MIAMI BEACH ART HOUSE

Artist Rachel Lee Hovnanian invites us into her gorgeous home, a tropical garden full of stunning works in one of Miami's most exclusive enclaves

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Rachel Lee Hovnanian’s Miami Beach villa is a vivid illustration of her rich, creative life. As an acclaimed figure on the contemporary art scene she exhibits her work across the world, from Venice to Hong Kong. But nowhere is it more at home than here, where the colourful canvases pop against all-white walls and sun glances off water to gild statement sculptures.

For the artist and her husband, Ara, who have two grown-up children, this gorgeous property is also the perfect place in which to gather the family. Describing it as “a peaceful refuge in harmony with nature”, Rachel enthuses: “The space is welcoming and serene... and in the courtyard, we love to dine al fresco, surrounded by fragrant honeysuckle.”

Rachel, tell us about your background.

“I was born in West Virginia but grew up in Houston, amid the vibrant cultural mix of Texas, and my parents both painted, so my childhood was filled with artistic inspiration. Even more so since we spent every summer exploring a different city in Mexico, and even lived there for a while when I was 13.”

How did your career take off?

“While working as an art director in a New York ad agency I also developed my own creative projects. But it wasn’t until much later, when my children were older, that I began to exhibit.”

What inspires you?