The House That Home Built: Inside Amadeus Purcell’s Vision for Art, Family and Community

Amadeus Purcell came home with a family name to honor and a gap in the family album to fill, so he built a gallery and studio to do both.

Purcell House sits at 637 Washington Street in downtown Eden, North Carolina, across the street from the barbershop Amadeus Purcell’s father has run for years. “Purcell is a middle name that’s been passed down through my grandfather, my dad, and then to me and my brother…It means a lot as far as music and art. My dad is a musician, and my dad’s family is into music, so I think it all ties in together for me,” he says of the name on the door.

His editorial photography has appeared in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and he serves as US Creative Director of Licence Magazine, a Paris-based publication. After a couple of years in New York, putting the family name on a building in his hometown is a different kind of exposure. “Purcell is a name that holds weight for not only me, but of course for my family…my dad has been a figure in this community for years,” he says. “So I think just me being able to bring something different to the community means a lot.”

The barbershop across the street is a partnership between two Eden families: his father runs it with Tabitha Brown’s dad. “Eden’s such a small world,” Amadeus says. Growing up around the shop “laid a really interesting foundation for me,” he says, “just knowing what it’s like to grow up in a space that is built around community and connection.” Tabitha’s success has carried her far beyond Eden, and she still comes back home to give back. “She’s a huge support, so I’m super thankful for her,” he says. Amadeus made the same choice.