Before art-world power couple Prudence Fairweather and John Chamberlain built a life together on Shelter Island’s secluded waterfront, the pair publicly tied the knot in the City of Love. Nearly 30 years after their wedding, these never-before-seen mementos reveal how their personal and professional enmeshment seemed woven by some fateful hand.
From our very first encounter, I found John Chamberlain to be a very interesting man—and sensed that I should proceed with caution. I was already running an artist’s corporation and thought one artist would be enough to handle, much less two.
I met him during my days managing Dan Flavin’s studio, and he pursued me for four years before we became engaged. We were walking down Fifth Avenue, passing by Tiffany, when he stopped and looked at me with his piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through you and said, “Let’s go inside.” It was so quintessentially Chamberlain—impulsive and romantic. He never did anything by halves, and his proposal was no exception.
We decided on Paris for the wedding. It wasn’t just a destination; it was reflective of our lives in the arts and our love for the city’s timeless charm. We were married at the church once used by the kings of France, Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, across from the Louvre. It’s a magnificent space, full of grandeur and history. Planning the wedding was a whirlwind: I was juggling my demanding job at Flavin’s studio, overseeing Chamberlain’s move into Elaine de Kooning’s former studio, caring for our two children, and coordinating a wedding overseas. The day itself was marked by a riot in the streets, which made it difficult to get to the church, but it added to the drama enveloping the occasion.
After exchanging our vows in front of close friends, many of them artists themselves, we walked through the streets of Paris. Chamberlain in his tuxedo and the wind blowing my wedding gown as we walked past the Louvre while people all over the city shouted their good wishes. I felt so elegant. It was a wonderful feeling, as if all of Paris was celebrating with us. We then continued the celebration with all of our guests at the elegant Le Grand Véfour. The next day we had a fabulous brunch at the Ritz for friends and family. A few days later, we left Paris for Lake Como.
Chamberlain and I shared an incredible journey both, personally and professionally. Throughout the years, we returned frequently to Paris for museum and art exhibits, to visit friends, and, of course, for Chamberlain to work there. Paris was his favorite place to create his photographs. The choices we make, the relationships we experience—these all contribute to the people we become and the legacy we leave behind. Paris, with its timeless allure, and Chamberlain, with his untamable spirit, will always be a constant reminder to strive for a life full of love, art, adventure, and possibilities, all while keeping memories of the past alive.
A new show from Public Art Fund places bronze casts of Thaddeus Mosley’s signature hand-carved wood sculptures in New York City’s City Hall Park. For the 98-year-old artist, his physically demanding practice, like life, is all about balance.
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