The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. A New Exhibition by Mark Grotjahn at Gagosian New York Is a Powerful Ode to the Sublime

Art aficionados know that contemporary galleries present their best and boldest exhibitions in the fall months, hot off the heels of the Armory Show and the kick-off of New York’s art season. One exhibition this season that is not to be missed is Mark Grotjahn’s “Out of Country,” which is on view through October 19 at Gagosian’s 980 Madison Avenue location. The show features a selection of never-before-seen works that represent a culmination of a series titled “Backcountry,” which the artist has been creating since 2021. The large-scale canvases are a delectable fusion of dynamic, gestural brush strokes and what the artist calls “slugs,” small rolls of excess impasto paint. Standing in the gallery space surrounded by these frenetic works rendered in a palette of reds, yellows, blues, and greens, the viewer feels a palpable energy. An ode to the vast, untamed wildness of nature in rural western Colorado, the show is a celebration of Grotjahn’s mastery of color, form, and technique. —Lucy Rees

2. QUI Tequila Celebrates Nobu’s 30th Anniversary with Exclusive Collaboration Featuring Chef Nobu and Artist KAWS

QUI Tequila is releasing a three-part collector’s series limited-edition tequila to commemorate Nobu’s 30th anniversary. The 2025 NOBU Rare features an exclusive collaboration with chef Nobu Matsuhisa and renowned artist KAWS. The special edition 25-year-old tequila, aged in oak barrels, and rested in stainless-steel tanks, will be offered in three distinctive bottles featuring KAWS’s signature artistry. The release is limited to 1,650 units per edition, with the red bottle being made available beginning Sept. 20, and the other two to follow in October and November. Each bottle—representative of Chef Nobu’s love for tequila, and his tradition of toasting new restaurant and hotel openings with the liquor—features an individual number, ensuring its place in the historic release.

“This collaboration represents the intersection of culinary excellence, artistic innovation and our mission to bring the rarest aged tequilas to the world,” Medhat Ibrahim, co-founder of QUI Tequila, said. “For this special edition, we selected a truly unique extra añejo tequila, harvested and distilled in 1999, making it one of the oldest tequilas available on the market. It’s a tremendous honor to have Chef Nobu, known for his exceptional palate and commitment to excellence, and KAWS, one of the most influential artists globally, join us in this venture.”—Alexandria Sillo

3. A Book of Pithy Quotations by David Hockney Debuts

There’s something so transportive about the work of David Hockney. Not only do his paintings and drawings make you feel like you’re there, but they also make you feel like you’ve fallen into the artist’s own distinct vision of the world—whether rendered through paintbrush or iPad pencil. Fittingly, his latest book is titled The World According to David Hockney (Thames & Hudson). Filled with color-rich artworks from throughout his prolific career, the book of quotations shares his personal insights on drawing, creativity, the Internet, and more—delivered with both classic British wit as well as a creative genius’s unique perspective. Readers will find themselves turning to the book again and again; each time, finding a new thought to ponder on topics as diverse as painting swimming pools to Walt Disney. As Hockney writes in the book, “Life is exciting, interesting, thrilling,” and this compendium captures all that and more. –Jacqueline Terrebonne

4. The Setai Miami Beach Unveils Romantic New Restaurant Japón

Amongst the sunny sky of Miami Beach, a romantic and moody new restaurant has found home in the city’s luxurious five-star stay The Setai. Dubbed Japón, the high-end eatery features sumptuous Japanese-inspired bites from Executive Chef Vijayudu Veena and Executive Sous-Chef Ivàn Monzón, where guests will feast on dishes including carefully crafted hamachi, mushroom hotpot, toro tartare served with caviar, and, of course, the highest quality sushi available. To complement the Eastern feast, Miami-based firm Saladino Design Studios spearheaded the interiors, where they honored the Japanese influence through a rich color palette of reds and blues alongside wood patterned ceilings and luxuriously upholstered furnishings. On the walls, an array of Japanese artwork and a custom mosaic mural bring a truly artistic experience to the meal. In addition to the impressive inside, an outdoor courtyard outfitted with palm trees provides an ocean-inspired oasis for al-fresco dining. — Shelby Black

5. Design Studio Pembrooke & Ives Crafts Exquisite Mantelpieces for Chesneys

For decades, British brand Chesneys has been a leading resource for breathtaking mantlepieces, providing both modern designs and reimagining antique styles for exceptional residential and hospitality projects around the globe. Their list of collaborators, from Alexa Hampton and Jeffrey Bilhuber to Bunny Williams, Suzanne Tucker, and Tony Duquette, represent a who’s who of sophisticated, forward-thinking interiors. Now, studio Pembrooke & Ives is introducing two new styles in their second effort with the storied company. The newly debuted fireplaces—the Empire and the Mercury—embody Pembrooke & Ives ethos for tailored spaces with clean lines and sumptuous materials. Made using either Classico or Anatolian Grey limestone, the Empire whispers luxury with a streamlined Art Deco shape and subtle striations adding visual panache. The Mercury captures attention with its sleek, unexpected form, with a gentle curve to the Ivory Travertine frame that’s embellished with dazzling antique brass accents. The two introductions offer a chic way to prepare for the fall’s impending sweater weather.—Jill Sieracki

6. America’s Cup Exhibition Explores Bond Between Ocean and Climate in Barcelona

Timed to the final stages of the 37th America’s Cup, UNESCO together with Prada Group and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli opened the new edition of the Ocean&Climate Village in Barcelona. The traveling collaboration, on view through Oct. 4, features dedicated workshops allowing visitors to explore the complex relationship between the ocean and climate through education tools including virtual reality installations and haptic experiences. Guests can also board the Cassiopea, a vintage sailing ship transformed into an oceanographic vessel, for a guided lesson. “The America’s Cup is a fantastic opportunity to raise public awareness on ocean protection,” Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, said in a news release. “I warmly thank the Prada Group for having included on the Luna Rossa main sail the logo of our joint Sea Beyond education program, which today benefits more than 200 schools in 56 countries and is set to expand even further.” —A.S.