Harbinger Embraces Classic Film History with Art Collection

Interior design, fine art and Hollywood films collide with Harbinger’s new collection of artwork by artist, illustrator and all-around tinsel town renaissance man Edgar O. Kiechle. Harbinger, the taste-making showroom founded by interior designer Joe Lucas, is known for showcasing pieces that present to both the traditional and the edgy, and Kiechle’s work falls right in line with this aesthetic.

After moving to Hollywood with his family in 1919 and completing a degree at the Otis Art Institute, Kiechle found work as a background artist and illustrator. For nearly thirty years, he helped bring background sets to life in such noteworthy films as Psycho, Pillow Talk and Spartacus. In addition to his work for the studios, Kiechle was a voracious producer of oil paintings, collectors of which included Ida Lupino, Ira Gershwin and Hedy Lamar. Kiechle’s solo exhibits and invitational shows drew critical acclaim, securing his position as one of the most respected artistic minds of the industry.

Los Angeles Times art critic Arthur Millier called Kiechle “a born painter,” saying that he had “a gift for suggesting atmosphere, and is one of the best painters of night in the region.” Harbinger’s collection of Kiechle’s work – which includes some of these highly regarded evening scenes – is currently housed at its storefront on La Cienega.

Since Harbinger first opened in 2008, it has grown to a 5,000-square-foot showroom, representing over 40 lines of fabric, lighting, wallpaper, furniture, carpets, and decorative arts. Harbinger and Lucas Studio, Inc. have appeared in publications such as House Beautiful, Architectural Digest and Luxe Interiors + Design.

LCDQ Harbinger - Edgar O. Kiechle