September 15, 2026·Interview
Blake Abbie
From a Berlin stage to a Shanghai book deal, Blake Abbie is always someone else. Here, briefly, he’s just himself.
Blake Abbie has spent his life moving through other people’s worlds. As an actor, he vanishes into a character. As editor of A Magazine Curated By, he invites and works with a new designer each issue to make the publication their own (We can’t tell you who’s curating the next one, but it’ll be worth the wait — they’re an icon of design.) This October, he’ll star in Strawberry, Arizona, a new play written just for him, premiering in Berlin before heading back to Shanghai where he’s working on a book project and TV show. Here he tells us about the places that stopped him cold, the people he'll revere forever, and how, after a life about others, he finds his way back to himself.
Three places you’ve felt inspired by.
This last year's places that come to mind are the following: Garibaldi Provincial Park; Louisiana Museum's lawn, looking north towards the sea; and Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where an auntie is selling potato dumplings in tomato sauce at a food stall.
What's your hot take?
We're in a state of forgetting the humanity of the people around us. I see there's a dissolution of compassion, in particular, in the creative fields. Not sure that's a hot take, but no one dares to talk about it and connect. Relationships and community are all we have to hold on to as the world around us is completely collapsing.
What do you listen to on repeat?
This summer has been a lot of Katseye and Hikaru Utada (’First Love’ and ‘Automatic’ in particular). Most of the music I listen to is is to take me out of my everyday. Otherwise you’ll generally find me listen to a book on Libby.
What are the most worthwhile investments you've made?
This past year I've been looking more into my time in my faith. As someone who travels all the time, I make sure I block off time to spend at a temple or place of worship; it's incredibly important for my mental balance. I also go to Lagree and hot yoga all across the world; it's the only way I keep sane during fashion week and/or on a production. Recently I've also purchased on a friend's recommendation these lymphatic drainage brushes and a wooden massage gua sha acupoint tool that I have with me every day now.
What is an unusual habit, or an absurd thing, that you love?
People would be surprised to hear I spend a lot of time alone. With all the face time and socializing that are needed for both of my jobs, I need to take time away. I travel alone, I have dinner alone with a podcast, and I go on very long walks alone. Making sure there's a distinct separation between my life and my work is important — I'm not sure a lot of people in the creative industries do that or have regular reality check-ins. I also love durian. People think I'm crazy for that.
Who is your forever inspo?
Always my mother. And Takeshi Kaneshiro. And Lou Ye.
Write us a fortune cookie.
一叶知秋
“A single falling leaf heralds the coming of autumn.”
