Pierre Yovanovitch’s set design for Theater Basel’s performance of Rigoletto in Basel, Switzerland.
Photo: © Paolo Abate
The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From Pierre Yovanovitch’s sensual design for a Swiss opera to the new Chairish Art Gallery at Bergdorf Goodman
M.S. Rau gallery. Photo: Courtesy of M.S. Rau
1. Dine with World-Famous Impressionist Masterpieces in New Orleans
Forget chocolates and flowers. For those looking to up the ante this Valentine’s Day, the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans. has just launched a new experiential dinner program titled “Dinner with Impressionists.” As the name suggests, guests will be invited to indulge in a decadent seven-course dinner at the prestigious gallery M.S. Rau, surrounded by famous paintings by such Impressionist masters as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissaro. The out-of-the-box concept is a unique collaboration with M.S. Rau, a local gallery that has been selling fine antiques, jewelry, and art since 1912. The menu, prepared by the hotel’s executive sous chef Kelley Schmidt, will also include paired wines inspired by the artwork on view. And if sitting in the close presence of museum-worthy masterpieces for the evening wasn’t enough, guests will also be able to adorn themselves in rare jewels at a table-side presentation, including the iconic 38-carat Golconda diamond necklace by Harry Winston once owned by Greek businesswoman and heiress Christina Onassis. The once-in-a-lifetime experience starts at $25,000 and includes a two-night stay in one of the hotel’s two Presidential Suites, which features over 2,400-square-feet of space overlooking the Mississippi River. —Lucy Rees
2. Shantell Martin Releases Bespoke Candle Collection with Joya
Known for her minimalist yet vibrant line drawings that adorn everything from entire walls and floors to couches, artist Shantell Martin is now releasing a more intimately sized creation. Teaming up with fragrance brand and design studio Joya, Martin has conceived a limited-edition set of glass votive and XL porcelain candles sheathed in her signature illustrations of playfully abstracted faces and animals. Layered with scents that the artist helped select (think shaded green tea, ocean air, and vanilla flower), the candles have a burn time of 3,000 and 8,7000 minutes respectively and were crafted to help focus your attention. “My wish is that these candles can burn in the background during your creative process, much like a playlist, invigorating your senses and bringing you back to self,” says Martin. The three-wick XL “artist edition” versions (which feature 22k white gold accents) are available for $700, while the votives are $48. —Geoffrey Montes
Pierre Yovanovitch’s set design for Theater Basel’s performance of Rigoletto in Basel, Switzerland. Photo: © Paolo Abate
3. Pierre Yovanovitch Designs an Ethereal Opera Set in Basel, Switzerland
Designer Pierre Yovanovitch is celebrated for the dreamy spaces he conceives around the world, from the transportive private interiors to the evocative London restaurant Hélène Darroze at the Connaught and otherworldly Le Coucou Hotel in Méribel, France. Now, the creative visionary has leant his talents to the stage, conceiving a captivating set for Theater Basel’s production of Rigoletto, playing in Switzerland through June 21. “I created a moving set that could gradually take shape as Rigoletto’s curse evolves,” Yovanovitch (one of Galerie’s Creative Minds) said in a statement. “I conceived it as a stripped-down set so that the characters’ souls, in disinheritance, can take up as much place as they need. The decor also symbolizes the passage of time, quickly, and above all what we have done with our lives and what it has done with us.” A sinuous staircase wraps around three curvilinear forms that envelop a pared down selection of residential furniture, while lighting in powerful shades of crimson, cerulean, and stark white convey the emotion of Giuseppe Verdi’s complex tale, envisioned by director Vincent Huguet. —Jill Sieracki
4. Chairish Art Gallery Debuts at Bergdorf Goodman
Stepping through the revolving doors of Bergdorf Goodman often feels like the beginning of a treasure hunt. Although one may not be sure what they’re looking for, there’s always something extraordinary to uncover. From now through April 10, that’s all the truer as the New York institution has partnered with Chairish, the online marketplace for one-of-a-kind home furnishings and art. Housed on the retailer’s seventh floor, the Chairish Art Gallery offers over 300 original works of art available for purchase and on display in five vignettes based on themes such as Pop Art, The Fashion Editor’s Apartment, and American Craft. For the event, which is Chairish’s first foray into a brick-and-mortar location, the celebrated talents featured include artist Ron Giusti, illustrator Happy Menocal, photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank, The Green Vase’s Livia Cetti, painter Bill Tansey, and fashion illustrator Manuel Santelices. Additional works are also available at an online storefront. —Jacqueline Terrebonne
Hidden in Plain Sight (The Reading), 2022 by Danielle Roberts Photo: Courtesy of Fredericks & Freiser
5. Danielle Roberts’s First Solo Show Opens at Fredericks & Freiser
Danielle Roberts’s first New York solo exhibition, “Evening All Day,” opens at Fredericks & Freiser this Thursday. Right off the heels of her presentations at The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago this past fall, Roberts brings her moody and foreboding paintings to Chelsea. Her mesmerizing mix of deep and vivid hues seemingly illustrate an eternal night, as dazed subjects shuffle through the monotony of everyday life. Drawing from her own lived experience, Roberts renders the psychological state of millennial culture through her cinematic scenes. —Stefanie Li
Le 1550 in Courchevel, France. Photo: Mr. Tripper
6. Iconic House Debuts Third Property in Courchevel, France
Known for providing the most picturesque getaways across France, luxury hospitality company Iconic House has opened its latest property just in time to enjoy the last of the winter season. Tucked away in premiere ski location Courchevel, private chalet Le 1550 provides guests with luxurious amenities as well as snowy alpine views. Inside this eight-bedroom retreat, which can comfortably hold up to 20 people, interior designer and curator Joséphine Fossey worked alongside Atelier Giffon to carefully pick out thoughtful furnishings and decor to fill the space. In addition to chic and comfortable accommodations, the rental also provides guests with their own chalet manager and car to use. For those visiting just to take in some rest and relaxation, head to the on-site spa, gym, or cinema to enjoy the most out of your vacation. —Shelby Black
Cover: Pierre Yovanovitch’s set design for Theater Basel’s performance of Rigoletto in Basel, Switzerland.
Photo: © Paolo Abate
