Interior designer Kelly Behun has completed a refined Manhattan residence for Ambassador Randi Charno Levine, integrating a monumental new site-specific commission by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. The project serves as an intersection of museum-scale contemporary art and bespoke residential design.
The Architectural Canvas and Collector Brief
Designed for Ambassador Randi Charno Levine, the Manhattan apartment functions primarily as a sophisticated backdrop for an extensive, museum-quality art collection. Kelly Behun was tasked with creating an interior architecture that could simultaneously accommodate large-scale contemporary works and provide intimate, liveable spaces for daily domestic life.
Behun’s signature approach relies on custom-fabricated furnishings, sculptural silhouettes and a restrained, tactile palette that defers to the artwork while maintaining a distinct design identity of its own. Every room is calibrated to balance the weight of the client’s collection with a sense of architectural repose.
The Vasconcelos Commission
The focal point of the residence is a newly commissioned installation by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, known for her elaborate, textile-heavy sculptures that riff on traditional crafts and monumental forms. Reported by Wallpaper* in October 2026, the installation anchors the apartment’s public spaces, introducing organic forms and vibrant craft-led textures to the clean-lined Manhattan interior.
The integration of Vasconcelos’ work highlights a broader trend among international art collectors: embedding site-specific, gallery-scale pieces directly into the residential floor plan rather than treating art as an afterthought hung on finished walls.
Materiality and Bespoke Craft
True to Behun’s body of work, the apartment makes extensive use of custom millwork, specialty wall finishes and bespoke furniture pieces designed specifically for the site. The material palette prioritises tactile surfaces, including natural stone, brushed metals and rich textiles that soften the urban perimeter views.
Collaboration with specialist makers and artisans ensures that the furniture functions as sculptural objects in their own right, echoing the rigorous curation of the client’s art holdings.
- Commission site-specific artwork or sculptural lighting to anchor a primary living space.
- Keep base interior finishes neutral and tactile to let significant art collections take precedence.
- Invest in custom-designed furniture pieces that match the specific proportions of your rooms.
- Layer traditional craft techniques, such as heavy textiles or ceramics, into modern architectural envelopes.
Properties designed by recognised names like Kelly Behun and featuring documented, museum-tier art installations occupy a distinct tier in the prime Manhattan market. While interior fit-outs rarely return their exact capital cost pound-for-pound upon resale, an architecturally cohesive, highly polished residence tailored for a serious art collector commands significant liquidity among international buyers who value turnkey provenance and design pedigree.
Related reads
Joana Vasconcelos’ art takes root in a Manhattan apartment for an ambassador (Wallpaper*, 15 Oct 2026)
Sources & credits
- Feature: Joana Vasconcelos’ art takes root in a Manhattan apartment for an ambassador — Wallpaper*. Linked, not reproduced.
- Main image: Wallpaper*, from the original feature linked above; all rights remain with the publisher and photographer.
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