Last week during the height of Aspen’s holiday festivities, the illustrious Wynn Fine Art unveiled its latest outpost at 616 E. Hyman Avenue. Here, international collectors and visitors alike now have the opportunity to bask in major works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and more, as well as in contemporary gems by luminaries like Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama, and Connor Addison. The much-anticipated new realm joins Wynn Fine Art’s premier spaces in Beverly Hills and Palm Beach, each of which present the most impactful exhibitions for the good of the community.
On this momentous occasion, Whitewall sat down with the visionary Director of Wynn Fine Art, Nick Hissom to speak about the past, present, and future of the forward-thinking gallery, as well as with the masterful Addison, who offers riveting artworks for the gallery’s vivacious grand opening.
Courtesy of Wynn Fine Art.
WHITEWALL: Wynn Fine Art’s Palm Beach gallery showcases works by iconic artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol. Could you elaborate on the gallery’s curatorial approach in presenting these masterpieces?
NICK HISSOM: Wynn Fine Art exhibits museum-quality works acquired over decades of collecting. Our founder, my stepfather, Steve Wynn, began acquiring art in the 1990s for the Bellagio hotel, ultimately creating the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art in 1998. Since then, the collection has continued to expand, with famed artists at its’ core. After we opened our flagship gallery in Palm Beach in 2020, I started bringing younger artists into the fold, as a way to tell art historical narratives across generations.
WW: The Palm Beach location has featured exhibitions like “Warhol X Basquiat.” How do such exhibitions enhance the cultural landscape of Palm Beach, and what has been the public’s response?
NH: We are so thrilled to have been welcomed with open arms into the vibrant community of Palm Beach. We continually strive to present the most dynamic and impactful exhibits possible for the good of the community, and I feel that we have certainly brought new artists, collectors, and other interested parties into the fold.
WW: In addition to renowned artists like Picasso and Matisse, does the Palm Beach gallery also focus on emerging contemporary artists? If so, how do you select and integrate these artists into your programming? Could you share any upcoming exhibitions or events planned for the Palm Beach gallery that enthusiasts should anticipate?
NH: While museum-quality works by the most famous artists in the world are the core of our collection, Wynn Fine Art acts as a full-service advisory in the secondary market, as well as representing a primary roster of artists; some of these include British sculptor Nick Hornby, cubic-surrealist Connor Addison, LA-based ThankYouX, infinity light sculptor Ray Howlett, and more… When searching for talent to represent, we look for artists that are skilled enough to hold the wall next to our treasured works from the family collection.
Courtesy of Wynn Fine Art.
Joining the Shimmering Aspen Art Scene
WW: What motivated the decision to expand to Aspen, and how do you envision this gallery contributing to the local art scene?
NH: My family has had a base in Aspen since the 1970s, I grew up learning to ski here. Over the past few years it’s been truly inspiring to see the work of the Aspen Art Museum, key collectors, fairs, and galleries propel the Aspen Art’s scene onto a global level. I hope that Wynn Fine Art Aspen can be a melting pot for everything that makes Aspen luxurious, artistic, aspirational, and fun!
WW: Could you provide insights into the inaugural exhibition at the Aspen gallery and any special events planned for the opening?
NH: Our Grand Opening for Wynn Fine Art Aspen is Friday December 20th, and we will be open daily from 11am-7pm through the end of the Winter Season in April. I wanted to curate something that appealed to Aspen’s most discerning collectors, while also including works that are contemporary, fresh and approachable. Some major works we are exhibiting include “Flash in Naples” by Jean-Michel Basquiat, “Flowers” by Andy Warhol, and “Woman Reading” by Roy Lichtenstein; as well as contemporary works by Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama, Connor Addison, Nick Hornby, Ray Howlett, photography by Ansel Adams and Arthur Elgort.
“I wanted to curate something that appealed to Aspen’s most discerning collectors, while also including works that are contemporary, fresh and approachable,”
Nick Hissom
Courtesy of Wynn Fine Art.
The Artistic Journey of Connor Addison
WW: Your work is described as “cubic-surrealist.” Could you explain this style and the primary influences that have shaped your artistic journey?
CONNOR ADDISON: I refer to my style as “meta-cubism”, which draws from de Chirico‘s metaphysical spaces with cubist constructions. The point of departure for my paintings comes from the world of philosophy, such as the existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, and psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung, as well as the mood of internal searching found expressed in works by Bacon and Picasso.
WW: Your pieces will be featured in the inaugural exhibition at Wynn Fine Art Aspen. Can you discuss the themes and concepts you explore in the works selected for this show?
CA: The works are part of a larger series in development, titled “Brothers, Sisters, and Lovers”, which I aim to complete in 2025. The current paintings on exhibit at Wynn Fine Art Aspen draw their inspiration from my last trip to Colorado, and feature the dramatic landscapes and mountain ranges of the United States.
WW: How does exhibiting alongside renowned artists like Basquiat, Warhol, and Kusama impact your perspective on your art and its place within the broader art historical context?
CA: To rub shoulders with the titans of the art world is hugely encouraging for my practice. I hope that in time, my art continues to be exhibited in this way, and becomes a familiar part of the art historical cannon alongside these great masters. Art is a lifelong vocation, and I aspire to rise to the challenge.
Courtesy of Wynn Fine Art.
“To rub shoulders with the titans of the art world is hugely encouraging for my practice,”
Connor Addison
WW: You have previously showcased your work in venues such as the Snow Lodge Supper Club at The St. Regis in Aspen. How has the Aspen art scene influenced your creative process, and what significance does this upcoming exhibition hold for you?
CA: The support I’ve received from the Aspen Art’s Scene has been instrumental to my exhibiting here. At the Snow Lodge, leaders from the worlds of fashion, music, and art collide, to create a space that is influential to the arts globally. In addition, the Aspen Art Museum, galleries such as Wynn Fine Art, Art Crush, and other key events here, have combined to champion a landscape for artists.
WW: In what ways do you hope viewers in Aspen will connect with your work, and what dialogues do you aim to initiate through this exhibition?
CA: The painted image is one degree of separation away from reality. Art provides a safe space to explore the bigger questions in life that sometimes overwhelm us. My canvases allow viewers access to harder conversations on psychology and existentialism.
Courtesy of Wynn Fine Art.
