Art House
ARTIST Waldemar Kolbusz • PHOTO SHOOT STYLIST Lisa Quinn-Schofield • PHOTOGRAPHY Jody D’Arcy • STORY Elizabeth Clarke
Perth artist Waldemar Kolbusz paints figurative works about the progress of his actual practice and abstract works that explore progressive points of change within the paintings themselves. “The degree to which we are all challenged in our daily lives between order and mess, controlled and spontaneous, big picture and small detail, draws me in,” he says.
Artwork on left, Maintenance 2022; artwork on right, Golden 2022.
Known for his colourful and high-energy abstract painting, it's no surprise the Mount Lawley home Waldemar Kolbusz shares with his partner, artist Mal Harry, embodies exuberant joie de vivre.
Restormel, built in 1908, sits amidst residential and commercial buildings, just a hop, skip and a jump from bustling William Street and Waldemar's new studio and gallery, Kolbusz Space in Claisebrook.
"When I first saw the house, it was lots of ad-hoc additions and sections that had been added over the years that needed methodical work to fix it up and renovate it properly," he says. "The original part of the house was well preserved and grand, and the whole place had a great lived-in feel. Nothing was perfect, though, and I liked that."
Waldemar’s living room is a deftly calibrated mix of eclectic pieces, classic features, vibrant art and contemporary panache.
Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa; pendant light, Michael Anastassiades pendant from Flos; cabinet, by Andrew Brown in Adelaide; left wall artwork: Waldemar Kolbusz, Resort; back left artwork: Tobias Richardson, Circumambulation 55; back right artwork top Waldemar Kolbusz, Brooch; bottom artwork, Waldemar Kolbusz, Around; sculpture on cabinet by Peter Zappa.
A large original work by Waldemar ups the ante in the living room.
Sculpture atop coffee table, Thomas Heidt, Fragment 7; artwork, Waldemar Kolbusz; Babyface.
In a corner of the space, a Joshua Fitzpatrick painting and Emmaline Zanelli work come face to face.
Left wall artwork, Joshua Fitzpatrick Noah; back left artwork, Emmaline Zanelli Birdman; back right artwork (small), Teelah George Sunset on the Wall.
Colour, form and light envelop the bathroom. A lime green bath grounds the space.
Artwork, Waldemar Kolbusz Long Afternoon.
A lively and eclectic vignette adds vibrance and interest.
Top artwork, Debra Dawes, I Can Hear the Screws; bottom artwork, Ryan Nazzari, untitled.
With the goal to only replace what was broken and preserve what others had added, Waldemar designed an additional living area that is adjoined but separated from a new art studio. The existing bathrooms were redone, and the kitchen was given new life by family cabinet maker A&J Filipek, who also did most of the joinery in the house. "All the materials used are traditional- nothing too fancy!" he says. Outside, the gardens and outdoor living spaces were overhauled so as to connect better with the house. "I don't like planning too much or to have a set idea on an outcome," he says. "I like to let things evolve, which is much easier with a renovation than a new build, of course."
Giving new life to a home that has had many requires creative miscellany and a palimpsest of personal treasures and furnishings mesh effortlessly with more contemporary finds. "We are both artists and enjoy travel and collecting stuff, so the house reflects this," he says. "I'm not precious about the interior. Things, furniture and art, get moved around all the time."
A work by Waldemar informs the bedroom’s rich and vibrant colour palette.
Artwork: Waldemar Kolbusz, Lofty; Lamps, 70’s pair oversized Murano glass.
Choice examples of Waldemar’s work are dotted throughout, including the bedroom, along with canvases by the likes of Malaluba Gumana and old family furnishings.
Artwork through door, Waldemar Kolbusz, Chesterfield; artwork behind chair, Waldemar Kolbusz, Needle; top left artwork: Waldemar Kolbusz, Neon; top right artwork, Malaluba Gumana, Gan Gan.
The kitchen opens to the dining space amidst an ever-changing gallery of art and sculpture.
Vase by David Hayes; artwork in kitchen, Waldemar Kolbusz, Surface.
Plush blush velvet upholstery and chrome add subtle glamour and texture to the dining room.
Chairs, Willy Rizzo 70’s from LA; ceramic bowl from Cambodia; glass vase, Mobilia; owl artwork, Christine Aerfeldt, Baby Owl is Caught Up in Tangles but Whispers a Soft Song; pendant light, Michael Anastassiades pendant from Flos; artwork through door (green), Waldemar Kolbusz, Landing; small bottom right artwork (portrait), Andy Quilty, portrait; top right artwork (black.orange/purple), Waldemar Kolbusz, magnet.
A mad medley of colour, art and décor provides a fanciful backdrop for dining.
Buffet and Murano Glass lamp from 1stDibs; vase by B Schmitt, Rio de Janeiro; Left artwork (large) Rhys Lee, Untitled 9; top right artwork, Elizabeth Ford, Echo; bottom right artwork, Jasper Knight, Tunnel.
The home is warmly furnished with low-key yet comfy furniture. A green velvet-covered Camaleonda modular sofa by B&B Italia anchors the living space, and a simple glass dining table is surrounded by 1970s chairs designed by Willy Rizzo, an iconic Italian photographer and furniture designer. In the sitting room, an old Code Red sofa upholstered in black and white geometrics nestles next to a fireplace along an old coffee table and 70s Maralunga armchairs.
Touches of style and whimsy are to be found throughout, ranging from iconic light fittings by Michael Anastassiades and decor from Mobilia to Cambodian ceramics, vintage Murano glass lamps, and a buffet snagged on 1st Dibs. "I try not to have an idea of what I think will work, but just try new combinations," he muses. "It makes it less stressful when you have lower expectations, but also makes for more interesting spaces where people feel more comfortable."
Rachel Coad’s Dosh is framed by a doorway leading from the dining room to the library.
Artwork above door (sphere), Graham Stove, Seeds of Future Discoveries; artwork through door (portrait), Rachel Coad, Dosh; rug, Golran.
Form and function. A built in bookshelf and portrait by Rachel Coad dominate the library. A punchy orange lamp acts as a punctuation point in an otherwise moody palette.
Artwork, Rachel Coad, Dosh.
Natural light pours into the dining space. Vast arched doors open to a wall-size artwork by Waldemar.
A bright blue door, and Maggie the Staghound, stands sentinel, welcoming guests.
Left artwork, Waldemar Kolbusz, Tourist; pooch is Maggie the Staghound.
In the sitting room, a melee of old and new furnishings enjoy sunlight and an outdoor view through vast glass sliders.
Armchair, Maralunga, sidetable, Mobilia; outdoor table, Trilogy; Bombala Out Chair by Didier from Innerspace.
Above the fireplace, an abstract wall sculpture by Dion Horstmans pulls focus. Driven by nature, line, balance and light, each of his sculptures can take up to 100 hours of cutting, welding, filing and powder coating.
Artwork, Dion Horstmans.
Each space's eclectic mix is leavened with a vast collection of artworks by Waldemar and his friends and peers like Sally Gabori, Rhys Lee, Abdul-rahman Abdulla and Rachel Coad. "Art is my career, and I have a gallery, so I make sure I am open to as many genres as possible," he says. "We painted the walls to show off the art, and I am always happy to try new things and repaint again."
Colour indeed dominates throughout, introduced fearlessly yet with restraint. The living room's beguiling palette of lime and teal takes its cue from the vibrant paintings that hang on the walls, and in the bedroom, deep blue walls meet wide sage green cornices that are tempered by worn timber floors, doors and architraves.
A brilliant flame tree holds court in the al fresco area.
Sculptures, Ayad Alqaragholli; Bombala Out Chair by Didier from Innerspace.
Light and shade. Simple treasures and minimal plantings combine to make a bold statement.
Vases, Mobilia; Bombala Out Chair by Didier from Innerspace.
Up close and personal - the artist at work in his studio.
On the house's exterior, raw concrete walls serve as a canvas for scattered potted succulents, a hedge, a fiery Illawara Tree and sculptures by Ayad Alqaragholli.
A warm mix of art and furnishings with wide-ranging periods and provenance make for a home that is as exciting as its owner's artworks. "It is a privilege to live in this house and add to what all the previous owners have contributed to it," he says. "It's a house that is dependable and feels like an old friend who challenges and also calms."
You can see more of Waldemar’s work at his upcoming exhibitions. Sydney Contemporary Art Fair with Gallerysmith Sept 8-11, 2022 and Open Studio - KolbuszSpace Perth Sept 23-25, 2022.
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