The Artful Life: 7 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From Pomellato’s Moneta Orientale talisman, which revisits a cherished 1997 pendant, to a glamorous new title that spotlights Bel-Air’s star-studded history
1. Pomellato Brings Back an Archival Pendant as a Modern Talisman
The Milanese jewelry house Pomellato digs into its storied brand archive for the latest chapter of Memorie d’Archivio, an annual series, begun in 2024, that reimagines a cherished design for today. This year’s talisman, Moneta Orientale, brings back a 1997 pendant: a pierced disc of hardstone with a form that cradles a square void, an ancient symbol of heaven and earth. Unveiled last week at a celebration of Pomellato’s 20 years in New York, held at Summit House high above the Manhattan skyline, the collection comes in 33 striking stone-and-pavé combinations. Black jade, amazonite, kiwi jade and rhodochrosite are each framed in rose gold and paired with the house’s signature irregular pavé of diamonds and sapphires. Because every stone is natural, no two discs are quite alike. Hung from a thin cord, a styling trend very much of the moment, the new pendants feel relaxed and effortless but incredibly chic. –Lucy Rees
2. A Mischievous Italian Restaurant Arrives in Copenhagen
Central Copenhagen has gained a spirited new Italian dining destination in Casino dal 2026, an all-day destination conceived by restaurateurs Mikkel Egelund and Morten Kaltoft. Occupying a 1920s modernist building clad in green marble, the Space Copenhagen–designed trattoria comprises a lively deli, expansive bar, and restaurant with a gleaming steel-clad kitchen that invites guests to watch the culinary action. Its most exuberant flourish comes courtesy of Danish artist Tal R, whose monumental mural depicts a mischievous purple cat prowling through a fantastical forest of towering, flower-like trees against a gold-leaf backdrop. The riotous composition enlivens an interior of raw concrete and polished steel, softened by timber Hans Wegner chairs and romantic embroidered ceramic pendants. Just outside, a verdant courtyard inspired by Milan’s hidden gardens shelters a year-round pavilion that transforms into a heated orangery during Copenhagen’s colder months. —Ryan Waddoups
3. Giorgio Armani Opens a Haven for Fashion and Hospitality in Vancouver
The Giorgio Armani experience has expanded to Canada’s West Coast with the opening of a boutique and café in Vancouver’s Oakridge Park. The design-forward location bears the iconic illuminated Giorgio Armani logo on a stunning façade that features a Velluto Onyx-effect finish. Inside, six rooms dedicated to men’s and women’s collections, including ready-to-wear, accessories, and licensed products, are thoughtfully curated for the ultimate shopping experience. Each room features marble-effect flooring and Armani/Casa wallpapers with satin-finish ceilings. Additionally, the Armani/Caffè offers an elegant reprieve from the hustle and bustle of a shopping center. With 18 tables and approximately 40 seats, guests are welcomed to a dedicated seating area framed by a gold-structured fence, or inside to a stylish bar. The menu includes a selection of coffees, beverages, cocktails from the inside bar, pastries, and quick bites served in a relaxed setting.—Alexandria Sillo
4. Alexandre Benjamin Navet Announced as Maison Ruinart Artist in Residence
Rising out of the crystal-clear waters of the North Malé Atoll, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands lures jetsetters with a vibrant reef ecosystem teeming with fish, turtles, and rays; seven decadent dining options; and a heavenly spa nestled into a picturesque overwater pavilion. This December, guests will also be able to experience the fanciful artwork of Alexandre Benjamin Navet, who will create whimsical illustrations for the waterfront restaurant, Beach Shack, as part of the second collaboration with Maison Ruinart. Taking place December 18 through 23, the residency offers guests the opportunity to interact with the French talent and enjoy creative workshops, champagne tastings, and exclusive Ruinart dinners.
While previous installations by Navet have featured lush flowers and graceful garden follies, this latest project depicts the Maldives’ ocean life while relaying an important message about conservationism. “My inspiration draws on the intensity of the light, the power of the elements, the richness of the marine world, but also the fragility of this ecosystem,” says the artist. “Through drawing and color, I wanted to offer a sensitive interpretation of it, to reveal its beauty, and to present this territory in a different way—with the underlying idea of preserving it more carefully.”
Beyond the artworks, which will remain on view into April 2027, the program celebrates the intersection of Ruinart’s robust champagnes and the local culture with evening tastings served during a fire-filled performance overlooking the Indian Ocean. —Jill Sieracki
5. Brian Rochefort’s Ceramics Find Common Ground with Canali’s Fine Tailoring
Los Angeles ceramist Brian Rochefort has long drawn inspiration from the volcanic craters and mineral deposits he encounters during expeditions to far-flung corners of the globe, translating rugged terrain into exuberant vessels with riotous colors and richly textured surfaces. Now the artist brings that sensibility to Italian menswear house Canali for Under the Surface, an initiative exploring the intricate craftsmanship behind artistic creation and sartorial excellence. For the New York installment, Rochefort has devised a series of ceramic vessels that evoke geological landscapes through successive layers of clay, pigments, and molten glazes. Repeated firings produce extraordinary surfaces that crack and crystallize, revealing earthy ochres and mossy greens alongside flashes of electric blue and violet. The collaboration aims to draw parallels between Rochefort’s painstaking experimentation and Canali’s meticulous tailoring, which requires some 200 steps to construct a single jacket. At the New York edition on November 4, his ceramic creations will appear alongside a sumptuous cashmere-and-vicuña Canali blazer, with accompanying films and photographs by Yuri Ancarani revealing the intricate processes behind both. —R.W.
6. Bel-Air’s Star-Studded History Is Spotlighted in New Tome
From its gated communities to lush landscaping, the high-end Los Angeles community Bel-Air has made its mark in Hollywood not just by its picturesque setting, but by the notable names that inhabit it. In new tome Bel-Air: The Centennial (Rizzoli), the neighborhood’s deep history is explored through a series of remarkable archive of vintage maps, brochures, and hundreds of never-before-published photographs. Beginning with its founding in 1920 by oil magnate Alphonzo Bell, the tome explores how the landscape of Bel-Air transformed over the years due to the presence of some of the world’s most famous architects, including A. Quincy Jones, John Lautner, Richard Neutra, Paul Williams, and John Elgin Woolf. A nod to Bel-Air’s influence during the notorious Hollywood glamour era of the 1920s and 1930s also brings even more glitz to its pages.
From there, readers will be greeted by familiar faces and both former and current residents of the famed exclusive enclave. From Sonny and Cher to Marilyn Monroe, as well as names such as The Beatles, who temporarily called Bel-Air home while they performed and recorded some of their most famous work, this expansive book covers why Bel-Air continues to be one of the world’s most coveted places to live. — Shelby Black
7. Raffles Unveils Revival of Little Shop
Well-curated hotel boutiques have become the latest treasure trove for uncovering unique clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home goods that capture the tenor of a destination in sartorial splendor. From pop-up shops to exclusive branded goods, these jewel boxes offer luxurious souvenirs guests will want to flaunt long after the return flight home. This week, Raffles debuted Little Shop, their first online shopping platform that resurrects the vibe of its eponymous original, founded in 1947 at Raffles Singapore.
Here, visitors can find chic Raffles branded travel mugs made by Christofle, Smythson notebooks, and Ginori tableware as well as woven totes by Paraguayan designer Mariela Montiel’s label Amambaih, swimwear by Vanessa Sposi and Orlebar Brown, and luggage by Globe-Trotter. However, for connoisseurs who prefer to collect flyer miles and hotel slippers, Little Shop locations will be opening their doors at Raffles hotels in Paris, London, and Boston, just in time for holiday gifting.—J.S.