It all started a few years ago as a side-line, when a chance cancellation of a scheduled advertising job led interiors photographer Paul Barbera to shoot behind the scenes at his artist friend's studio. Finding himself gravitating towards the world of raw, un-styled visual story-telling (a far cry from the polish of conventional editorial shoots) Barbera formed the premise for Where They Create - a voyeuristic insight into the working processes and spaces of creative studios.
Soon after that epiphany moment, Barbera's blog wheretheycreate.com was born. He began to realise that the thrill of getting right into the creative bowels of a studio was shared by other like-minded creatives. So, thanks to his roving travelling assignments, the Melbourne-born photographer started taking pictures of more spaces - in the same unobtrusive vein of his initial studio visit shoot - subsequently posting them up on the site.
While the blog offers an overview of Barbera' journey, the book could be taken as a far more personal voyage: all 32 studios which Barbera handpicked, visited and subsequently documented - of which Wallpaper* HQ is one - had to be studios of people whose work is close to his heart.
Authored by writer Alexandra Onderwater, Where They Create combines panoramic overviews with curiosity-satisfying detail shots. In the book's megamix of cluttered desks, curious cubby holes and stuffed toys, nothing is spared. And if the visual tidbits aren't enough, Onderwater's upbeat interview compilations and the candid day-in-the-life insights into these hotbeds of creativity will no doubt enlighten.
Manhatten-born Opening Ceremony’s basecamp in Chinatown
The Opening Ceremony office spans an area of 750 m², with 90 m² of outdoor space
Multimedia artist Olaf Breuning in his studio-cum-apartment in Tribeca, New York
Main picture: Olaf Breuning drawing a tarot card for a group exhibition in New York
The Wallpaper* workstation in London. Left: spoilt for choice between views of the the construction site of the Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners NEO Bankside development...
... and of the Tate Modern, with an unparalleled vantage point over the ever-changing Herzog & de Meuron construction site just below
A kaleidescopic array of various editors' desks over at Wallpaper* HQ
Designer Kelly McCallum's London studio reflects her work with taxidermy, sculpture and jewellery
A overview of Kelly McCallum's work. Left to right: An arrangement of taxidermy rabbits, a pomeranian, and a Victorian fighting dog with gold drool effect
The office of communications agency KesselsKramer...
... based in a former church
French designer Mateli Crasset's Paris home-cum-studio...
... set within a converted print works building
Architect Clive Wilkinson at his desk
The office space of Clive Wilkinson Architects wraps around a tree-filled courtyard space
View of the general work room at Fantastic Man magazine in Amsterdam
Los Angeles-based artist Greg Lauren's studio. Left to right: 'Man of Steel' suit made from vintage Superman comics; 'Duffle Bag' jackets
-
Chanel Beauty’s Sylvie Legastelois on creating its most luxurious lipstick yetAs Chanel 31 Le Rouge lipstick launches, Sylvie Legastelois tells us about her 40 years of design for the brand in this exclusive interview
-
Sleek contemporary pavilions extend traditional Surrey house
A series of contemporary pavilions transforms the layout of a neo-Georgian house, extending the living spaces into newly landscaped gardens
-
Woosh! ‘Email is Dead,’ say the Design Museum and Intuit Mailchimp
Take an immersive tour through the history of email at the Design Museum in London
-
Photo book explores the messy, magical mundanity of new motherhood
‘Sorry I Gave Birth I Disappeared But Now I’m Back’ by photographer Andi Galdi Vinko explores new motherhood in all its messy, beautiful reality
-
Best contemporary art books: a guide for 2023
From maverick memoirs to topical tomes, turn over a new leaf with the Wallpaper* arts desk’s pick of new releases and all-time favourite art books
-
The best photography books for your coffee table
Flick through, mull over and deep-dive into the best photography books on the market, from our shelves to you
-
Behind the scenes of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining: new book charts the making of a horror icon
Published in February 2023 by Taschen, a new collector's book will go behind the scenes of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, charting the unseen making of a film that defined the horror genre
-
Anne Imhof ‘Avatar II’ review: a psychological thriller to make you wince and wonder
German artist Anne Imhof’s ‘Avatar II’ exhibition at London’s Sprüth Magers is a compelling, uncanny probing of contemporary culture, reality and artifice
-
Brad Walls’ aerial view transforms pools into artwork
Aerial photographer Brad Walls provides a crisp conclusion to the summer months with new book Pools From Above – you’ll want to dive right in
-
‘Light & Space’ at Copenhagen Contemporary: ‘moving art without moving elements’
On view until 4 September, epic group show ‘Light & Space’ explores the past and present of the iconic light and installation art movement. It’s physical, emotional, bodily and disorientating
-
K-style: understanding the rise of Korea’s creative golden age
Spanning music, fashion, design and food, a new book, Make Break Remix explores the global rise and rise of Korean culture
