Broadway producer Jordan Roth is expanding his creative footprint far beyond the theater stage. Following a major move from his long-time West Village home, Roth has launched a multi-disciplinary career spanning Parisian art installations, a new coffee table book, and a television debut.
The $12,000 "couture" furniture at Hôtel de Guise
Jordan Roth is treating interior design as a form of high fashion through his latest artistic endeavor. According to the report, his exhibition, titled "To Think of the Tranquil Life of Things," is being presented at the 18th-century Hôtel de Guise in Paris. The installation features furniture draped in colorful, photo-printed slipcovers that Roth describes as being akin to "couture dresses for furniture."
These pieces are not merely for display; they remain functional objects that invite the viewer to merge their own narrative with the history of the item. Each piece in the exhibition is produced in a limited edition of three and is available for purchase through Salon 94 Design, a New York City-based gallery, with prices starting at $12,000.
A dahlia-patterned tribute to a West Village past
This artistic shift follows Roth's departure from a modernist West Village apartment that served as his home for 15 years. The space was the site of major life milestones, including the birth of his son, Levi, and his marriage to Richie Jackson. As Roth prepares to move into a new townhouse—which he describes as the "chicest bordello you have ever seen"—he is using fabric to process the transition.
The exhibition utilizes "domestic camouflage," including a custom chintz featuring a dahlia motif. roth identifies with the flower because of its exuberant initial impact and the painstaking detail found upon closer inspection. This use of textile serves as a way to explore how the objects we live with imprint our personal histories and memories.
Channeling David Sylvian for Ryan Murphy’s 80s drama
In addition to his visual arts, Roth is making his television debut in a production by Ryan Murphy. He plays the character Steven Reinhardt, an embittered fixer in an 1980s-era setting. To capture the era's emerging gender fluidity, Roth worked closely on the character's aesthetic, drawing inspiration from New Romantic stars like Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes and utilizing Saint Laurent footwear.
The character's specific look was heavily influenced by New Wave icons. As reported by the source, Roth and his hairstylist, Brent Lawler, used images of David Sylvian, the frontman of the band Japan, to help define the character's signature hair. Roth noted that while the character does not look or move like him, he understands the heart of an artist who feels unseen.
The transition from Tony-winning producer to screen actor
Roth's evolution is also being documented in his new coffee table book, "Jordan Roth: Radical Acts of Unrelenting Beauty," published by KMEC Books. The tome explores his past performances, including a piece at the Louvre, and will be discussed at Yale University’s Schwarzman Center in a talk with professor Tavia Nyong’o.
While Roth's multidisciplinary expansion is well-documented, several questions remain regarding his long-term trajectory . It is currently unknown if this move into acting and fine art represents a permanent departure from his career as a seven-time Tony Award-winning producer or if he intends to balance both worlds. additionally, while the source details his success in "performative sculpture," it remains to be seen how his high-concept art pieces will influence his future presence in mainstream Broadway production.
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