Meet Nicolas Valle

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicolas Valle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicolas, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
Im an avid reader. It’s near impossible to choose one. My favorite book of the last several years is INHERENT VICE by Thomas Pynchon. Its funny more than anything plus its all about southern california where Ive spent the bulk of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It wasn’t easy. It was a lot of hard work.I am entirely self taught. I started painting rooms when I was a 16. I just kept doing it. I discovered the frescoes and design of Italy when I was in Rome with Nando. I instantly knew I wanted to do that. I never gave up. I love challenging jobs. Currently I am restoring the 100 year old ceilings painted by Anthony Heinsbergen in the Elks Lodge in Macarthur Park In LA. Its massive work. I couldn’t have done this without doing everything Ive done before. I feel so fortunate. Ive had the good fortune to work with the designers, COMMUNE and STUDIO SHAMSHIRI, among others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I deeply love Los Angeles. There is so much here. My needs are fairly simple. Hang out in my little bungalow in Highland Park with my garden and my animals. Maybe dinner at Dunsmoor in Glassel Park and a trip to Beverly Hot Springs in Koreatown. I tend to look for the fleeting underground gems that come and go. I was very social when I was young. The seventies and eighties in Los Angeles were phenomenal. So much fun.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Theres been so many people that I owe so much to. I worked for over twenty years with the designer Joanna Shimkus Poitier. My debt to her is enormous. We did dozens of projects together both in Los Angeles and New York. I was spoiled working on these jobs. I got to meet extraordinary people and work on phenomenal spaces.
The second was my life partner, Ferdinando Scarfiotti. He was a renowned Production Designer. He taught me how to look at things. I was never not in awe of him. I will forever count my great fortune to have spent precious years with him.
Most of all I owe everything to my dearest friend and my fairy godmother, the photographer/artist Paul Jasmin. I met him in 1978 and we became instant friends. He was at he center of an incredible scene that was composed of anyone interesting back then. It was beyond fun. I met most everyone I knew through Jazzy. I met the love of my life, Nando, through him. Looking back now it was like some mad dream. That world isn’t around anymore. Most of those people are gone. The stories are endless and all true. Wild times.

Website: www.nicvalle.com

Instagram: buzzcuts

Image Credits
Ive taken these photos myself