The Riley/Land Collection

Nashville, TN

ARTIST STATEMENT

 In 2013, fresh off a 4-year stint planning parties in Trinidad, Joseph Riley Land was anxious to move back to New York and start something new. His background as a manager with Williams-Sonoma told him that there is always a market for upscale home goods, as long as they are thoughtfully-sourced and have a great story behind them. He had about $1,600 in seed money and the determination of someone without a Plan B. What started out as a gourmet pantry quickly shifted into a lifestyle brand, as Joseph began adding wooden kitchen wares to the collection. The pieces, all handmade by friends of his parents – from trees that came from Joseph’s family farm in Tennessee – each have a unique look and appeal. Due to Harlem’s increased popularity, his non-rent stabilized apartment soon had a sharp increase that left Joseph with a quandary: give up his business that he loved so he could get a “real job” and continue to live in a city he loved or give up his Harlem home and move the business to a place more accommodating, rent-wise. He moved to Nashville and set up shop, where the wooden wares took over the starring role. With much easier access, Joseph amped up the collection and now The Riley/Land Collection is known for their unique wooden pieces: new family heirlooms, as Joseph is quick to call them.