BEAUTY AT HOME WITH

For Kitty Clark, founder and director of contemporary art gallery Saint Cloche, the beauty of home is more than visual. It’s a deeply emotional journey, shaped by the ever-evolving reflections of her family who call it home. In Kitty’s Sydney home, art plays a central role, not just as decor but as a medium for connection and personal storytelling. We chat with Kitty about how colour and texture shape her interiors, the beauty of collectible design, and the way nostalgia weaves through her home.

It’s a journey. Each room has its own voice and palette, moving from warm tones to cooler, muted hues, much like nature. I’m drawn to mottled textures and surfaces that feel lived in and layered. Beauty at home is emotional as much as visual. It’s how spaces hold memory, reflect personalities, and adapt as we grow. Home evolves with us, carrying the imprint of experiences, joys, and challenges, creating a place where we feel inspired and truly ourselves.

Art is central to how I live and see the world. Collecting isn’t just about the works themselves but how they connect with objects, architecture, and daily rituals to create a layered, alive space. The home features Will Cooke’s tactile aluminium works, Daimon Downey’s vibrant reliefs, and a poetic piece by Alicia Bilyara Bennett, evoking ancestral memory and cultural identity. Nostalgia weaves through in a custom-framed photograph of my grandparents and Saxon Quinn’s gritty bat motif, recalling childhood symbols.

I love collecting pieces that touch on nostalgia, some with humour, like Mechelle Bounpraseuth’s sculptural ceramic goon bag, which recalls my university days of budget picnics with friends. Her work also reflects her identity as the daughter of immigrant parents, something I relate to deeply.

Even the kids’ room bears this essence, with a ceramic beetle climbing the wall and Luca Lettieri’s boldly hued textural assemblage. Coby is endlessly curious, our little bug whisperer, fascinated by insects and reptiles, noticing the smallest details outdoors. Eva has a strong creative streak and often spends hours sketching or inventing colourful characters. Both see beauty in small things, treating home as a place for exploration as much as comfort.

In the kids’ room, a ceramic beetle climbs the wall. Textural volcano paintings and bold metal frameworks by Luca Lettieri create an energetic contrast. A lion’s head sculpture adds a touch of otherworldly playfulness, symbolic of adventure and imaginary realms. Both kids love to create – Coby (age 6) carefully lines up his growing LEGO race car collection and is a young LEGO Jedi master, while Eva (age 8) is a budding artist whose drawings fill the walls and bring joy to every corner.

In our main bedroom, a sculpture made from repurposed materials by celebrated sculptor of nature Tracey Deep brings texture and meaning, reflecting my own love of nature and becoming part of the visual journey that flows throughout our home.

Natural stone throughout the house is another favourite element. Its poetic markings and raw beauty are grounding. Each piece feels like an artwork in itself and carries a deeper meaning for us, reflecting my husband’s ties to the stone industry.

I’m drawn to collectible design, thoughtful, well-made, and a little unexpected. The Isamu Noguchi light sculpture and Tracey Deep’s woven work above the bed balance strength with softness, showing restraint can be as powerful as boldness. I collect both vintage and modernist furniture; a favourite is Eileen Gray’s Transat Chair, found at auction, now in the lounge alongside USM modular units and a curated wall of art. 

Lighting shapes the mood, with handmade sconces by Natalie Rosin and Valerie Vigar adding warmth and tactility. I also treasure artist Evi O’s custom-painted doors, wardrobe panels in the kids’ room and a shoe cupboard in the entry, for their subtle rhythm and emotional use of colour.

I have always been drawn to spaces filled with colour and texture because stark white walls never quite felt like home. My background in fashion trend forecasting taught me to appreciate how texture, colour and form can shape a mood and tell a story. Designing my own space was deeply personal and, at times, challenging, but it reinforced how powerful these elements are in creating a home that feels alive, comforting and uniquely mine.

The walls connect each artwork to its surroundings, creating a sense of cohesion. Nostalgia weaves through family photos, collected objects and artworks, each holding its own story. I let rooms evolve naturally over time, trusting that the right piece will find its place when the moment is right.

Renovating during an unusual and unpredictable time brought its share of challenges. But moving into our first family home, framed by a majestic Norfolk pine in the backyard, near the end of lockdown brought a powerful sense of relief and renewal. Watching the kids jump on their first trampoline beneath its lush canopy made every challenge worthwhile.

I’m excited for the gallery’s upcoming presentation at Sydney Contemporary 2025, Australasia’s premier art fair, where we will present three dynamic artists. Adelaide based artist Luca Lettieri creates colourful works inspired by southern Italian folk art traditions and the tension between natural and manufactured materials. Melbourne based artist Christopher Jewitt expands painting into the sculptural realm, creating vibrant, intricate compositions that seem to outgrow their frames. Sydney based artist Elliott Routledge, known for his striking public works, presents paintings and sculptures exploring human facades and abstract portraiture, informed by his experience painting on architectural surfaces. Together, their work captures a spirit of experimentation, presence, and connection, qualities I’m proud to share with a wider audience.

I’m also thrilled to join a panel discussion titled Designing Spaces for an Artful Life, moderated by Stephen Todd, Design Editor, Australian Financial Review. This session explores how hotels, galleries, and offices can harness the emotional power of art and design to create compelling environments beyond the home. I’ll be alongside Charlotte Wilson, interior designer of Sydney’s chic new hotel The Eve; William Smart, renowned Australian house designer; and architect Kerstin Thompson, who has shaped some of NSW’s major cultural destinations – taking place at 1:30 PM on Friday, 12 September.

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Saint Cloche Gallery - 37 MacDonald St, Paddington NSW