Bio

Bjorn G. Amelan

  • 1955 — Born in Haifa, Israel, of French/Israeli parents.
  • 1973 — Settles in Paris.
  • 1981–1986 — Agent for fashion photographers William Klein, Horst P. Horst, Gianpaolo Barbieri and Dominique Issermann among others.
  • 1983–1990 — Partner in life and business of fashion designer Patrick Kelly.
  • 1990 — Patrick Kelly dies of AIDS. Bjorn closes the Patrick Kelly Paris fashion business.
  • 1993 — Becomes the life partner of Director/Choreographer Bill T. Jones (married in 2014) and moves to New York. Designs sets for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company.
  • 2015–Present — Creative Director at New York Live Arts (newyorklivearts.org).

Exhibitions

  • 2007 — Dwight Hackett Projects, Santa Fe, NM.
  • 2015 — New York Live Arts, NYC, NY.
  • 2016 — The Garage, NYC, NY.
  • 2018 — Gerald Peters Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM.
  • 2021 — New York Live Arts, NYC, NY.
  • 2022 — Longhouse Foundation, East Hampton, NY.
  • 2024 — The Chapel Cultural Center, Poughkeepsie, NY.
  • 2025 — New York Live Arts, NYC, NY.

Collections

Bjorn Amelan’s works are in the collections of Aggie Gund, Melva Bucksbaum, 21c Museum Hotels, John Stryker & Slobodan Randjelovic among others.

Poem

"We dream—it is good we are dreaming—
It would hurt us—were we awake—
But since it is playing—kill us,
And we are playing—shriek—…"
Emily Dickinson
…
Daydreaming. While dreaming
"— it is good we are dreaming—"
I reached and then - just when… I awoke.

1. My father was our wandering family's "Artiste". No room for me…
"It would hurt us—were we awake—" … "But since it is playing"
Dreamt I was Diaghilev! Dreamt I was Nijinsky!

2. 1971 Haifa
Queerness was the unactable dream. "…— Shriek —"…
Ballet class in Paris. Dancing in Club 7.
Fabulousness - the unreachable dream. "…— Shriek —"…

3. Cologne, Germany,
Flying in the dream of my love for beautiful Frank Rick.
"—it is good we are dreaming—"
Dreaming of a future together. He lost the future. "…— Shriek —"…

4. Paris
Dreaming again.
In that dream, I, an agent for makers: Photographers, artists.
"— it is good we are dreaming —"
Awake next to an aspiring fashion designer. He was Love.
Joined in the dream of his success. AIDS shatters the dream. "—kill us,"
I awoke to his death. "…— Shriek —"…

5. Daydream…

6. Awake to shared dreams. Love again.
"You are The Artist. Don't hide behind others. Dream that!"
"We dream — it is good we are dreaming—"

7. At 70 years I live dreaming. Night dreams, day dreams.
Dreams dancing. Dreams painting. Dreams of those I love
"it would hurt us — were we awake —
But since it is playing…"

10. And when I'll awake from that dream… Death.
"…— Shriek —"…
Bjorn G. Amelan