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The Atelier : Affordable prints by the likes of Sandile Goje, Sam Nhlengethwa and Christian Nerf line the walls. -
The Atelier : In The Forest by Anouck Boisrobert and Louis Rigaud is one of the enchanting books on display. -
The Atelier : Fine-art printmaker and part owner of The Atelier, Fiona Pole.
PHOTOS and WORDS Lisa Johnston
It was a forced change that threw Fiona Pole and Didier Presse, the unsuspecting owners of The Atelier, into retail. Having relocated from Paris with their two young sons, the couple initially moved into a hidden upstairs studio at 44 Stanley, Johannesburg, where they set up their respective businesses as a fine-art printmaker and a framer.
But with no passing trade, business was slow and their anxiety increased when they were told that their workspace was to be bundled with others and rented to a hairdresser. Their only option was to move on or take a larger, more expensive shop downstairs. The couple took a leap of faith and decided to expand the business to include the sale of limited-edition prints and a selection of unusual books for adults and children.
“The space was conceived around wanting to use my working antique press as a focal point as well as the fact that we needed two workspaces – for printing and framing,” explains Fiona. “The aesthetic of the centre with its industrial fittings and pared-down look was an important consideration that we carried through into the interior of the shop.”
Now business is booming with an increased demand for art works by a range of popular local artists (most of which sell for less than R5 000) as well as Didier’s custom-made archival and
eco-friendly frames.
The Atelier has also found a niche among bibliophiles. “The books have been flying off the shelves, so much so that in the beginning I had to borrow my son Luka’s prized books for placeholders while I waited for orders,” says Fiona.
072 177 2555, theatelier@webmail.co.za
