WHY DO YOU LIKE AND COLLECT MATCHES?
I’ve always been drawn to small, sentimental objects that quietly carry big meaning, and my love for collecting matches really began with my grandparents. Growing up, I vividly remember my nonna and papi having a bowl full of matchboxes from all their travels sitting in their home. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why it mattered — to me it just looked like a random collection. But after I moved to New York City after college, it suddenly clicked. I realized it was never really about the matchboxes themselves, but what they represented: a life lived, places explored, dinners shared, memories made. NYC, being such a hub for iconic restaurants and beautifully designed matchboxes, made that realization even stronger. I felt like I was stepping into that same tradition, but in my own way — building my own visual archive of everywhere I’ve been, who I’ve been with, and the moments that shaped me.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ONES AND WHY?
This is honestly such a hard question because every matchbox I have tells its own little story. Some remind me of a specific person I was with, others of a celebration, and some just of a simple, perfect night out. But if I had to choose, my absolute favorites are actually my own — The Art Girl matches. They feel deeply personal because they represent my name, my identity, and what I’ve built creatively. Seeing “The Art Girl” on them feels like a full-circle moment. Aside from those, I have a few that I truly treasure: my @thepolobar matches, which I feel incredibly lucky to have; a special set in a tube from @hotelducapedenroc in Antibes from one of my European summers, which always transports me back to that time; the classic pink @santambroeus matches that are eternally chic; a box from @thecarnegieclubnyc in NYC that reminds me of an unforgettable night of live jazz; and finally, a matchbox from @lafontainedemars in Paris — my favorite restaurant in the city, filled with so much nostalgia and romance for me.
WHEN AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO ENJOY YOUR MATCHES?
I really see my matches as both objects of memory and pieces of decor. I love rotating my display each season so different ones get their moment to shine. I keep them in a few Tiffany silver bowls around my apartment, which makes them feel intentional and central to my space rather than tucked away. But I also believe matches are meant to be used — not just admired. I like to open them, strike them, and let myself revisit the memory attached to each one. For me, enjoying them is about keeping those moments alive rather than letting them just sit untouched.
