Capera Ryan’s swank Turtle Creek pad is as memorable as her name. Both radiate effortlessly, even in the midst of her demanding job as senior vice president Southwest region at Christie’s Auction House, a profession that takes her all over the world.
As we walk into her condo, we are greeted by Lili, her longhaired doxie named after Marlene Deitrich, and Ryan’s latest art obsession by Tsuruko Yamazaki, which she bought in the 2012 Two x Two art auction. It’s an 18 7/8-by-18 7/8-inch tin square with dye, lacquer and thinner. The most dominant color in the piece is purple, Ryan’s favorite.
“I love purple. Can’t you tell?” Ryan says, pointing to her exquisite amethyst and diamond pendant necklace and purple beaded bracelets with oversized diamond hamsa and cross. “Do you like my design?” she asks, admitting it is the first time anyone has seen the jewelry, which she made for herself.
Looking around the living room, it’s easy to see that the large pieces simply comprise the backdrop for all of the important things in Ryan’s life: family, friends, travel and art.
Purple is more than just an accent color splashed throughout the living room, her favorite in the house. Ryan talks about the spirituality of the color and how she’s inspired by teachings of Buddhism. “It’s a way of living,” she says. She admits to being superstitious too, hence the plethora of amethyst crystals.
Looking around the living room, it’s easy to see that the large pieces — from the velvety gray couch to the coffee table to the French side chairs she reupholstered with white cowhide — simply comprise the backdrop for all of the important things in Ryan’s life: family, friends, travel and art.
She turns on a Sylvie Fleury neon-light sign that reads, “High Heels on the Moon” and says, “It’s so me.” In contrast to the contemporary piece of art, she points to a prayer wheel from Bhutan and talks about the Far East as one of her favorite travel destinations.
Next to the mystical object sits a handsome photo of her father, who passed away when Ryan was 14. “I love this photo of him. He must’ve been in his 20s at the time,” she says. Looking around the room she spies an amethyst lamp and a photo of herself with Van Cliburn, who passed away earlier this year.
“Sweet, sweet Van was such a dear friend,” she says. “I was his guest at his 50th anniversary tribute.”
As we continue to tour her space, Ryan also speaks with reverence about the older generation of Dallasites, like the ladies with whom she regularly lunches on Sundays. “They don’t make them like that anymore,” she says.
Her style seems effortless, and it’s also reflected in the feathery black Martin Grant jumpsuit she’s wearing as she shows us around. She spotted it on a mannequin in a Paris shop and purchased it on the spot. But Ryan credits her mother and grandmother for her chic aesthetic.
“My mom and grandmother had amazing fashion sense,” she says. “I remember being three in Neiman Marcus with my mom and grandmother and eyeing all of the beautiful clothing.”
She tells us about a conversation she and her mother had recently, about style. “Is it something that is innate in you? Or is it something that is learned? I think it’s a little bit of both,” she says, “but definitely passed down through the maternal link.”
Ryan was Van Cliburn's date to his 50th anniversary celebration.
