l’appartement 49c: An Interview with Steffie Chau

Installation view, l’appartement 49c. New York, NY., photo by Khushboo Parimoo
 

By NOAH BECKER December 28, 2024

The intimate setting of l’appartement 49c, located in the heart of Manhattan, allows for a personal connection between the audience and the artwork. The apartment-style gallery space, with its warm, homely atmosphere, fosters a sense of belonging and encourages meaningful conversations about art, culture, and identity. 

l'appartement 49c's Unfolding Roots, features the work of 14 artists, each exploring themes of home, identity, and connection through diverse mediums. From Peyton Chiang’s deeply personal installations and Yasmin Mazloom’s sculptural narratives to Poline Grishina’s layered paper sculptures and Danninger Feng’s delicate oil panels, the exhibition weaves together a powerful tapestry of stories. Highlights include Yasmeen Abdallah’s fragrant tea-bag installation and Mariana Malheiro’s textured oil works. Together, these pieces create a rich dialogue about belonging and shared memory.

I've been involved with artist-run culture for many years. My idea of an excellent space for exhibitions is l’appartement 49c. When I first heard about it and how they are doing open calls for artists and how they are based in NYC, I was even more interested. The following is an interview with Steffie Chau, artist and founder of l’appartement 49c, who shares insights into the space, its mission, and its unique approach to fostering community through art...

Noah Becker: Why do you like to involve yourself with a lot of artists? Through your open calls, it must be a lot of networking.

Steffie Chau: It definitely involves a lot of networking, but for us, it’s more than that—it’s about making the work personal and meaningful. Through these open calls, we have the chance to connect with so many incredible artists. Each of them brings a unique perspective, and their work continually expands our understanding and aesthetic sensibilities.

Olivia, our curator, has come across artists whose medium or practice aren’t necessarily what she’s most familiar with, but after hearing them talk about their message and process, she has gained an appreciation for their work and it might affect how she works in both curation and art making. It’s this kind of exchange, where we share ideas and learn from each other. That is what makes working with so many artists so fulfilling.

Peyton Chiang, photo by Khushboo Parimoo
 

For the person just getting to know your project, what are the values and mission of l’appartement 49c?

At l’appartement 49c, our mission is to bring people together through art in a space that feels comfortable and welcoming. We want visitors to feel like they can stay for hours, have meaningful conversations.

Art has this incredible ability to connect people. it’s not about forced networking, more about creating an environment where conversations flow organically. Because our space is in a home setting, people feel relaxed, and that fosters intimacy and openness.

Installation view, l’appartement 49c. , photo by Khushboo Parimoo

Rene Gortat, Mariana Malheiro, and Peyton Chiang, photo by Khushboo Parimoo
 

You have talked about being open to many mediums with l’appartement 49c. Who is your favorite artist from history?

For me personally, I’d have to say Meret Oppenheim or Remedios Varo. Their work has always resonated with me on a deep level. Oppenheim’s exhibition at MoMA was truly life-changing for me. It was incredible to see the range of mediums she explored and the boldness of her ideas. Similarly, Varo’s surrealism feels so transportive, weaving narratives that linger in your mind long after you’ve seen her work.

As for the team, we have very eclectic tastes but we talk about what and who we like, helping us decide the themes for shows and it's a fun way to interact and talk about our favorite artists all the time. It's a fun way to share inspiration! Tessa likes Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Vermeer, while Olivia loves Jenny Saville. Amelia has a hard time picking just one artist, but lately, she’s been really into Bruno Munari, (You might even see a workshop inspired by his work soon!) We all have different tastes and inspiration but we also have a lot of respect for each other so that makes us open to different types of art.

What is the origin of the name l’appartement 49c?

The name comes from two things: my apartment number, 49c, and the idea of the French salons. Salons were spaces where people came together to have deep conversations, share ideas, and connect. That’s the same energy we wanted to bring to l’appartement 49c.

It also came naturally since I’ve always loved hosting dinners and gatherings with friends, and we’d always say, “Come to apt 49c.” It became a sort of shorthand for good times and meaningful conversations, and it felt like the perfect name for a space where art and community intersect.

From left to right: Poline Grishina, Onaje Grant-Simmonds, Heidi Birch, Yasmeen Abdallah, and Danninger Feng. Courtesy l’appartement 49c., photo by Khushboo Parimoo

Yeeun Joo & Mariana Malheiro, photo by Khushboo Parimoo
 

If you get approved as an artist in one of l’appartement 49c's open calls, what should you expect?

You can expect more than just a place to showcase your work. At l’appartement 49c, we’re about building connections. Artists who exhibit with us get to collaborate closely with our team, expand their reach, and interact with a variety of other artists and visitors.

We also encourage artists to bring their friends and make the experience their own. Many of the artists we’ve worked with are emerging, so it’s a fantastic way to get comfortable exhibiting and learning about the process. We’re open to artists of all backgrounds and levels of experience, everyone is welcome.

We aim for deeper, long-lasting relationships with our artists. The artists who apply and share their work are the heart of what we do. Their contributions make it possible for us to host these shows and create a sense of community. So we aim to build a solid relationship so we can support them as much as we are able, we try to keep in touch with them and share future shows that they will be in, as well as updates on their work in our mailing list! WM

Unfolding Roots. Curated by: Olivia Lasa & Steffie Chau

The featured artists in Unfolding Roots—including Debora Maurelli, Yasmin Mazloom, Peyton Chiang, and Onaje Grant-Simmonds—bring a wide range of artistic practices that span painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. Each artist brings their own exploration of themes related to migration, home, and identity, offering fresh perspectives that resonate deeply in today’s world.

Featuring: Debora Maurelli, Yasmin Mazloom, Danninger Feng, Peyton Chiang, Poline Grishina, Heidi Birch, Onaje Grant-Simmonds, Olivia De Camps, Vân Anh Lê, Yeeun Joo, Lu W, Rene Gortat, Mariana Malheiro, Yasmeen Abdalla.