Radcliffe Bailey: Artist. Great Client

Recently, I've read a number of articles about the artist Radcliffe Bailey, whose work is currently on exhibit at Atlanta's High Museum, among other galleries.

I like the work—and vapidly think the artist is movie-star handsome. In addition, Bailey's respect for collaborators impressed me (and ties into some of our discussions about clients, what they want, and how they work with designers). Part of an article by Candace Jackson in The Wall Street Journal (Friday, July 8) describes how Radcliffe Bailey commissioned his wonderful ultra-contemporary home-with-studio from the architecture firm Mack Scogin Merrill Elam.

Mr. Bailey said he showed the architects slides of his artwork, letting them take the lead on style and layout. "A collector sometimes comes [to me] and says 'I don't like that color.' And that is annoying to me," said Mr. Bailey. "I wanted to treat them like artists."

Now there's a good and "qualified" client.