He is the world’ s top floral artist, infusing a monochromatic formula into his designs, creating the most inspiring contemporary pieces of floral art. Jeff Leatham works under an exhaustive agenda, designing weddings for celebrities, VIPs and producing spectacular special events incorporating his conceptual expertise.
FEATURE Interview by CLAUDIA TORRES Photography by ANTHONY BROCK www. oneandonlyparisphotography. com
He is the world’ s top floral artist, infusing a monochromatic formula into his designs, creating the most inspiring contemporary pieces of floral art. Jeff Leatham works under an exhaustive agenda, designing weddings for celebrities, VIPs and producing spectacular special events incorporating his conceptual expertise.
Perfect Wedding magazine was fortunate enough to engage Jeff Leatham in Paris, France, at the hotel where he is the Artistic Director, for an exclusive interview and décor editorial photo session. Working with Jeff Leatham for one full day was one of the most rewarding experiences in the history of this luxury publication.
Q: Jeff, when did you leave home to pursue your dreams? A: I left home when I was 18 or 19. I got a great job working
for the GAP in corporate where I was working directly with the store managers. They moved me to L. A. to open some stores for them and that is where I started my career with the GAP. It was great because it got me out of Utah, where I am from, plus it taught me a lot as I worked in management and visual designs. It was great to work in that area and have the experience to design with putting colours together and such. Then, when I was 21, is when I started to model. I was travelling back and forth to Europe( for modeling contracts) while I kept working for the GAP.
Q: When was the defining moment that you decided modeling was not what you wanted to do?
A: When I was 23, I came to Europe for the last time, modeling for over 2 years, and came back home to L. A. deciding that I was ready for something new. I told this to my friends and a week later a friend called me and told me he knew someone at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, that they were having a big wedding on that weekend and they needed someone to help. That is how I started … by accident, by a chance …( he thinks for a moment and says...) Well, it was actually meant to be, everything happens for a reason. I am so happy that my floral career started in the Four Seasons because for me, and the Four Seasons, flowers have always been very important in our identity as a company. Our founder, Isadore Sharp, finds that flowers are the single most important thing that people must( be around to) feel like they are at home. Working at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills helped me with what I do today because I had to produce big floral installations rather than just small bouquets.
Q: What influences your own style? A: I don’ t plan anything. I look at the colour first then I decide
what type of vase or vessel I will use them in. Colour and shape is important to me. I guess, for a clothing designer, they choose their fabrics first and then they dress the body. I compare myself to this kind of artistic approach. This is the creative process I go through, so the actual flower itself, the variety of flower, is always the last thing I choose. It’ s colour, texture and lastly the flower.
You travel a lot, Jeff. He answers immediately“ Too Much!”
Q: How do you balance career and personal life? A: I think for me sometimes that is the problem. As much as
I love my career I am finding that I need to have more of a personal life. If you have a great personal life I believe that only increases your happiness and your creativity. My brand is known internationally so I am always having to travel around to different places. It is important that now I have my office in L. A. and I can spend enough time there, but I obviously have to be in Paris once a month and make sure that I am here for this hotel, because having this opportunity to be working at the George V made me who I am today as an artist.
44 Perfect Wedding Magazine’ s 10th Anniversary Special Edition / Spring Summer 2016