The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From La Prairie’s Aspen pop-up to designer Young Huh’s mesmerizing new tile collection with AKDO
1. La Prairie Kicks Off Global Launch with Aspen Pop-up Followed by Global Art Activations
For the debut of its Skin Caviar Eye Lift, La Prairie took over Gondola Plaza at the base of Aspen Mountain with its Cobalt Pop-up. The skin care brand’s signature cobalt blue popped against the snow and beautifully complemented the clear skies in the glamorous Colorado ski town. Throughout the weekend, skiers and skin care aficionados alike were among the first to try the recent innovation, which uses scientific breakthroughs for unprecedented lift. Next, the experience promises to elevate the skincare regime with more Cobalt Pop-ups, these tied to art, in Sydney from March 12 through 15 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and at Art Basel Hong Kong from March 28 through 30, with chef Cedric Grolet presenting a special caviar-infused pastry along with an installation by street artist Wont Ting Fung. —Jacqueline Terrebonne
2. Designer Young Huh Introduces Mesmerizing Tile Collection with AKDO
While the interiors conceived by Young Huh are customarily a vision in color, her latest tile collection with AKDO explores the power of black and white. Entitled Kaleidoscope, the array is “inspired by the purity of form and the drama of contrast.” Using popular stones, the pieces range in shape from simple cubes and stripes to expressive stars and quatrefoils. Layered together, they make for an arresting tapestry of geometry and a captivating contrast to her earlier Essence collection that utilized similar shapes accented with striking art glass rendered in rich jewel tones. “I wanted the collection to feel both graphic and timeless, so we kept things classic with Tulip black, Calacatta, and Bardiglio for this initial launch,” says Huh. “We have exciting plans to grow this collection to include a selection of chic colors—navy, green, oxblood—in lava stone. I’ve incorporated all five patterns within my own home and am so delighted with how it turned out!” —Jill Sieracki
3. David Zwirner Books Releases New Artist Journals
Created in close collaboration with each artist or artist’s estate, The Artist Journals Collection is a series of beautifully produced blank note books from David Zwirner Books that are designed to inspire. Handcrafted in Verona, Italy, they each feature wraparound cover artwork, endpapers, patterned interior pages, and belly bands making them little artworks in and of themselves. Joining Yayoi Kusama and Ruth Aswawa, which both launched last summer, Noah Davis was released this winter. Wrapping around the item is a beautiful reproduction of one of the late artist’s ethereal figurative works depicting a group of young dancers. Up next is Marcel Dzama, which is currently available for pre-order and will ship on April 2. It spotlights the dazzling and mythical mythical imagery of Dzama’s work and is sure to unleash creative ideas and space for contemplation. “Enjoy what you are making, people can feel it in the work,” the artist once said. “I feel that art has been a good escape from the reality we are in.” —Lucy Rees
4. Cult Gaia Unveils Exquisite Miami Boutique Designed by Sugarhouse
Known for providing luxurious ready-to-wear fashion and accessories perfect for any chic vacation, Los Angeles–based brand Cult Gaia has officially opened doors in the Sunshine State. Located in Miami’s Design District, architecture studio Sugarhouse conceived the flagship to stand out, immediately delivering by sheathing the facade with a blue and white 1,800-piece Tree of Life tile mural by artist Michael Chandler. Upon entering, an open space enveloped in creamy hues of Bianco Avorio limestone and Bianco Santa Caterina travertine provide a calming atmosphere in which visitors can travel through multiple rooms of the retail space—all filled with thoughtful art and design details as an homage to Cult Gaia’s nature-inspired ethos, such as a pair of Giacometti-esque sculptures and 14-foot-tall Banyan tree. —Shelby Black
5. Fashion Label Lafayette 148 Collaborates with Martha Madigan’s Estate
In homage to photographer Martha Madigan, Lafayette 148 has create a capsule collection of her Cyanotypes series, which captures the beauty of nature. Silhouettes of botanicals grace the garments made in collaboration with the late artist’s daughters, Claire Khodara and Grace Fuller Marroquin. The collection will be on view at Lafayette 148’s Greene Street New York flagship along with an exhibit of Madigan’s large-format photogram prints. Available exclusively during Women’s History Month, 20% of the collection’s sales will be donated to the Martha Madigan Foundation, benefiting art education. —Stefanie Li