The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. German Art Superstar Anne Imhof’s New York Premiere of “Doom” Takes Viewers on an Epic Journey at the Park Avenue Armory

On Monday night, March 3, the who’s who of the art world was out in full force for the New York premiere of artist Anne Imhof’s performance “Doom.” Filling the cavernous, 55,000-square-foot drill hall of the Park Avenue Armory, 1,000 guests including the likes of Marina Abramovic, Klaus Biesenbach, Jeffrey Deitch, RoseLee Goldberg, Massimiliano Gioni and Cecilia Alemani, were ushered into the darkly lit space to embark on a dramatic, three-hour journey of ballet, music, skateboarding, hip-hop, and more. On view from March 3 through March 12, the sprawling, multi-disciplinary show is the German artist’s largest performance to date. Throughout the evening, around 50 performers reimagined Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet on a set designed to resemble a dystopian highschool gymnasium complete with 26 shiny black Cadillac Escalades. The performers include dancers from the American Ballet Theater and “flexers,” who perform a style of dance that emerged in Brooklyn in the late ’90s.

The show is a rare opportunity for New Yorkers to experience the beauty and intensity of Imhof, who shot to fame at the 2017 Venice Biennale, when her trailblazing and confrontational installation in the German Pavilion won the prestigious Golden Lion award. The spectators are encouraged to move freely during the show and participation is integral to the work as they make decisions on where to move and what to engage in. Imhof could be spotted amongst the crowd directing live from her mobile phone. A highlight is the eclectric energy of Eliza Douglas, the American painter, Balenciaga model and former girlfriend of Imhof, who can be credited for assistant direction, costume design, and musical compositions. As the giant red clock counted down the final minutes on the Jumbotron, the powerful collective experience felt by the viewers was left lingering thick in the air. —Lucy Rees

2. Pae White Artworks Land at Minotti Los Angeles

The past few weeks have offered a multitude of reasons for Los Angeles design enthusiasts to come together and celebrate the city’s resiliency in the face of unprecedented devastation wrought by January’s wildfires. Last month, ebullient crowds showed up in spades to attend Frieze Los Angeles and see the smattering of satellite events and exhibitions around the city, many supporting artists impacted by the fires. Now there’s the inaugural Design West Hollywood, a three-day event produced by Aspire celebrating 75 years of thriving creativity in the neighborhood. The event kicks off today, March 4, with a reception marking 20 years of Minotti’s presence in the West Hollywood Design District. The purveyor of fine Italian furniture is mounting a special exhibition of works from the personal collection of local artist Pae White curated by dealer Jeffrey Deitch and Minotti Los Angeles founder Mary Ta situated within the showroom’s vignettes. While the artwork is not for sale, a portion of all purchases of Minotti furnishings during the show will support the LA CAN DO Soft Landing Project and Grief and Hope, initiatives aimed at helping the creative community recover from the fires.—Ryan Waddoups

3. Moët & Chandon and Pharrell Williams Toast to Birthdays with New Launch

In the spirit of celebration, friendship, and elegance, iconic French Champagne Maison Moët & Chandon and creative extraordinaire Pharrell Williams have launched the Limited Edition Collection, that puts birthdays center stage. “The best part about a birthday are the people who want to celebrate it with you,” says Williams. “When I was old enough to toast with champagne for the first time, Moët & Chandon was my point of reference. I suppose it’s just a tradition, it’s the ritual.” Williams turned to the House’s archives for inspiration, and it was discovered that the tie on today’s bottle was a bow in 1892. Interpreting the bow to symbolize togetherness, generosity, joy, and surprise, Williams conjured three editions for the collection: The Jewel Masterpiece, The Bow Capsule, and The Limited Edition, with the latter available as a Brut Impérial dressed in Gold, Midnight Blue, Deep Red, and White for Nectar Impérial Rosé. The Bow Capsule features an oversized fabric bow adorned with pearled beads, crafted by Parisian embroiderers Atelier Baqué Molinié, which is detachable and can be worn as a brooch. But the pinnacle of the collection is The Jewel Masterpiece, with only 30 numbered pieces meticulously hand-crafted in France. An oversized bejeweled bow requiring 300 hours of handwork using 7,310 pearled beads adorns the bottleneck, presented in a wooden case decorated with the “Pharrell” signature. —Alexandria Sillo

4. Willo Perron Designs We Are Ona’s Latest Pop-Up in Paris

In celebration of Paris’s buzzy new design salon Matter and Shape, immersive culinary experience We Are Ona takes over the heart of the scenic Tuileries Garden featuring a luxurious six-course menu from London-based chef Imogen Kwok. In addition to a truly one-of-a-kind tasting voyage, We are Ona tapped designer Willo Perron of Perron-Roettinger to design the artistic ambiance, where he drew inspiration from the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. To complement the modernist setting, Perron brought in sculptural pendant lights from Flos to suspend over the circular table, which are surrounded by mirror-like barriers. We Are Ona’s latest pop-up will run from March 7 through 10. Grab your tickets here. — Shelby Black

5. One of Vladimir Kagan’s Most Iconic Series Returns to Holly Hunt

The forward-thinking furniture designs of Vladimir Kagan have long outlived the legendary creator and under the direction of his protégé, Chris Eitel, his brand of pioneering works—like the Serpentine sofa, Erica lounge chair, and Sculpted table—have found a place in contemporary interiors. Now, one of Kagan’s most iconic assortments, the Barrel series, is being brought back to the forefront at Holly Hunt, debuting March 10. “The Barrel Chair represents Kagan’s earliest exploration into sculptural furniture forms,” says Eitel, Director of Design and Production at Vladimir Kagan Design Group. “While it seems like such a simple concept now, Kagan’s intuition to apply upholstery fabric to a sculpted wooden chair frame—much like the construction of a Zeppelin—was a groundbreaking idea that has solidified the Barrel Chair as a design staple for over 70 years.” Available for the first time in six decades, the current iteration is still entirely handcrafted true to Kagan’s original specifications and includes the Barrel chaise and footstool, Barrel Pull-Up chair, and Barrel Unicorn chair. “The Barrel Chair was a true cornerstone of Vladimir Kagan’s career,” says Jo Annah Kornak, SVP and Executive Creative Director of Holly Hunt, and a Galerie Creative Mind. “By revisiting this iconic design, we are honoring his visionary spirit and reintroducing modern heirlooms for a new generation.”—Jill Sieracki

6. New York’s Beloved Cucina Alba Opens Sister Location in West Hollywood

ALBA Los Angeles opened its doors recently, inviting guests to enjoy a touch of Italian magic in the heart of West Hollywood. In a dining room designed by GRT Architects to playfully emphasize Italian charm and sophistication while nodding to Los Angeles’s laid-back manner, guests are encouraged to transcend into a “holiday” state of mind surrounded by arched murals from Alex Proba, works by Stefan Simchowitz, Joey Wolf, Diana Quandour, and more, all while indulging on dishes created by Executive Chef Adam Leonti, who has revolutionized the dining experience at Cucina Alba in New York. Each dish will use California ingredients to put a local twist on beloved Italian classics including the house-made Foccaccia della Casa served with whipped riccotta, the Calabrian Tuna Tartare with sweet heat chilis, beets, and pistachio, the Squash Blossoms with lemon potato mousse, and more. ALBA is open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday beginning at 5 p.m.—A.S.