Shelby Duncan's 'House of Love' Chronicles LA's Creative Haven
Shelby Duncan's photo exhibition and book 'House of Love' revisit her Beachwood Canyon home in Los Angeles, a haven for aspiring actors, musicians, and filmmakers in the late 2000s. The project, born from Duncan's diaristic documentation over six years, features portraits of Léa Seydoux, Louis Garrel, and the late Gaspard Ulliel, among roughly 250 visitors. The book, structured as a 24-hour cycle, collages photographs, texts, and ephemera to recreate the house's unpredictable communal life. Duncan's images capture both hedonism and intimacy, reflecting a safe space for personal and artistic experimentation. The exhibition debuts at Les Rencontres d'Arles 2026, hosted by Foundation Manuel Rivera-Ortiz. Duncan describes the era as a 'last breath of freedom' before smartphones dominated social life.
Key facts
- Shelby Duncan's 'House of Love' is a photo book and exhibition.
- The project documents her Beachwood Canyon home in LA from the late 2000s to 2015.
- Approximately 250 people visited the house over six years.
- Subjects include Léa Seydoux, Louis Garrel, and Gaspard Ulliel.
- The book is structured as a 24-hour cycle, blending years and people.
- The exhibition will be at Foundation Manuel Rivera-Ortiz during Les Rencontres d'Arles 2026.
- The book is published by Éditions 37.2.
- Duncan emphasizes the house was a safe space for creative exploration.
Entities
Artists
- Shelby Duncan
- Léa Seydoux
- Louis Garrel
- Gaspard Ulliel
- Saraï Fiszel
Institutions
- Foundation Manuel Rivera-Ortiz
- Les Rencontres d'Arles
- Éditions 37.2
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Beachwood Canyon
- Arles
- France