In the September issue of British Vogue, Faye Wei Wei is the latest rising star to step into the role of Vogue Darling.
Faye Wei Wei first caught our attention just a year after she graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art, when her romantic, large-scale canvases served as the backdrop to the Shrimps spring/summer 2018presentation. “My paintings definitely have a whimsical quality to them, so collaborating with Hannah [Weiland, Shrimps’ founder] seemed like a natural fit.” Wei Wei’s profile has been on the rise ever since.
So far in 2018, the 24-year-old has taken over Manchester’s Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art with her motif-filled works, and even performed in fantasy musical Care at the ICA, while her devoted online followers seem as captivated by her eclectic style as they are by her art. Up next? Her first solo exhibition in America, opening at Sade gallery in Los Angeles on September 8. Below, Faye shares some of her favourite things with Miss Vogue.
“The Wallace Collection is my favourite gallery space in London – it has the most beautiful collection of Rembrandts.”
“Korean beauty technology is incredible. I use Clé Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder in Hot Choco (£18 at Revolve.com) on my lips and cheeks.”
“A great night out means singing Elvis Presley tunes in a Soho karaoke bar, then heading back to my studio with friends.”
“I’m always reading poetry. It’s a major source of inspiration for my paintings. Emily Berry is one of my favourites – especially her poem “The Tomato Salad.”
Max Mara autumn/winter 2018.
“My style is quite ethereal and feminine. I live in floaty slip dresses.”
Tokyo.
“Whenever I can, I rent an apartment in Tokyo for a couple of months. The things on my checklist include browsing the vintage clothing at Mouse boutique in Koenji, heading to the Tsukiji fish market before dawn for the freshest sea urchins and paying a visit to the Lion café in Shibuya and listening in silence to vinyl recordings of classical music.”
Lavender pillow spray, £30 at Votary.
“I adore lavender and spritz the oil on my pillow every night to help me sleep.”
Faye Wei Wei’s studio.
“My father is an antiques dealer, and I’ve inherited his love of trinkets. My studio in south London is full of treasures from around the world, which frequently make appearances in my work.”
