Ruth Ansel is one of today's greatest graphic designers. In a career that began as an assistant to Marvin Israel, she has been the art director of Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, House & Garden and Vogue, and designed books for Richard Avedon, Peter Beard, and Annie Leibovitz amongst others.
We’re old friends, having worked together at Vanity Fair and on many subsequent gallery projects, but every time I visit her apartment I am pulled in by the feeling that this is what creativity looks like. Her home/work environment is neat as a pin, but visual ideas sprout off every surface. In one room are the mini-layouts of a book in progress celebrating Elsa Peretti’s career. In another room - shelves of pictures given, bought, picked up on travels, sent by friends, or created on assignment. Somehow, there is abundance without clutter! Energy and calm.
I don't believe any magazine has ever photographed it - so, given my love of environment and installation, I thought I would share these snaps.
