Quentin Jones – House of Quentin Jones
House of Quentin Jones is open
We recently mentioned that Quentin’s new venture House of Quentin Jones was due to open launch, and we’re happy to confirm it is now has. Venture to the website and you’ll find items for sale under two headings – Objects, including earthenware vases, candle holders, platters and bowls, and Tapestries, which are self-explanatory. These, in Quentin’s own words are designed to be ’bold, graphic, feminine, and playfully subversive’ and ‘extend her distinctive collage aesthetic… into the physical realm’.
We had a quick chat with Quentin to celebrate the opening:
How excited are you about the opening of House of Quentin Jones?
I think so excited that it feels like I am scared. But perhaps the two things are related. I am hoping to keep working for other clients and making films, but love the idea of growing something long term for myself…
Has it been a while in the planning?
Yes, I spent a year thinking about it, and loosely working on collage compositions for tapestries but I wasn’t sure if they would be woven or not. Then my eureka moment was figuring out I wanted to make them from appliqué and embroidery to more closely work with my fluid layering aesthetic. And I have been all guns blazing since January, spending time in India and Portugal in the summer to work with the teams making the pieces.
Has it always been an ambition of yours to move into retail?
Not at all! I always felt like the luckiest person making art and videos for brands, but something shifted during and after the pandemic. And partly with a huge shift in my industries; magazines shifting more and more from print to digital, AI coming into filmmaking, and social media dominating advertising. My future playing fields felt less exciting than when I set out.
How did you decide on the items you sell?
Tapestries, for some reason, was a given, perhaps because I am an image-maker at heart. And I knew I wanted a sculptural counterpart – finding an amazing ceramic producer in Lisbon made that an easy decision. Ironically, designing the ceramics came in weeks, while I have laboured over the tapestries for six months, and am still tweaking and tweaking them.
How does it feel to take your style into the world of physical objects?
Awesome! Mainly because my house is looking much prettier with all the samples!
Do you intend to add new items over time?
For sure. I have designed a full jewellery and lighting range, just takes a while to make sure the manufacturing makes sense etc. But can’t wait to get back to designing and out of ‘launch’ phase, which has been a mad scramble. I did the branding, photography, video and everything myself… because obviously I know how. But wearing that many hats is crazy.
Is there a chance this may one day become a physical store?
Let’s manifest this!
Do you have a personal favourite among the items?
I have Circus Cat behind my bed and it feels amazing there, and Floating Elephant and Sky High are also favourites. Head in Hands vase is my absolute favourite. It’s so me, and like a bit bonkers for some people. People are loving the candleholders – they are an easy win.