They make a way. - Maryland Institute College of Art

Payton Cosell Turner ’08 PAINTING
& Brian Kaspr ’06 GENERAL SCULPTURAL STUDIES
Founders and Owners, Flat Vernacular / Brooklyn, NY
“When you are an artist, you have to think of yourself as your own entity,
your own business more or less. If you want to be successful artist, I
think that’s how you have to look at it. Nobody is going to do your
own PR for you if you are a painter. That’s how you get from the studio
to the gallery and into people’s homes.” — Payton Cosell Turner ’08
“Not everyone will love our wallpaper. They should though.”
— Brian Kaspr ’06
Payton Turner and Brian Kaspr both came to MICA
because of the openness and friendliness that
permeated the campus. After meeting there, they
took the concept of collaboration they learned
at MICA to a whole new level. They are business
partners in Flat Vernacular, design consorts, and
life allies as husband and wife.
The origins of the company can be traced to
Turner’s senior thesis project, when she developed
“sticker wallpaper,” an imaginative design made up
of commercially available stickers. After moving to
New York post-graduation, she was commissioned
to do similar work for a home there. Kaspr’s thesis
project, on the other hand, involved printmaking.
On a professional level, he was moved by the
response of audiences to Turner’s drawings and
aesthetics and shared her interest in decorating
and creating a home environment. They saw
an opening for niche wallpaper— meticulously
designed limited edition works of art. A business
relationship flowed florth.
MICA’s training in learning from mistakes proved
valuable for them. They tried printing the product
themselves out of their studio, but with day jobs,
it proved difficult. The process, however, taught
them how to seamlessly lay out patterns, a key
part of their ability to visualize what the finished
product would look like.
LEFT: Brian Kaspr ’06 (left) and Payton Turner ’08 (right) in their Brooklyn studio.
MAKING THE PRODUCT IS ONE THING, BUT SELLING
IT IS A DIFFERENT ASPECT, ACCORDING TO THE
COUPLE. THE RESEARCH SKILLS EMBEDDED IN THEIR
ARTMAKING PROCESS AGAIN PROVED INVALUABLE.
Through “tons” of research, relationship building,
and trial and error, they figured out how to get
their product in front of customers and distributed
to buyers. They used their networking skills to learn
about the industry, connect with a manufacturer,
and get their work into showrooms and in front
of interior decorators. They have also built a
consumer following that seeks them out.
They argue one of the best things they learned at
MICA is how to take criticism. Because they are in
a creative business that is ultimately dependent on
people’s tastes, they have to have tough skin. Their
ability to persevere and build relationships, has led
to their success.
Ultimately, they want Flat Vernacular to be
perceived as a lifestyle brand, extending what they
know about creating living environments beyond
wallpaper. After being featured in the New York
Times and Elle Décor, they are well on their way to
being household names.
ENTERPRISE
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
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