The Artful Life: 7 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Pierre Yovanovitch Conceives the Hauntingly Beautiful Sets for the Korea National Opera

If all the world’s a stage, perhaps no one imagines its stunning scenography quite like designer Pierre Yovanovitch, who conjures dramatic and beautiful residential and commercial interiors, including his own soigné showrooms in Paris and New York. Now, the Galerie Creative Mind has turned his discerning eye towards the Korea National Opera, envisioning the allegorical set and costumes for their production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. “This project allowed me to expand my storytelling into new realms—beyond the set to costumes—and to reflect the witty intricacies of Le Nozze di Figaro through every visual detail,” says Yovanovitch, who previously collaborated with opera director Vincent Huguet on Rigoletto for Theater Basel in 2023.

For the duo’s sophomore production, Yovanovitch produced a rotating stage for various views into the countess’s atelier and it’s painterly changing light reflective of the opera’s theme of “la folle journée” (the day of madness). Yovanovitch also delved into his previous career in fashion to conceive more than 50 costumes, accessories, and makeup that draw influence from traditional Korean attire and 1920s-1930s styles. “Everything seems simple in The Marriage of Figaro, but—and this is the genius of Mozart and da Ponte—in the end, the characters are all ambiguous,” says Yovanovitch, who will team up with Huguet again later this year for a performance of The Valkyrie by Richard Wagner for the Rome Opera House. “This work is a perfect example of the ‘popular’ opera that we never tire of hearing and seeing performed.”—Jill Sieracki

2. A Group Show Delves Into Stone’s Transformative Role in Landscape Design

The 1939–40 New York World’s Fair still looms large in our collective memory as prophesying the possibilities of a brighter future for a population still reeling from the Great Depression. One of the most captivating exhibits was “Gardens on Parade,” then the world’s largest outdoor flower show, which enlivened five acres of the fair with 50 individual gardens. ABC Stone is keeping that legacy of curated landscape experiences alive with a group show called “Stone in Landscape Architecture: A Sensory Journey” that recently opened at its Greenpoint, Brooklyn, headquarters through June 13. The purveyor of natural stone tapped five landscape architecture firms (LaGuardia Design Group, Oehme van Sweden, Design Workshop, Supermass Studio, and RKLA) to plumb the relationship between stone and outdoor garden design by creating a 350-square-foot vignette featuring a single stone species as the centerpiece. The results stun—and demonstrate how integrating stone can yield wondrous outdoor landscapes. 

Taking inspiration from the late-19th-century manufacturing boom, RKLA Studio designed a paved plaza punctuated by vertical stone pillars evocative of the smokestacks pictured in Charles Sheeler’s 1954 painting Stacks in Celebration; grids in the pavers reference Manhattan’s grid and the Hudson River. Supermass Studio revealed an oblong stone form that nods to its own planter seating at LaGuardia Airport. (Sitting is encouraged.) A sinuous micro-garden by Oehme replicates the signature shapes of English artist Henry Moore. Renaissance gray limestone in various chiseled textures beckons visitors past a soaring magnolia tree at LaGuardia Design Group’s installation and toward a water feature composed of four stacked limestone blocks. Design Workshop translated a dataset charting humanity’s carbon emissions over the past few centuries into a striking series of madras gray sandstone slabs that increasingly grow in size—it makes tangible the urgency of climate change. As a whole, the installations “not only celebrate the beauty and versatility of stone,” explains Lyndsey Belle Tyler, the VP of Marketing and Creative Director of ABC Stone, “but also explore its potential to connect us to nature in meaningful ways.” —Ryan Waddoups

3. Navy Yard Charleston Announces Plans for Design District

While Charleston has long been a favorite destination for its charming atmosphere and vibrant culinary scene, the forthcoming Design District at the reimagined Navy Yard Charleston is sure to beckon even more creative talents to The Holy City. Set to open this fall, the all-new Charleston Design District will serve as a hub for designers to create and source premium home furnishings, while also featuring a wide range of dining experiences, including a rooftop restaurant from acclaimed restauranteur Steve Palmer. Already signed on are home furnishing companies Kravet, Schumacher, and Textures, which will join Charleston brands The Urban Electric Co., Fritz Porter, and Smithey Ironware Company in the 150,000 square feet of design showroom spaces. The Design District is part of a multi-phase redevelopment to transform the former Charleston Naval Base, led by design-focused firm, Jamestown. “The formation of the Charleston Design District is, in part, a response to the diverse design and creative community that has amassed throughout the neighborhood over the past few years,” says Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. “We want to foster and grow that community to create the most extensive and innovative selection of interior furnishings in the coastal Carolinas.”—Alexandria Sillo

4. Immersive Exhibition in Shanghai Celebrates 100 Years of Loro Piana

A beacon of understated luxury, Loro Piana has long been the go-to maison for the ultra-discerning who prefer to fly under the radar. To celebrate its 100^th anniversary, the legendary house known for his exceptional cashmere has unveiled its first-ever exhibition with a name that leans into that philosophy: “If You Know, You Know. Loro Piana’s Quest for Excellence.” Mounted at the Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai and curated by Judith Clark, the immersive 1,000-square-foot experience is inspired by landscapes and pays homage to Loro Piana’s history, heritage, and craftsmanship. On display are archival documents as well as contemporary and modern artworks, including ones by Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, and Enerico Castellani from the Sergio and Luisa Loro Piana Collection. Plus, a laboratory section takes visitors inside the quality control process that is involved in sorting through a mound of Baby Cashmere. The extraordinary show, which expertly links together the worlds of fashion, craft, and art, runs through May 5.  –Jacqueline Terrebonne

5. Artist Adriana Varejão Presents Monumental New Works at Hispanic Society of America

Drawing influence from her Brazilian roots and its surrounding ecosystem, New York City’s Hispanic Society Museum & Library (HSML) presents the first solo museum show of artist Adriana Varejão in the city, where a selection of new paintings and sculptures specifically made for the showcase will be on display. Opening March 27 in collaboration with Gagosian, “Adriana Varejão: Don’t Forget, We Are From the Tropics” tackles the artist’s close research of the Amazonian rainforest’s Yanomami people as well as the rich culture from the area. In celebration of this showcase, Varejão will introduce a new iteration of her Plate series, free-standing fiberglass monuments which represent both painting and sculpture, where designs of animals, flora, and patterns adorn the circular canvas.

In addition to the Plate series, an outdoor sculpture created by the artist will be unveiled on the museum’s terrace. Coiled around Anna Hyatt Huntington’s 1927 bronze equestrian statue of El Cid, this powerful work speaks to Varejão’s inspiration of themes including colonialism, history, folklore, and diaspora. The exhibition will run through June 22. —Shelby Black

6. Christian Pellizzari’s Murano Glass Flora Enchants Printemps Shoppers

From the abundance of exclusive French labels to the fantastical interiors devised by newly minted Galerie Creative Mind Laura Gonzalez, the highly anticipated opening of Parisian department store Printemps has brought a wealth of sophistication and savoir faire to Manhattan’s buttoned-up Financial District. True to the long-held tradition of department stores like Macy’s and Bergdorf Goodman captivating passersby with imaginative window displays, Printemps has unveiled a mystical entry concept serving as a beacon for the sartorial discoveries awaiting inside—and puts Italian artist Christian Pellizzari’s dexterity with Murano glass on full display. Inhabiting the flagship’s window niches facing Wall Street is an illusory, dream-like display of flora and fauna crafted in vibrant colors and fluid forms. Using ancient techniques, Pellizzari combined Murano glass with rare marbles and enamel-coated copper; he then scanned, digitally reworked, and brought each piece to life using 3D printing technology. The artwork aims to raise awareness about climate change and “embodies a design vision celebrating beauty, refinement, and innovation,” says Nilufar founder Nina Yashar, who oversaw the commission and represents Pellizzari. “It’s fascinating to see how his floral creatures engage in dialogue with their surroundings, enriching the Printemps spaces with a colorful and timeless allure.” —R.W.

7. The Peninsula Launches Exciting Artistic Program in Partnership with the Victoria & Albert Museum During Art Basel Hong Kong

This week, the art world is descending on Hong Kong for the 12th edition of Art Basel Hong Kong. Outside the fair walls, however, art lovers will have the chance to see more cutting-edge art at The Peninsula as the global hotel brand launches its 2025 Art in Resonance program. Open to the public, there will be a special new exhibition featuring commissioned works from local artists Phoebe Hui, and Chris Cheung (widely known as h0nh1m) along with Shanghai-based artist Lin Fanglu. The project is presented in partnership with London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Visitors are first greeted by Lunar Rainbow, a large-scale celestial-themed installation on the hotel’s façade by multimedia artist Phoebe Hui. The work features fragmented images of the moon digitally printed on aluminum panels, created through a custom program that traces the evolution of lunar imagery from 17th-century scientific moon drawings to contemporary open-source archives. It is a powerful symbol of resilience and hope. In the lobby, meanwhile textile artist Lin Fanglu is presenting She’s Bestowed Love. Crafted with textile dyed red to symbolize energy and emotion, the circle of life, and love the forms of the installation resemble the Greek goddess Gaia. Finally, on the verandah, artist h0nh1m has teamed up with Tai Ping to create a multi-sensory work that centers upon a contemporary tea house housing programmed robotics and a handcrafted carpet displaying patterns of the artist’s own brain waves during meditation. Bringing the program to life is a selection of art-themed dining and drink options, including an afternoon tea featuring pastries inspired by the artworks. —Lucy Rees