The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From a sumptuous suite by Meyer Davis at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea to an East Fork collection inspired by Henri Matisse’s most iconic works
1. With Confidant, Industry City Gains Destination Dining
Within six months of meeting as line cooks at Roberta’s, the Bushwick institution beloved for its wood oven cooked pizzas, Daniel Grossman and Brendan Kelley became best friends and dreamt of starting a business together. The two preternaturally talented chefs recently realized that prophecy with Confidant, the first full-service restaurant in Brooklyn’s burgeoning Industry City complex that picks up flavors as far away as Copenhagen and Telluride, Colorado, where Kelley was born and raised. A welcome addition to the area’s abundance of furniture outlets, taprooms, and craft-forward specialty stores, Confidant will offer a seasonally rotating New American menu that zeroes in on seafood and in-house dry aging. There’s trout mousse with dill and roe on sourdough, a crown of duck with brown rice vinegar agrodolce, and a made-to-order prawn pot pie garnished with parsnip, pearl onion, espelette, and herbs. The natural wine list, meanwhile, is curated by Cody Pruitt of the charming West Village bistro Libertine. In the same spirit as the cuisine, Confidant’s earthy interiors reflect its warehouse setting: Exposed concrete, mismatched furniture, and handmade wooden tables all forging the cozy ambiance of a friend’s living room. —Ryan Waddoups
2. Meyer Davis Reimagines a Sumptuous Suite at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
As the creative visionaries behind such treasured resorts as Rosewood Little Dix Bay and W Rome, as well as the award-winning San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, hideaway La Casa Dragones, design studio Meyer Davis understands the art of conceiving a perfectly appointed hospitality space. Recently, principals Will Meyer and Gray Davis unveiled a remastered grand accommodation at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (the decadent hotel famous for being the filming location for the first season of The White Lotus). Inside the refreshed 4,000-square-foot, three-bedroom Maile Presidential Suite, Meyer Davis implemented a warm palette drawn from the breathtaking sunsets viewed from the penthouse’s expansive lanai and large-scale windows offering 180-degree vistas of the Pacific and neighboring islands. “The Maile Suite is intentionally crafted to be an experience that feels deeply influenced by its location yet undeniably Four Seasons Resort Maui,” says Meyer. “By reshaping the suite’s layout and integrating wellness-focused elements, we’ve created a retreat where every detail reflects Maui’s pristine beauty in a way that feels both intentional and effortless.” Guests enjoying the space’s kitchen, dining area, and private bar are enveloped in decadent, earthy materials such as reclaimed wood and woven textiles, while the primary bedroom and en suite is outfitted with amenities designed for rejuvenation, including a deep soaking tub, cold plunge and infrared sauna. “This transformative project marries Maui’s natural splendor with thoughtful design and wellness innovations that allow our guests to enjoy the perfect balance of residential comfort and island luxury,” states Ben Shank, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Maui.—Jill Sieracki
3. East Fork’s Latest Collection Pays Tribute to Henri Matisse’s Most Iconic Artworks
East Fork has introduced the Matisse Collection, the newest permanent addition to their evergreen line of heirloom pottery. The collection pays tribute to the influential French painter Henri Matisse, who is also the great-grandfather of East Fork founder and CEO Alex Matisse. “I didn’t want the name of the company I was building to constantly remind people of someone else, even if that reminder was one of the most famous painters in the world,” says Alex Matisse. “With time, it feels like a natural progression to honor my great-grandfather’s legacy in this special way.” The collection tastefully blends artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage, offering dinner plates, platters, side plates, cake plates, and mugs. The designs pull from some of Matisse’s most recognizable works including Bédouine au grand voile (1947), Nadia au regard sérieux (1948), Le Platane (1951), Nu bleu (1952), and more. The collection marks a pivotal moment for both Les Héritiers Matisse, coming shortly before the copyright expires, and for the East Fork brand. “For a long time, my family’s legacy felt more like a shadow than something to celebrate, so much so that I needed to disappear in the mountains of North Carolina to find my way out of it,” says Alex Matisse. “With the help of my wife Connie and our co-founder John Vigeland, East Fork is what emerged, and only now that it’s stood firmly on its own for many years has the weight of that legacy lightened enough to celebrate and honor it. The collection is the beautiful culimination of that process.”—Alexandria Sillo
4. New Solo Exhibition Presents Zanele Muholi’s Early Works for First Time Outside Africa
A renowned talent whose camera lens serves as a tool of spotlighting and celebrating Black queer love in Africa, artist Zanele Muholi’s impressive 20-year career is brought into new focus in a major solo show at New York City’s Yancey Richardson Gallery. Displaying works from five different series made between 2002 through 2013, “Zanele Muholi: Sawubona” marks the first time the artist’s early artworks will be shown outside Africa, with a special nod to spotlighting figures from her home country South Africa. Through Muholi’s signature black and white perspective, the Black LGTBQIA+ community is showcased through a number of points of view, from individual portraits to intimate embraces. Early series including Only Half the Picture (2002-2006), Being (2006), Beulahs (2006), Faces and Phases (2006-ongoing) and Miss Lesbian (2009) each portray individual and couple relationships in a raw and humanizing way, bringing attention to inner being despite the external view of the camera. The exhibition runs through May 23. — Shelby Black
5. Nina Takesh Debuts a Stylish Range of French-Inspired Furniture
When she’s not dreaming up lavish residences for Hollywood A-listers or offering expert design tips to her 360,000 loyal TikTok followers, Nina Takesh is likely trotting the globe and exploring the design traditions of far-flung locales for inspiration in her growing repertoire of dreamy homes. Now, the interior designer and entrepreneur is channeling those same influences into her debut furniture collection, which officially launches May 1. Spanning chairs, stools, sofas, coffee tables, consoles, and a bed, the entire 14-piece collection balances visual intrigue with an inviting softness in the spirit of midcentury French design. The sculptural Époque Chair’s curved embrace seamlessly balances plushness and structure; the Mélange Credenza is an artful storage piece with a curved facade and striking marble accents. Each piece is handcrafted in Los Angeles with soft goods outfitted in luxury fabrics from Misia Paris. “This collection is a true reflection of my design journey, my love for architecture, and my deep appreciation for artistry in furniture making,” Takesh says. “Every piece is thoughtfully created to bring beauty, function, and a sense of sumptuous comfort into the home. I wanted to design furniture that not only complements a space but transforms it.” —R.W.
6. Zacapa Rum and Agua Bendita Toast to Latin American Artistry with Limited-Edition Collaboration
Helping to kick off the warm weather season is a fashionable partnership between Zacapa Rum and Agua by Agua Bendita that is born out of a shared commitment to preserving tradition and empowering female craftsmanship across Latin America. The result, is beautifully crafted handbag that acts as both a statement piece and an artful vessel for a bottle of signature Zacapa XO. “Our brand has always been about celebrating the hands behind the craft,” says Mariana Hinestroza & Catalina Álvarez, co-founders of Agua by Agua Bendita. “Partnering with Zacapa allows us to merge our dedication to handmade artistry with their legacy of excellence, bringing the beauty of Latin America to a wider audience. Every stitch and weave in this collection is a testament to artistry, dedication, and the spirit of Latin American roots.” The limited-edition release is available for purchase online.—A.S.