Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier New York.
Photo: © Stephen Kent Johnson
The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From the opening of Pierre Yovanovitch’s New York gallery to the auction of a stunning James Turrell decanter
Restaurant Bacalar in Austin, Texas. Photo: Chase Daniels
1. New Restaurant Bacalar in Austin Highlights the Rich Culture of Mexico’s Past and Present
Finding home in Austin’s Rainey Street Historic District, design-focused restaurant Bacalar is the latest hot spot for those looking to enjoy distinctive cuisine alongside thoughtful furnishings. Inspired by chef Gabe Erales’s weekend visits to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo as a child, the eatery’s name is a nod to the magical site of Pueblo Magico Bacalar, also known as the Lake of Seven Colors, and boasts a Yucatán Peninsula–inspired menu which includes dishes such as masa dumplings, grilled swordfish, and pork belly tacos. The two-story restaurant’s design was spearheaded by Urbanspace’s Development + Interiors Principal Merrill Alley, who paid homage to Mexico and Mayan culture by including ancient stone carvings and symbols, brick-clad walls, expertly woven light fixtures, rugs that nod to the Mayan calendar, and a statement-making 11-foot carving by the mezzanine’s staircase. —Shelby Black
Eight Decades decanter by James Turrell. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
James Turrell sketches of the artist's Eight Decades decanter made in collaboration with Lalique and The Glenturret. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
2. James Turrell Decanter Made with Lalique and Glenturret Sets New Auction Record
Art connoisseurs love James Turrell’s immersive installations that bend the boundaries of reality by manipulating light and space. A more tangible option for collectors are his smaller-scale works made in collaboration with French glassmaker Lalique. Initially, the artist and crystal maison debuted a series of ethereal perfume bottles, each containing a unique scent conceived by Turrell, as well as a collection of limited-edition panels. The partnership later produced Turrell’s first-ever whiskey decanter, a lithe vessel topped with a pyramidal stopper in a deep blue hue, made in a joint effort with spirits from Scotland’s oldest working distillery, The Glenturret. Now, an artist’s proof of the piece achieved a new auction record when proof #008 of the Eight Decades decanter (so named to commemorate the artist’s 80th birthday) sold in Sotheby’s Whisky & Whiskey auction for $200,000. The lot included three hand-signed sketches by Turrell, as well as a visit to Lalique’s Alsace factory and The Glenturret distillery in Crieff followed by a dining experience at the Michelin-starred The Glenturret Lalique restaurant. Proceeds from the sale were donated to the Roden Crater Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation and operation of Turrell’s large-scale artwork in the Arizona desert. —Jill Sieracki
3. Kith Unveils Women’s Flagship in New York
In New York and looking to do some last-minute holiday shopping? Trendy lifestyle brand Kith has opened its women’s flagship in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. Once a former bank, the historic landmark has been reimagined by the brand’s founder, Ronnie Fieg, into chic concept store complete with Venetian plaster walls and bespoke displays of rich walnut and Rosa Aurora marble crafted by Brooklyn-based woodworker brand Mark Jupiter. After picking up gifts for all the ladies on your list, stop into the store’s PlantShed Café to grab a cappuccino and a custom floral bouquet. —Stefanie Li
Emporio Armani F/W 1994. Photo: Aldo Fallai
4. Armani Silos Opens Exhibition of Legendary Fashion Photographer Aldo Fallai
A master of understated elegance, Giorgio Armani is revered the world over for stripping away anything superfluous from his garments, letting the purity of line and form take center stage. But his exceptionally chic clothing might never have reverberated on a global scale were it not for the keen eye of legendary fashion photographer Aldo Fallai, who met the budding Italian designer in the 1970s and worked closely with him for decades on dozens of campaigns and editorial shoots. Now, some 250 of Fallai’s iconic images—which have graced numerous billboards and magazines—are being displayed at the Armani Silos in Milan. On view until next August, the spectacular show, “Aldo Fallai for Giorgio Armani, 1977–2021,” is a celebration of two creative geniuses who can both make a statement without saying a word. —Geoffrey Montes
Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier New York. Photo: © Stephen Kent Johnson
5. Pierre Yovanovitch Brings His Inimitable Style to New York
This month, French designer Pierre Yovanovitch opened the doors to his first New York showroom. Located on the top floor of a pre-war Chelsea building, the debut comes on the heels of the inauguration of a gallery in the Marais district of Paris. While both convey his unique creative vision for home, the spaces are notably different. “Paris is a white cube, while New York is more of a home,” explains the talent. That feeling of home comes across in a series of room-like vignettes that enliven the 8,000-square-foot space with the visionary’s namesake furniture creations, all in the muted-yet-rich palette that has become his sophisticated signature, as well as with a curation of art that includes works by Wolfgang Tilmans, Alicjia Kwade, and Camille Henriot. The open floorplan and rooftop terrace make for the ideal place to admire the collection’s inviting lines and extraordinary fabrics and appreciate how they all connect, which is new even for Yovanovitch himself. “It’s the first time I see so many of my latest pieces all together.” –Jacqueline Terrebonne
Pam Rauch, Anish Melwani, Craig Robins, Jane Wooldridge Photo: Tiffany Sage/BFA.com
6. LVMH and Miami Design District Announce Sweeping Sustainability Efforts
Amid Miami Art Week’s party atmosphere, LVMH and the Miami Design District announced an important initiative aimed at reshaping the future of the LEED Gold certified neighborhood. First presented in a panel discussion in the iconic Moore building, home to Zaha Hadid’s dramatic Elastika installation, Dacra CEO Craig Robins, LVMH Inc. Chairman and CEO Anish Melwani, and Florida Power & Light Company’s Pam Rauch unveiled plans for all 15 LVMH brands with addresses in the District (among them Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Berluti, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, and Hublot) to make extensive efforts around sustainability. With the goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy in stores, MDD locations will look to use green electricity, reduce water usage, and source building materials locally among other eco-conscious efforts. “The master plan for the Miami Design District was based on the idea that a vibrant neighborhood at the crossroads of commerce and culture could prioritize sustainability, the health of our ecosystem and the resilience of our city,” Robins said in a statement. “LVMH shares that belief, and their global leadership in sustainability has set a benchmark for all consumer brands in the luxury sector and beyond.” —J.S.
Cover: Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier New York.
Photo: © Stephen Kent Johnson
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