The Artful Life: 8 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. David Yurman Unveils Bold Roy Lichtenstein-Inspired Window Installations Ahead of the Artist’s Blockbuster Exhibition

The Roy Lichtenstein blockbuster exhibition opens at The Whitney Museum of American Art on Sunday, October 11, and David Yurman is honoring the show with sponsorship and boutique window displays in select Yurman stores nationwide. The jeweler known for gold-trimmed, semiprecious stone-set silver pieces has long been inspired by Lichtenstein’s work, as has his wife Sybil, a painter. “Roy Lichtenstein pushed the boundaries of American art, taking something so familiar and making it feel completely new,” said the couple. “We recognize that instinct very much. It’s something that’s been a driving force in our work.” The exhibition-oriented window installations in Yurman stores in New York Soho, Dallas NorthPark, and Miami Design District were created with participation by the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, and will bring the artist’s graphic into the retail experience. —Rena Gross

2. Marfa Stance Leaps from Quilted Coats to Collectible Chairs

When Georgia Dant encountered Donald Judd’s work in Marfa, Texas, she began thinking of clothing as a system of interchangeable parts. That idea informed her fashion label Marfa Stance, known for reversible quilted outerwear made from new and surplus textiles, with standardized attachment points that accommodate interchangeable accessories. Now Dant has brought that resourceful ethos into furniture through a collaboration with Los Angeles designer Stephen Kenn, which debuted during Los Angeles Design Week/end. Kenn looked to Marfa Stance’s outerwear for inspiration, asking himself, “if this jacket were a reversible slip cover, what would it look like?” His answer takes the form of four bespoke chairs that pair his spare metal frameworks with blankets from Marfa Stance’s previous collaboration with the celebrated quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. Vivid geometric textiles soften the industrial silhouettes while advancing both collaborators’ beliefs in repurposing existing materials. Each store will receive a unique chair before made-to-order pieces become available online. —Ryan Waddoups 

3. Justin Theroux Curates Expeditions Through Kyoto and Tokyo for The Luxury Collection

It’s no longer just the “where” that motivates travel; the why has created the most seismic shift in how people explore the world. To further answer the call, The Luxury Collection introduced The Luxury Collection Expeditions, carefully edited itineraries through culturally rich destinations like Japan, Spain, Italy, and Greece, with access to unique experiences like a visit to a samurai residence, a drive around Lake Garda in a classic Italian motorcar, or an archaeologist-led visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos during multi-day voyages.

Two of the newest tailored journeys follow in the footsteps of actor and Global Explorer Justin Theroux, who outlined adventures through Kyoto and Tokyo, with stops at places that nurture his love of art, whiskey, and craft. Guests will study calligraphy with a trained master, sample whiskeys and cigars in a private members’ bar, and pop into some of the actor’s favorite vintage stores in Tokyo, or have dinner with Geiko, visit a Zen temple, experience traditional craft in Kyoto, as well as enjoy upscale accommodations in a Luxury Collection property.

“At The Luxury Collection, we have long believed that a destination reveals itself through its people, rituals, and landscapes, and through the knowledge passed down over time,” says Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. “Expeditions are a natural expression of that belief, inviting our guests to venture beyond the walls of their hotel and into the living fabric of a place, where expert guidance and cultural context foster a deeper and more personal understanding of a destination.” —Jill Sieracki

4. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Debuts an Artistic Title

Los Angeles’s new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has teamed up with publishing house giant Taschen to celebrate its long-anticipated grand opening. The museum, founded by prolific filmmaker George Lucas, opened last month and boasts an incredible selection of mediums from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary cinema. Now, Lucas has found himself spearheading yet another adjacent project, a new title, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Taschen). Featuring texts by the Hollywood giant himself alongside fellow renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, the expansive tome is filled with artworks ranging from illustration to photography with contributions from artists including Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith, and more. In addition to the array of art mediums, a special section will be dedicated to one of Lucas’s most famous works, Star Wars, which will showcase original production art and concept paintings alongside costumes and vehicles. — Shelby Black

5. Interior Designer Luis Fernandez Taps Into the Splendor of Saint-Louis Crystal for Windows at Gearys Beverly Hills

Saint-Louis, the storied French glassmaker, is making a splash in Beverly Hills, California, with a dazzling array of colorful, sunset-inspired windows at Gearys. Imagined by interior designer Luis Fernandez, the palette reflects that of a sunset at its most intense, with shades of reds, mauves, and terracotta. The tableau centers on a dinner table set with jewel-toned Saint-Louis mouthblown and hand-cut crystal, which reverberates against the dark salmon plaster and glazed tile backdrop infused with Brutalist and mid-century references. Fernandez, who is highly regarded for his modernist interiors rich with a refined intellectualism and personalized warmth, has created an absolute feast for the eyes. —Jacqueline Terrebonne

6. Audemars Piguet’s Iconic Royal Oak Inspires a High Jewlery Collection

When Gérald Genta designed the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in 1972, its fully integrated steel bracelet blurred the line between watchmaking and fine jewelry, featuring 154 hand-fashioned elements finished prior to assembly. Now, the house builds on that heritage with the Royal Oak Haute Joaillerie line, its foray into high jewelry. Translating the Royal Oak’s legendary geometry—its tapering links and delicate interplay of satin brushing and hand-polished chamfers—into expressive jewelry, the collection draws deep inspiration from Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux in Switzerland. Divided into three chapters, the Dream of Joux captures frozen lakes and winter skies across one-of-a-kind cuffs, a tie necklace, and drop earrings dripping in cascading pear-shaped diamonds and blue sapphires; Risoud Eclipse highlights black PVD titanium links anchored by sugarloaf emeralds; and a third series highlights Frosted Gold—the signature Florentine hammering technique developed with Carolina Bucci. The result is a masterful fusion of technical watchmaking and artistic freedom. “A gateway to the past and future, the collection embodies the house’s free spirit,” says Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet. —Lucy Rees

7. Artist Taras Yoom Goes All In with “Another Kingdom: Destiny” Poker Set

Bangkok-based artist Taras Yoom has reimagined the traditional poker set with “Another Kingdom: Destiny,” a limited-edition sculptural interpretation of the game. Yoom’s edition, limited to 50 handcrafted sets, includes 54 playing cards with original artwork and 300 ceramic chips presented in a bespoke leather case. Each of the four suits represents a rival kingdom in the Yoomoota Universe. “I wanted to create my own interpretation of poker while respecting its traditions,” says Yoom. “The face cards depict each kingdom’s most precious resources, while the classic card backs reveal portals into the Yoomoota Universe. The suits become symbols in their own right: diamonds take the form of precious gems; spades, brave warriors; hearts, two birds lovingly sharing a worm; and clubs, four sages worshipping an all-seeing eye. Every detail draws the player into the lives of four rival civilizations, whose destiny unfolds through play.” It’s the latest in Yoom’s ever-growing collection of game sets, following the earlier release of his chess and backgammon sets.—Alexandria Sillo

8. Sézane Channels Saint-Germain Style on the Upper East Side

Sézane has gone uptown with its third permanent New York boutique, a 2,800-square-foot Madison Avenue outpost conceived with Parisian interior designer Pierre Lacroix. Conceived as more of a gallery than a conventional store, the Upper East Side store surrounds the French label’s collections with vintage furniture and photographs by William Klein, speaking to founder Morgane Sézalory’s abiding interest in art and objects. Lacroix honored the architecture while introducing warm oak parquet, mirrored surfaces, and sculptural lighting against a stylish palette of chestnut, amber, and ecru. “I always try to start with the existing space, its architecture and its history,” Lacroix says, “and build on that rather than erase it.” —Ryan Waddoups