MICHAEL TAYLOR

Stephen Salny, who wrote a book about the great architect David Adler, was in town recently hanging out with local designers Joe Minton and Kevin Peavy, and stumping for his just-out book on the imcomparable Frances Elkins. I’d heard he was already hard at work on a book about Michael Taylor, so I emailed him about it. Here’s an excerpt from his email to me:

“Yes, I am currently researching for my book on Michael Taylor. Michael is a natural segue for me because his spiritual Godmother was Frances Elkins. In fact, I end the Elkins book with Michael Taylor. He was influenced by her eclecticism, and technique of complementary paired colors, as well as the influence of Frank and Giacometti. Michael arrived on the scene coincidentally a few years before Frances Elkins died in 1953. He inherited some of her clients, including Nan Kempner’s parents, Al and Irma Schlesinger. Elkins completed their San Francisco house a year before she died. I guestimate two and a half to three years before it will be out.”