Widely known for her pioneering design projects, the late Elaine Lustig Cohen shined as an immensely talented graphic artist and creative mind. Her first client in 1955, architect Philip Johnson, famous for his The Glass House, gave her a start by commissioning her to design the lettering and signage for New York’s iconic Seagram Building. Thereafter, she created an array of legendary content for countless cultural institutions, publishers, and architects, such as Lincoln Center, Richard Meier, Yale University, and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. She held bold colors and linear patterns dear, changed the way European modernism was perceived in an American context, and was included in numerous public and private collections before becoming the recipient of the 2011 AIGA Medal for her lifetime achievements.
In 2015, Cohen presented an exhibition at The Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, showing early paintings and graphic design projects of hers. In attendance was Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the artistic director of Hermès, who was especially inspired by her crème, jaune, and rose painting Centered Rhyme from 1967. Last year in 2016, before her untimely passing, Dumas met with Cohen at her home in Manhattan. Now, the painting is the star of Hermès’ latest creation. To benefit The Glass House and the National Trust for Historic Preservation—two organizations that are dedicated to artistry, preservation, and craftsmanship like Hermès—the brand has released its newest silk scarf twill dedicated to Cohen’s large-scale painting. Last week, the brand celebrated its release at its Madison Avenue flagship store, with special guests in attendance.
“I thank Hermès for this really exciting creative partnership and for your generous support of The Glass House—our beloved icon of modern architecture,” said Margaret Russell, a member of the advisory council at The Glass House and editor-at-large of Galerie Magazine. “The mindset and ideals and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are in sync with those of Hermès. We share a steadfast dedication to the promotion and cultural and architectural preservation, and to the unwavering support of creativity, craftsmanship, and artistry—perhaps more important than ever.”
The limited-edition scarf is available at select Hermès boutiques, as well as The Glass House Design Store, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the preservation of the modernist house.
Hermès celebrates the launch of the Elaine Lustig Cohen “Centered Rhyme” scarf to benefit The Glass House and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.Photo by Matthew Carasella.
Courtesy of Hermès.
