit for extended periods at a time, she needed a place that could cater to house guests with mobility issues. (No walk ups or trinities!) Space and light were other factors. As an artist, she was looking for something that would suit her smaller scale projects. (Natural light, please!) With a nontraditional work schedule, she would also need to live somewhere she could grab dinner at 10pm. (Walkability a must!) As Colette often travels, sometimes to remove locations in Asia, she was also looking for a home she was comfortable leaving unattended at times. (Close neighbors and secure doors you can only find in a condo building!)
She found her home in Queen Village. Ultimately, the perfect spot that suited her lifestyle was in an old schoolhouse-turned-condo building. It’s a great location with many artists residing in the neighborhood and easy access to the river front paths that are great for rollerblading. There are multiple markets and coffee shops to provide nourishment and snacks at less conventional mealtimes. Also, the airport is only three exits down I-95.
When you enter Colette’s home, the light is like a dream. With a high ceiling, it naturally illuminates her work surfaces with a filtered light you can only describe as ambient. Since purchasing her home in 2015, she has customized some elements of the home to her preferences. As an artist, her creative mind is always trying to think of new ways to reconfigure the space. She continues to see more opportunity for light and air by deconstructing some of the more traditional components of the home.
I was lucky enough to have witnessed Colette’s complex and intentional thinking processes during her home journey. Among the many great things about Colette, she can make you laugh at just about anything. She sees people at their best and is consistently positive and forward thinking. She’s unique in so many ways, and is as comfortable to be with as her home is to be in. We can’t wait to see her anticipated show at the Rosenbach Museum and Library in 2021!
You can check out Colette’s full body of projects and bio on her website, colettefu.com.