Chiara Clemente is the toast of New York these days, as much for her acclaimed style as for her latest film, “Our City Dreams”, which explores five generations of female artists in the city. The New Yooxer met her to discuss her latest work and hear her views on art and fashion.
Her sense of style put her on the fashion radar a while ago – as one would expect from one of New York’s most prominent socialites; Vanity Fair certainly seems to agree since they granted her a coveted spot on their exclusive Best Dressed List last year. But what is striking upon meeting Chiara Clemente, beyond her looks and elegance, is how eloquent she is in talking about her inspirations and influences… And some influences they are! In preparing for “Our City Dreams”, her latest film (she isn’t so keen on the “documentary” label), she was especially interested in exploring the works of Italian legend Antonioni, from whom she borrowed the slow pace and hyper-realism; the result is a moving gallery of portraits – five generations of female artists in New York, the oldest of which is well in well into her eighties. Now and then of course the fashionista in her does come out – but always with the trademark soft-spoken intelligence that makes chatting to her so refreshing.
Discover Chiara Clemente’s Dream Box
Bio
The daughter of illustrious painter and Factory regular Francesco Clemente, Chiara was born in Rome, Italy, in the late 70s; she would soon become a New Yorker when her family moved to the Big Apple, where she grew up surrounded by some of the past decades’ most prominent artists, amongst which Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel and Keith Haring. She decided to express her creative leanings early on and asked for a camera – ever since she decided she could never compete with her father in the painting stakes. The result has been a flourishing career as a filmmaker – she is known and celebrated for her hyper-realist documentary films, the latest of which, “Our City Dreams” has received a wide acclaim across festivals worldwide. A regular on the New York scene, she has been admired for her sense of style, self-defined as “romantic with an edge” – for which she credits both her mother Alba and Audrey Hepburn.
Discover the film by Chiara Clemente ‘Our City Dreams‘
Works by Chiara Clemente
