The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Romantic Reinterpretations of the Loving Cup at Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery

A decorative vessel commemorating marriage unions, the Loving Cup signifies the promise of a lifetime of love and good fortune. The cups, ceremoniously used at weddings and banquets, are equipped with two handles, often crafted in precious metals like silver or gold, and inscribed with the names and nuptial dates of the betrothed. “It’s an artifact worthy of reverence in its own right,”  says Jacqueline Sullivan, whose eponymous TriBeCa gallery is fittingly opening an exhibition on Valentine’s Day that explores how these traditional vessels can serve as a means of memory-making and become a testament to everlasting love. She tapped a multitude of designers to riff on the typology, from Skye Chamberlain’s three amphora-like cast bronze vessels that appear to emerge from the ground to a porcelain piece covered in meticulously hand-cut pieces of antique jacquard depicting leaves and flowers by Cara Bauermeister. “The Loving Cup serves as a sacrament to the sincerity of care we feel for others,” Sullivan says, “and the esteem we hold for ourselves.” The show will be on display until April 12. —Ryan Waddoups

2. Il Pellicano Restaurant Brings Dolce Vita Flair to Mayfair’s Claridge’s

Chef Michelino Gioia and his Michelin-starred Il Pellicano Restaurant team will soon kick off a week-long residency in the heart of Mayfair, London at Claridge’s, an Art Deco icon with roots that trace back to the 1850s. The Il Pellicano team will be taking over the restaurant, serving up their signature Italian dishes like Maremma-style Ravioli with butter and sage, Risotto with shrimp, ginger and lime, Veal cheek, potato cream, chicory and Chianti sauce, Turbot with stuffed escarole and anchovy sauce, and more. Over at the bar, legendary bartender Federico Morosi will be shaking and stirring up Hotel Il Pellicano’s signature drinks including The Teller Negroi, Pelican Martinis, and The Dana Patsy Spritzer. The Tuscan romance begins on Feb. 17.—Alexandria Sillo

3. Christofle Announces Striking Architectural Collection with Designer Mathias Kiss

French artist Mathias Kiss helms a multifaceted practice that encompasses painting, sculpture, and decorative arts, however his most pronounced works meld all three with architectural elements vividly recolored, transformed using reflective surfaces, or reframed into multidimensional installations that have captivated viewers in stunning settings like L’Ange Volant, the French country house designed by Gio Ponti, and the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Now the polymath’s unique vision has been channeled into a stunning collection with Christofle, aptly named Perspectives, available in May. The six-piece assortment of chrome aluminum and glass candle holders draws influence from the geometric moldings often found in Kiss’s work. Each precisely rendered form is impactful on its own, but designed to also be freely combined into an interlocking composition as visually arresting as the artist’s tightly formed mixed media artworks.—Jill Sieracki

4. Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Iconic “The Gates” Installation Commemorated with Fascinating Archival Exhibition and Augmented Reality Experience

In February 2005, Central Park was taken over by seven thousand saffron-colored gates. It was the groundbreaking, monumental public art installation by the iconic duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude. During its 16-day run, there were over 4 million visitors to the park, more than triple the usual number at that time. Now, 20 years later, the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, The Shed, Central Park Conservancy, NYC Parks, and Bloomberg Philanthropies have teamed up to present a multifaceted retrospective in celebration of the iconic milestone. New Yorkers can re-visit the experience with an augmented reality (AR) experience in the park using their mobile device as a portal. At the Shed at Hudson Yards, a comprehensive exhibition “Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City,” displays a variety of media to trace the fascinating and complex trajectory of how The Gates came to life. —Lucy Rees  

5. A Golf Boutique Rooted in the Quaintness of Carmel-by-the-Sea

The architect and designer Dean Levin’s fledgling studio 22RE is quickly establishing itself as a firm to watch thanks to a recent spate of sensory retail projects teeming with delightful details. His latest, an expansion of golf accessories purveyor Malbon’s quaint outpost in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, continues that streak. The firm unified two adjacent San Carlos Square storefronts into more sizable digs inspired top-to-bottom by golf culture’s enduring appeal—Pebble Beach Golf Links, widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful courses, is just around Carmel Bay—as well as the region’s abundance of Cypress and Douglas fir trees. The entire store is enveloped in such warm textures as rich wood and travertine paneling enhanced by intricate herringbone adobe-inspired tile and scalloped plastered walls. Douglas fir trim and walnut furnishings, meanwhile, anchor the boutique in its locale. A draped linen pendant by Afra and Tobia Scarpa helps set an elegant yet understated scene, reinforcing what 22RE does best. —R.W.

6. Two New York City Fine Dining Destinations Reveal Exciting New Culinary Experiences

There are few neighborhoods in New York City which appear straight out of the movies more than Tribeca. Bustling with chic eateries, trendy coffee shops, and the finest shopping available, fine-dining restaurant l’abeille and its playful, more casual sister restaurant l’abeille à côté introduce a new lineup of bites and beverages which capture the true flair of their Japanese-French fusion cuisine. At l’abeille, the Michelin-starred restaurant presents a one-of-a-kind chef in residence dinner program—reservations through OpenTable—where chef Sota Atsuma of Maison kicks everything off on February 18th and 19th with an inspiring nine-course menu, featuring dishes including koji risotto served with porcini garum and roasted California squab with overnight beet and kumquat. Following on February 21st and 22nd, chef Martino Ruggieri of Maison Ruggieri showcases his mastery with dishes such as game broth cappuccino canapé, American wagyu beef ribeye with soy bone marrow, and smoked wood ice cream with olive oil.

Just next door, l’abeille à côté’s acclaimed menu has received a thoughtful refresh courtesy of Executive Chef Mitsunobu Nagae. Starting this month, the restaurant’s known tasting menu has been completely transformed to offer their beloved classics exclusively a la carte while introducing a few new additions to its already impressive offerings. Staying true to the restaurant’s Japanese roots with a whimsical edge, guests can expect to see playful new arrivals including black garlic chicken yakitori, “bear in a blanket” curry, prosciutto sushi, edamame hummus, and chef Mitsunobu’s creative take on the “filet-oh-fish sandwich,” all complemented by the eatery’s award-winning wine list. —Shelby Black