An installation view of Dominique Fung's project.
Photo: Courtesy of Art Production Fund
The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From architect Tadao Ando’s latest masterpiece to new public artworks installed at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan
Twentieth-Century Man: The Wild Life of Peter Beard, published by Harper Collins. Photo: Courtesy of Harper Collins Publishing
1. New Book Dives into the Legacy of Artist and Bon Vivant Peter Beard
If you’re looking for a juicy beach read with an artistic twist, look no further than Twentieth-Century Man: The Wild Life of Peter Beard (Harper Collins). This just-released biography penned by journalist Christopher Wallace follows the legendary lifestyle of the artist, naturalist, photographer, and more. Beard’s fascinating story is filled with adventures to Africa, glamorous women, and creative pursuits that make for a page-turning tale, presented as an authoritative look on a charismatic figure with a strong case for the lasting impact of his body of work. –Jacqueline Terrebonne
Sideris table lamp from the new Domus collection by Ginori 1735 with Barovier & Toso. Photo: Courtesy of Ginori 1735
Dulcis pouf from the new Domus collection by Ginori 1735 with Rubelli. Photo: Courtesy of Ginori 1735
2. Ginori 1735 Collaborates with Rubelli and Barovier & Toso for First Home Collection
Longstanding porcelain tableware studio Ginori 1735 has teamed up with two other legacy brands for its first-ever home collection. Orchestrated by multihyphenate designer Luca Nichetto, Domus translates several of Ginori’s most iconic prints, like the Orientate Italiano floral motif first conceived by Gio Ponti in 1946, into furnishings and ornate textiles, produced with Rubelli, another Italian house, founded in Venice in 1889. Together, they’ve crafted the shell-like LaVenus lounge chair, inspired by Botticelli’s masterwork The Birth of Venus, available in four unique fabrics, as well as the sinuous Dulcis pouf and swivel chair. Also included in the collection are exquisite lamps, made with blown glass from the circa-1295 Murano brand Barovier & Toso. Highlights include the Conterie floor lamp, that draws influence from porcelain jewelry discovered in the Manifattura Ginori 1735 archives and the sculptural Sideris table lamp, which pays homage to Galileo Galilei with an adventurous form and dazzling speckled orb that shimmers like starry skies. —Jill Sieracki
Basquiat Bar at Great Jones Distillery. Photo: Courtesy of Great Jones Distillery
Great Jones x Basquiat bottle collaboration. Photo: Courtesy of Great Jones Distillery
3. Works by Jean-Michel Basquiat Transform Great Jones Distilling Co
Known as the first and only legal whiskey distillery to grace Manhattan since Prohibition, Great Jones Distilling Co. has launched a special collaboration with one of the world’s most legendary artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat. The distillery, located just down the block from the late American artist’s former studio and apartment, has been transformed into an artistic oasis through a selection of thoughtfully designed spaces inspired by Basquiat’s artwork. In addition to a pop-up “convenience” store, which features an array of speciality merchandise by Rome Pays Off, the reservation-only “Basquiat Bar” holds photos of Basquiat and his friends as well as two borrowed original Basquiat prints from Pace Editions. This takeover follows the distillery’s latest launch of three exclusive bottles adorned with Basquiat works, including his Pez Dispenser Dinosaur graphic, Untitled (Skull), and his Untitled (Crown), which are available for a limited time both online and at the distillery. —Shelby Black
Tadao Ando in his installation “Space of Light.” Photo: Museum SAN
“Space of Light” by Tadao Ando as seen from above. Photo: Museum SAN
4. Architect Tadao Ando Unveils Meditation Pavilion in South Korea
Known for his poetic use of concrete, Pritzker Prize–winning architect Tadao Ando has unveiled “Space of Light,” a minimalist pavilion at South Korea’s Museum SAN that was constructed using the famously durable composite material. Envisioned as a nondenominational space for healing and self-reflection, the diminutive structure pays homage to classic architecture with criss-crossing apertures in the roof that remain open to the elements. “The light falls in directly from the sky, just like the Pantheon in Rome,” explains Ando, who also crafted the entire museum campus in 2013. “When you look at light, there’s a feeling that touches the heart.” Visitors can also explore the Japanese architect’s work further with the exhibition “Tadao Ando—Youth,” which celebrates Museum SAN’s tenth anniversary and marks the first Ando exhibit to occupy a space he designed himself. —Geoffrey Montes
Nikos Koulis store. Photo: Courtesy of Nikos Koulis
Nikos Koulis new store. Photo: Courtesy of Nikos Koulis
5. Nikos Koulis Debuts Dreamy New Boutique in Greece
On Naousa, one of the most picturesque island towns in Greece, trailblazing Greek jeweler Nikos Koulis has opened his third boutique in his country. Hoping to convey a sense of calm and tranquility, Koulis said his goal was to create an environment where guests can savor “the ease of summer.” Design highlights include a custom-cut white marble counter, using stone sourced from the nearby island of Naxos, handsome chestnut wood shelves and furniture, vintage embroidered pillows, and paper cicadas in the showcases. All of the design elements throughout were handcrafted and specifically made for the boutique. After opening outposts in Athens, where the flagship is located, as well as Mykonos, the Paros store is intended as a window into his innermost creative visions, highlighting the purity of his jewelry and distinct design identity. —Lucy Rees
An installation view of Dominique Fung's project. Photo: Courtesy of Art Production Fund
6. A New Installation by Dominique Fung Opens at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center and Art Production Fund have teamed up to present a striking new installation throughout the Rockefeller Center campus this summer. Titled “A Tale of Ancestral Memories,” the ambitious show features never-seen-before work by interdisciplinary artist Dominique Fung through November 17. A second-generation Chinese-Canadian artist, Fung has a unique practice that masterfully explores how tradition, memory, and legacy infiltrate the collective subconsciousness. Spotlighting overlooked or forgotten stories, she uses and historical artifacts to question modes of belonging. Her new commission is a 125-foot painted scroll telling an epic odyssey located displayed at the Rink Level of 45 Rockefeller Plaza. The vitrine spaces at 45 Rockefeller Plaza also showcase three sculptural installations. “This is definitely my most ambitious project so far,” says the artist. “I am excited to have the ability to show my work in such a broad public setting and have it reach new audiences.” —L.R.
Cover: An installation view of Dominique Fung's project.
Photo: Courtesy of Art Production Fund
