The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From artist Michele Oka Doner’s delightful new book to a lively collaboration between Calico Wallpaper and Cody Hoyt
1. Michele Oka Doner Releases an Art-Filled Book That Defies Genres
The work of Michele Oka Doner has always displayed an otherworldly connection and deep affection for nature. Her bronze sculptures ask us to take a closer look at the leaves, branches, and twigs around us—as do her drawings, public art, and artist’s books. Her latest release, A Seed Takes Root: A True Story (Tra Publishing), once again proves her unique ability to conjure something that can touch many people in a powerful way. An art book, a poem, a children’s story, an environmental statement, and more, this delightful volume can be enjoyed in many aspects and by readers of all ages. Detailing Doner’s decades-long relationship with a specific banyan tree in Miami and its powerful impact on her life, the tome is hand-lettered and illustrated with original color paintings using pigmented pulp on abaca and collages, conveying a materiality that leaps off the printed page. —Jacqueline Terrebonne
Tableware and home accents from Aurélie Bidermann’s Babylone collection with Christofle. Photo: Courtesy of Christofle
Babylone napkin rings by Aurélie Bidermann for Christofle. Photo: Courtesy of Christofle
2. Christofle Debuts Pieces Made with Jewelry Designer Aurélie Bidermann
Designers have labeled everything from dazzling lighting to sculptural hardware as “jewelry for the room;” now, legacy silver maison Christofle has introduced a new collection of decorative accessories with jewelry designer Aurélie Bidermann that creates breathtaking bijoux for the table. Labeled Babylone, the array includes porcelain dinner plates and silver-plated pieces for the home, such as bowls, candlestick holders, napkin rings, cups, and centerpieces as well as a graceful vase that melds both materials. Of course, the line also incorporates exquisite jewelry that translates the same textural braids and bubbles into rings, earrings, bangles, and a knockout cuff. The grouping, influenced by the decorative details found in Bidermann’s Paris neighborhood of Rive Gauche and along the Rue de Babylone, is just the latest in Christofle’s lengthy list of creative partnerships, which has spanned from Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, and Gio Ponti to Karl Lagerfeld and Elliott Barnes. —Jill Sieracki
3. Vica by Annabelle Selldorf Presents Ultra-Chic Cashmere Throws
With temperatures dropping and winter on the horizon, few things provide as much comfort as being swathed in a cozy cashmere blanket. Luckily, award-winning architect Annabelle Selldorf’s line of furniture, lighting, and accessories—Vica—has just released a collection of ultra-chic throws made in collaboration with textile designer Paul Renwick. Available in four custom colors (green, cream, shahtoosh, and light gray), each blanket is handmade by Nepalese craftspeople using organic vegetable dyes. For those in New York, stop by the Vica by Annabelle Selldorf gallery salon in Noho to see the collection and discover an array of other treasures that bring elegance and style to any space. —Geoffrey Montes
4. Calico Wallpaper Introduces Collaboration with Artist Cody Hoyt
Brooklyn artist Cody Hoyt, a longtime painter and printmaker who recently switched his primary medium to ceramics, is having a moment. Not only are his geometric-patterned clay works the subject of a new solo show, “Tesserae in Bloom,” at the Future Perfect in Manhattan, but he’s also debuting a lively collaboration with Calico Wallpaper, dubbed Botanica. Inspired by the Japanese art of Nerikomi, which involves stacking and cutting pieces of clay, Hoyt has conjured a mural-esque motif that recalls pressed flowers, with abstracted petals rendered in dreamy hues floating throughout the design, which is available in eight colorways. “Flowers feel like a combination of figuration and abstraction,” he says. “They become interchangeable. It’s natural to read some abstract patterns as florets. It’s natural to see flowers as a pattern.” —G.M.
Lara bed in reclaimed French oak as part of designers Thomas Bina and Ronald Sasson's new collection with Four Hands. Photo: Courtesy Four Hands
Marcon Dining Table Natural Reclaimed French Oak with Dark Brass. Photo: Courtesy Four Hands
5. Four Hands Launches Line with Designers Thomas Bina and Ronald Sasson
At the upcoming High Point Market, contemporary furnishings brand Four Hands will unveil its latest collection, crafted by designers Thomas Bina and Ronald Sasson, who have conceptualized more than 45 pieces ranging from sleek dining tables to plush beds that merge their two distinct styles. Continuing Bina’s 15-year relationship with the Austin-based brand, a variety of materials such as reclaimed French oak blend with metal details to give these timeless pieces a sculptural feel. To complement the collection’s soothing color palette of light and chocolatey browns alongside Bina’s Brutalist design approach, Brazilian designer Sasson implemented his inspiration of European fine art through soft lines and curves to make this a collection fit for any space. “Sasson and I draw inspiration from our global travels and believe nature is the best designer,” says Bina. “These timeless pieces with beautiful natural character and intentional contrasts are the perfect extension of the collaboration with our friends at Four Hands.” The collection will be on view at Four Hands’ showroom at High Point Market October 14–18 and then available at Marketplace for retailers and interior designers. For consumers, find a local store carrying the brand’s products here. —Shelby Black
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