Piper Marshall and Liam Gillick knew each other’s work before they met. For Piper, Liam had long been admired for his Turner Prize-nominated conceptual pieces. Liam had visited Piper’s exhibitions at the Swiss Institute and the Mary Boone Gallery. Their lives crossed often enough that a marriage of some sort was inescapable, and in 2018 during a summer split between their jobs at the Luma Foundation in Arles. Piper remembers part of the summer days ‘spent with friends’ and the evenings of eating and drinking in the gardens of the Villa Alyscamps.
A Ceremony Rooted in Poetry
In July 2024, the couple wed on Long Island’s North Fork at the Old Point Schoolhouse on the grounds of the Oyster Ponds Historical Society in Orient. With an intimate and timeless atmosphere, the historical setting was surrounded by the ocean air and made for nature.
To stick it to the man, Piper chose Olivier Theyskens to create a custom patchwork dress with a high neck and veil to match. Fortuny’s timeless pleats design was based on transformation, marrying history with contemporary artistry. Neutral makeup and a slick bun, she opted for a look with sandals from The Row. Liam wore a suit from the Atelier Arena in London. ‘Tom Arena is a great tailor in the British tradition, but he is fundamentally contemporary in his approach.’
Literary and artistic references abounded during the ceremony. Rirkrit Tiravanija recited Stonehouse’s ‘The Mountain Poems’ and Nikki Giovanni’s ‘Love Poems,’ which Alexis Johnson of Paula Cooper Gallery. Philosopher Simon Critchley gave them goodbye with John Donne’s. As Liam designed the wedding programs, he added his signature typography stamp and made the programs somewhat personal.
A Reception Under the Stars
The couple turned to longtime friends artist Servane Mary and gallerist Jose Martos for a reception, which they held at their nearby home. Piper explains, “Always bring artists, curators, writers together and eat communal meals under the stars.” The thing we were delighted to share with our family was this tradition.
Chef Ryan Hardy at the local Silver Sands hotel and friend Jill Levy curated a North Fork-inspired menu featuring the best produce and seafood in the region. A hearty paella that pulled people together in a mass feast. Liam also created the menu and table cards, each featuring a whimsical Tom Thumb’s mother motif from an old English fairy tale, a motif that is repeated throughout his work.
The décor embraced understated elegance. Florist Nathael Savage arranged guests at two long tables draped in white linen with gerbera phantom daisies and other cream blooms. Around the tent, sheer curtains with an awakening sweep of wind welled in reference to the 1989 Felix Gonzalez-Torres works “Untitled (Loverboy),” the curtain pouring ever so gently in the wind, gently pimping up a sense of fluidity and romantic quietness.
Dancing into the Night
The pair celebrated wildly into the night. Master of ceremonies Liam’s eldest son Orson introduced heartfelt speeches from family and friends. DJ Charles Klarsfeld then took over, keeping the dance floor full for three hours.
For the after-party, Piper traded her vintage Loris Azzaro dress from 1971 for a shimmer in the soft glow of summer lights.
The memories still come back months later. “From July’s heat, the breeze at dusk allowing everyone to cool down the crowded dance floor, where so much love is shared it is all extraordinary.”
Ava Thompson is a fashion stylist and trend forecaster, bringing you the latest in fashion tips, outfit inspirations, and style guides to elevate your wardrobe.
