ExhibitionTivoli · On until 15 November
Chris Mottalini and son Nino's still-life photography show in Tivoli, New York
A photographer hands set-building duties to his young son, and four years of their joint still lifes go on show.
In 2022, photographer Chris Mottalini, a regular AD contributor, gave his five-year-old son Nino a job: build sets for a new run of still lifes from paper, cardboard and found objects. He was simply curious what Nino would make. Four years and two continents later, the results fill "Nino + Dad (Home Studies)" at Available Items in Tivoli, New York.
Nino raided the basement of the family home in the Hudson Valley and foraged leaves and flowers in the woods nearby. In Bangkok, where his maternal grandparents live, he found antiques and Thai fruit, hence pictures titled Dragonfruit, Longan and Red Onion. AD's Mayer Rus frames it all with Picasso's line about taking a lifetime to paint like a child.
The same round-up visits Egypt, where Danish/Egyptian architect Salem Charabi, who moved there full-time in late 2025, showed fifteen lanterns for three days in the courtyard of his home and studio in Al-Haraneya, near Giza. Called Behind the Moon Mountain, they use Aswan diorite, Saqqara palm reeds and paper from banana stems, with shapes that echo Cairo's satellite dishes and pigeon towers.
Charabi's lanterns have gone dark, but the Mottalini show runs until 15 November. A gentle detour for anyone who likes still life, or once built dens from whatever was in the basement.
Our summary of a story from Architectural Digest, published 27 October 2026. Read the original
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From Architectural Digest