This is a man who has given himself over to the many storied streams of passion and they have woven their strands together into a good life that he lives in San Diego with his family, his design firm, and his painting studio around him.
Fred Gemmell grew up in Panama, constructing jungle tree houses 60 feet up in the canopies of mahogany trees. He moved back to the U.S. in 1968 to study marine engineering. During his time at the military academy, Fred sought his jungle refuge in art. He began to paint. Using broad strokes of violent color against backgrounds of lush and layered filigree Fred’s paintings capture the movement and breath of the jungle of his youth. “The jungle is larger than life and full of action: darts of light streaming down through tall canopies and birds flashing through the rich foliage. The interaction of speed, light and movement create the magic in my works.”
Entwining his engineering background with his art, he pursued higher education in the field of art and architecture at the University of Arizona. Fred moved to San Diego to find a boat in which to sail around the world and in the process fell in love with boat building that segued to high-end furniture fabrication and design. Over the next 15 years Fred became a master custom furniture maker, running a shop of 20 craftsman with projects to his name such as the distinctive lobby of Helmut Jahn’s One America Plaza.
Fred took his love for design and hands-on engineering expertise and dove into interior design, establishing Matrix Design Studio built on his solid reputation as an innovative designer with technical know-how. “I’ve worked with the best interior designers in town, including six years with legendary designer Arthur Porras. The attention to detail and sophistication in Arthur’s designs taught me a lot.”
After years of partnering with San Diego architects to create masterful interiors, Fred base-jumped forward into his original passion for architecture, bringing all of his myriad skills with him. In 2006 architect Lauren Williams teamed up with Fred and Matrix took on their first architectural commission. “It was so exhilarating to get back to my first love,” beams Fred. Matrix is in high demand with exciting projects on their docket such as a two-acre canyon residence with indoor hanging gardens and floating lap pool.
In 2009, Fred surprised everyone when he invited them to his show at Jett Gallery to view the vibrant paintings he had been creating after hours. Spending 30 years honing the painting techniques he began in his 20s, Fred has emerged as a ground breaking San Diego artist with shows in San Diego and New York.” My business life is all about teamwork, which I really honor, but my painting is the one thing I do alone. I am very humbled that the paintings that I do at night for myself also speak to other people’s awe of nature and cravings for the wild.”
There is a pattern of passions in Fred Gemmell. He can talk about shapes, colors and exotic materials and have you salivating like you were listening to Julia Child describe her first experience tasting Sole Meuniere. He is an engineer by degree, an architect by training, a furniture maker by trade, a legendary commercial and residential interior and architectural designer, and a passionate painter. He participated very successfully in Art San Diego 2011. “Life is good. I’ve surrounded myself with a brilliant design team and we’ve been able to develop projects that electrify our clients.”
Select Publications: San Diego Home and Garden, September 2013 Metropolitan Home (Malaysia) , May-June 2013 Luxe magazine, Style Maker, Spring 2012 Cover article, San Diego Home and Garden, January 2012 Stars of San Diego, San Diego Home & Garden, January 2012 Cover article, Luxe Magazine, Volume 11 Issue 3 Summer 2013 and many more….