Something Old, Something T46 FEBRUARY 2 0 1 9
he couple met in 2012 when Nelson,
an artist, had a solo show at a
venue in Brooklyn. On the last day,
Jurado, who was the resident curator
of the space at the time, arrived
to prep for the next event.
“I asked my friend, ‘What artist is
responsible for this work? It’s great, I’d like
to meet them,’” Jurado remembered.
They got to talking and the rest is history.
Now, seven years later, the postcard from
Nelson’s show is one of the first things you
see when you enter their apartment.
The whole space is filled with memories
like this, at the same time highlighting their
individual passions.
The couple has lived in Astoria for over
three years, but Jurado was born and raised
in Queens. He used to work in the publishing
industry and now works in tech. Nelson, originally
from North Carolina, went to art school in
Chicago and has been in New York for 11 years
working as a visual artist and teacher.
Nelson’s work is displayed throughout the
apartment. When Jurado saw most of it in storage
before they moved in together, he asked
Nelson, “Why don’t we put your art on the walls?
We should decorate the walls with your work.”
Her displayed art is primarily photography
based collages, and everything has a
story. In their living room, it’s hard to miss
“Accretion,” a piece of hers from 2007 about
the gentrification of Chicago. It’s beautiful,
fluid and monochrome, and everything else
in the room seems to tie into it.
“I think this one had to be hung first,”
Nelson said. “It’s such a large piece and we
can’t have direct sunlight on it.”
Jessen Jurado and Caroline
Voagen Nelson’s home on
44th Street in Astoria is
a combination of vintage
and modern. It’s equal
parts his and hers, and
their styles perfectly
complement one another.
Photos courtesy of Caroline Voagen Nelson
By ESTELLE PYPER
@ESTIE_PYPER
@ESTIEPYPER
INTERIOR DESIGN