Building on Robert Farber’s Wet Series, this collaboration with Atelier Lebuisson reinterprets flood-altered photographs through couture embroidery, creating layered works that explore time, memory, and transformation.
Threads of Time
The Selects Gallery presents Threads of Time, an exceptional exhibition uniting the creative visions of iconic American fashion photographer Robert Farber and Delphine Nobili, founder of Atelier Lebuisson, a Parisian textile studio specializing in haute couture embroidery.
On view until August 2025
By appointment only: contact@theselectsgallery.com
PAR EXCELLENCE SHOWROOM
344 Bowery, 5th Floor, NOHO
New York, NY 10012
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
At its heart are three works from Farber’s Wet Series, printed on canvas, and reimagined through the art of hand embroidery by Atelier Lebuisson in France. Carefully selected for their symbolic resonance, these dreamlike photographs—featuring a diner, a cowboy, and an American flag—each represent a defining aspect of American culture. Originally part of the American Mood series, they took on a new life after an unexpected flood in Farber’s New York studio altered their hues, imbuing them with a delicate, watercolor-like quality. Through this collaboration, Farber and Nobili explore a third life for these images, offering a poetic reflection on time, resilience, and the unexpected beauty found in life’s cycles and chance encounters.
AMERICAN MOOD SERIES
In the early 2000s, Robert Farber captured a series of evocative photographs exploring symbols of American culture—images that would later become the foundation for both the Wet Series and Threads of Time.
WET SERIES
On April 24th, 2018, Robert Farber's studio was flooded in the middle of the night. While excavating the ruins, he uncovered several catalogues of drenched, non-archival small prints.
Threads of Time
This latest exhibition features Delphine Nobili's embroidery, atop the original works from Robert Farber's Wet Series.
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22x28 | Printed and hand-signed by Robert Farber
Materials & Techniques:
Fabric manipulation and hand embroidery by Atelier Lebuisson on the photograph with layered tulle gathered for volume and embellished with glass beads. The embroidery creates a striking illusion of movement, making the piece appear to float.
Framing:
This effect is further amplified by the framing technique—crafted to create a subtle undulating effect—set within a deep, light wood frame that enhances the sense of dimension. Moreover, the frame’s timeworn finish echoes the themes of serendipity, chance, and the passage of time.
Close-ups | Threads of Time, American Flag, 2025 - Robert Farber x Atelier Lebuisson:
Wet Series American Flag, 2018 - Original Work by Robert Farber
32x22 | Printed and hand-signed by Robert Farber
Materials & Techniques:
This photograph is hand-embroidered by Atelier Lebuisson with silk and cotton threads (stem stitch, French knots, satin stitch), hand-painted organza fabrics and a vinyl finish.
Framing:
A black and gold frame is planned for this artwork, reminiscent of classical paintings, reinforcing Robert Farber’s painterly aesthetic. The frame’s timeworn finish echoes the themes of serendipity, chance, and the passage of time.
Close-ups | Threads of Time, Diner, 2025 - Robert Farber x Atelier Lebuisson:
32x22 | Printed and hand-signed by Robert Farber
Materials & Techniques:
Photograph, hand-embroidered by Atelier Lebuisson with natural wool threads from Aubusson, mohair, silk and cotton threads (Stem stitch and drawn thread work).
Framing:
Black and gold frame, reminiscent of classical paintings, reinforcing Robert Farber’s painterly aesthetic. The frame’s timeworn finish echoes the themes of serendipity, chance, and the passage of time.
Close-ups | Threads of Time, Cowboy, 2025 - Robert Farber x Atelier Lebuisson:
Additional Featured Works: Wet Series & Polaroids
The exhibition is further enriched with two Polaroids and two original Wet Series pieces by Robert Farber, reflecting his fascination with time, serendipity, and the ever-evolving nature of his photographs.
22”x29” Wet Series 061V, 2018
72”x48” Wet Series 015V, 2018
30”x24” Polaroid #157 – Under the Golden Gate Bridge
30”x24” Polaroid #191 – Looking Outside
Atelier Lebuisson's Exceptional Savoir-Faire
An album specially created for the exhibition presents the exceptional savoir-faire of Delphine Nobili and her team. Designed as a sketchbook, it features embroidery samples and highlights the studio’s collaborations with renowned fashion houses.
Atelier Lebuisson’s team
Dior Couture SS 2025
The Artists
A transatlantic collaboration between two visionary talents—uniting Robert Farber’s photographic legacy with Delphine Nobili’s couture embroidery expertise.
Delphine Nobili
Delphine Nobili is the founder of Atelier Lebuisson, a Paris-based embroidery studio celebrated for its haute couture craftsmanship and collaborations with the world’s leading fashion houses.
Robert Farber
One of the most influential photographers of his generation, Robert Farber is known for his painterly style and a prolific career spanning fine art, fashion, and award-winning commercial work.
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