Field Report: The Return of the Tasteful Nude (In the Home, At Least)
In the Field Report franchise, SPY investigates the rise in popularity of a product by reporting on how marketplace trends created the phenomenon. Where’s the line between the elegant cutouts of a Matisse print and a pin-up calendar in a mechanic’s auto shop? Between the planters with cheekily drawn boobs on them and hanging your […]
Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.
In the Field Report franchise, SPY investigates the rise in popularity of a product by reporting on how marketplace trends created the phenomenon.
Where’s the line between the elegant cutouts of a Matisse print and a pin-up calendar in a mechanic’s auto shop? Between the planters with cheekily drawn boobs on them and hanging your mirror selfie on the wall? Now, as styling nudes in the home has become more and more prevalent, that balance is what people have been working to find with tasteful pieces that read as metropolitan rather than like a teenager hoarding Playboy back issues under the mattress.
Bringing more grown-up nudes into the home doesn’t mean that there has to be a renaissance painting of an exposed breast above your pilling West Elm sofa, either. There are plenty of modern ways to do so. Stick to things like black-and-white photos, books, and things that give a nod and context to the furniture choices made.
“It doesn’t have to look like a men’s restroom at a truck stop,” says New York-based creative director Frankie Carattini. “The easiest way to incorporate the tasteful nude is with coffee table books, photography prints, or vintage posters. I like books displayed on the table by Richard Avedon — the king of the tasteful, high-fashion, black-and-white nude. I also have a Bettina Rheims print of a busty Lara Stone mixed in with various paintings in my gallery wall. It leans more high-brow than pornographic.”
Ironically, nudes also carry more weight in a home, and a little goes a long way. A Testino-shot print of Kate Moss is striking and cool. One in every room tips the scales toward a different kind of interest. With the right alignment of pieces, the next step is building them into the existing home and setting: context, lighting, and adjacent pieces.
Finding ways to incorporate the nude form into your home can also come from replacing everyday objects with something snarky and fun. Artist Isaac Nichols’s boob pots are everywhere now. Annisa Kermiche is a ceramist creating urns and pitchers in the stylized visage — the “I’m a little teapot” pose.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to create your own wall art through self portraiture, New York-based artist Sarp Kerem Yavuz says that the key is to know how to use light to your advantage. “Overhead lighting is the enemy,” he says. “You want something that either comes from slightly above [the work] and facing down, so it accentuates any abs, pecs, or breasts. Alternatively, light coming from an angle creates a layer of mystery.”
Yavuz has one final pearl of wisdom: “For the love of God, wipe down your mirror and put your toothbrush away.”
Versace: The Naked and the Dressed: 20 Years of Versace by Avedon
Avedon’s nude portraiture remains the peak of couture fashion photography.
Anissa Kermiche Jugs Jug
Kermiche’s ceramics are a subtle addition that reflect nudes in the home, and can be either set out during a dinner party or just used as a vase.
Digs Terracotta Boobs Planter with Saucer
Boob planters have popped up everywhere the last few years.
PSTR Studio's Michelle – Nu Blue
Matisse’s cutouts are an easy way to dip one’s toe into the water without going in too deep on home nudes.
Les Francaises by Sonia Sieff
Sieff’s photos of everyday French women bring a European balance to a home displayed on a coffee table.