William Middleton's guest appearances

William Middleton

LIVE! From City Lights

Image Culture

Rothko Chapel

The Thing About France

Gloria Steinem

David Sedaris

Daniel Rose

Thomas Chatterton Williams

Timothy Morton

Eileen Myles

Adam Gopnik

Scott Sternberg

Darren Walker

Graydon Carter

Catherine Opie

Claire Messud

Rick Moody

Charles Blow

Pamela Druckerman

OwlTail

I knew about William Middleton from the biography—or double biography, rather—he wrote of the great French-Texan art collectors, Dominique and John de Menil. When we got to talking, I realized that we have more in common than I thought: turns out we are both from the American southwest and ended up working for publications in New York and Paris. William first moved to Paris in 1990 as a writer for an American design magazine. Throughout his decade in France, he moved from design to fashion and from le Marais to Pigalle, throwing decadent parties for the likes of Karl Lagerfeld. William found his way back to France in May 2019, moving into an apartment in the 7th arrondissement on the same street where his muse, Dominique de Menil, grew up. I spoke to William over Zoom about his experience of battling COVID-19 while in France; the power of connection; and aesthetics in both Paris and New York.

I knew about William Middleton from the biography—or double biography, rather—he wrote of the great French-Texan art collectors, Dominique and John de Menil. When we got to talking, I realized that we have more in common than I thought: turns out we are both from the American southwest and ended up working for publications in New York and Paris. William first moved to Paris in 1990 as a writer for an American design magazine. Throughout his decade in France, he moved from design to fashion and from le Marais to Pigalle, throwing decadent parties for the likes of Karl Lagerfeld. William found his way back to France in May 2019, moving into an apartment in the 7th arrondissement on the same street where his muse, Dominique de Menil, grew up. I spoke to William over Zoom about his experience of battling COVID-19 while in France; the power of connection; and aesthetics in both Paris and New York.

My guest is William Middleton, author of the new biography Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John De Menil, out now through Knopf.The book follows the lives of the celebrated art collectors, who over the course of the 20th century forever changed the cultural landscape of their adopted home, Houston, TX. William spent 15 years between Paris, New York, and Houston researching and writing. When you hear him speak about their lives, you can feel the enduring nature of his interest. That may be because the de Menil’s offer a kind of model of civic engagement. They represent the idea that, given the opportunity, we have an obligation to invest in the places we find ourselves. Heirs to the massive Schlumberger oil fortune, Dominique and John relocated from France to Houston during the turmoil of World War II. Over the coming years they would champion the city, creating lasting institutions such as the Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel, the Byzantine Fresco Chapel, and the Cy Twombly Gallery. They were also outspoken supporters of the civil rights movement, funding key scholarship and exhibition of African American Art at a time when it was seldom granted institutional support. William’s expansive biography considers the impact art can have on society through the lives of two of its most devoted members.I photographed William at his apartment in New York, surrounded by more than a decades worth of photographs, exhibition catalogues, letters, and manuscripts used in research for the book. His french bulldog Hubert makes an appearance as well. You can see the photograph at www.williamjesslaird.com/imageculture or on Instagram @william.jess.laird or @image.cultureI’d like to thank William Middleton as well as Katie Schoder and the entire team at Penguin Random House. This show is produced by Sarah Levine and our music is by Jack and Eliza. Thanks for listening.

My guest is William Middleton, author of the new biography Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John De Menil, out now through Knopf.The book follows the lives of the celebrated art collectors, who over the course of the 20th century forever changed the cultural landscape of their adopted home, Houston, TX. William spent 15 years between Paris, New York, and Houston researching and writing. When you hear him speak about their lives, you can feel the enduring nature of his interest. That may be because the de Menil’s offer a kind of model of civic engagement. They represent the idea that, given the opportunity, we have an obligation to invest in the places we find ourselves. Heirs to the massive Schlumberger oil fortune, Dominique and John relocated from France to Houston during the turmoil of World War II. Over the coming years they would champion the city, creating lasting institutions such as the Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel, the Byzantine Fresco Chapel, and the Cy Twombly Gallery. They were also outspoken supporters of the civil rights movement, funding key scholarship and exhibition of African American Art at a time when it was seldom granted institutional support. William’s expansive biography considers the impact art can have on society through the lives of two of its most devoted members.I photographed William at his apartment in New York, surrounded by more than a decades worth of photographs, exhibition catalogues, letters, and manuscripts used in research for the book. His french bulldog Hubert makes an appearance as well. You can see the photograph at <a href="http://www.williamjesslaird.com/imageculture" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.williamjesslaird.com/imageculture</a> or on Instagram <a href="http://stagram.com/william.jess.laird/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@william.jess.laird</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/image.culture/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@image.culture</a>I’d like to thank William Middleton as well as Katie Schoder and the entire team at Penguin Random House. This show is produced by Sarah Levine and our music is by Jack and Eliza. Thanks for listening.

EP 016: WILLIAM MIDDLETON

Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de MenilLecture &amp; Book Signing with William MiddletonA book signing and reception at the Menil Collection's Byzantine Fresco Chapel followed the program.This program was supported by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the US.Co-presented by the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection, this special reading celebrated the launch of William Middleton¹s Double Vision. With exceptional access to family archives, Middleton has written a biography of this couple as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the art world of the twentieth century and the influence of the de Menils. Middleton is a journalist and editor who has written for the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, Vogue, House &amp; Garden, Esquire, Texas Monthly, Travel &amp; Leisure, Departures, and the International Herald Tribune. He will sign copies of his book following the reading, and a reception for registered guests will be held at the Byzantine Fresco Chapel.About the book:Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de Menil is the first and definitive biography of the celebrated collectors Dominique and John de Menil, who became one of the greatest cultural forces of the twentieth century through groundbreaking exhibits of art, artistic scholarship, the creation of innovative galleries and museums, and work with civil rights.Dominique and John de Menil created an oasis of culture in their Philip Johnson-designed house with everyone from Marlene Dietrich and René Magritte to Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns. In Houston, they built the Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel, the Byzantine Fresco Chapel, the Cy Twombly Gallery, and underwrote the Contemporary Arts Museum.Now, with unprecedented access to family archives, William Middleton has written a sweeping biography of this unique couple. From their ancestors in Normandy and Alsace, to their own early years in France, and their travels in South America before settling in Houston. We see them introduced to the artists in Europe and America whose works they would collect, and we see how, by the 1960s, their collection had grown to include 17,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, rare books, and decorative objects. And here is, as well, a vivid behind-the-scenes look at the art world of the twentieth century and the enormous influence the de Menils wielded through what they collected and built and through the causes they believed in.About the author: William Middleton is a journalist and editor who has worked in New York and Paris. He has been the Fashion Features Director for Harper's Bazaar and the Paris Bureau Chief for Fairchild Publications, overseeing W Magazine and Women's Wear Daily.

Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de Menil Lecture &amp; Book Signing with William Middleton A book signing and reception at the Menil Collection's Byzantine Fresco Chapel followed the program. This program was supported by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the US. Co-presented by the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection, this special reading celebrated the launch of William Middleton¹s Double Vision. With exceptional access to family archives, Middleton has written a biography of this couple as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the art world of the twentieth century and the influence of the de Menils. Middleton is a journalist and editor who has written for the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, Vogue, House &amp; Garden, Esquire, Texas Monthly, Travel &amp; Leisure, Departures, and the International Herald Tribune. He will sign copies of his book following the reading, and a reception for registered guests will be held at the Byzantine Fresco Chapel. About the book: Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de Menil is the first and definitive biography of the celebrated collectors Dominique and John de Menil, who became one of the greatest cultural forces of the twentieth century through groundbreaking exhibits of art, artistic scholarship, the creation of innovative galleries and museums, and work with civil rights. Dominique and John de Menil created an oasis of culture in their Philip Johnson-designed house with everyone from Marlene Dietrich and René Magritte to Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns. In Houston, they built the Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel, the Byzantine Fresco Chapel, the Cy Twombly Gallery, and underwrote the Contemporary Arts Museum. Now, with unprecedented access to family archives, William Middleton has written a sweeping biography of this unique couple. From their ancestors in Normandy and Alsace, to their own early years in France, and their travels in South America before settling in Houston. We see them introduced to the artists in Europe and America whose works they would collect, and we see how, by the 1960s, their collection had grown to include 17,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, rare books, and decorative objects. And here is, as well, a vivid behind-the-scenes look at the art world of the twentieth century and the enormous influence the de Menils wielded through what they collected and built and through the causes they believed in. About the author: William Middleton is a journalist and editor who has worked in New York and Paris. He has been the Fashion Features Director for Harper's Bazaar and the Paris Bureau Chief for Fairchild Publications, overseeing W Magazine and Women's Wear Daily.

Double Vision: Lecture & Book Signing with William Middleton 3.27.2018