The Artful Life: 7 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Bar Issi Brings 1970s Italian Glam to Palm Springs’s Thompson Hotel

Fettle—the boutique firm behind the lavish, more-is-more looks of Los Angeles favorites Olivetta and Chez Mia—has added another showstopper to its portfolio. Bar Issi, the jewel of the newly opened Thompson Hotel in Palm Springs, channels the breezy allure of coastal Italy with a dose of desert chic. Interiors revel in a 1970s vision of Mediterranean glamour, splashing exuberant colors across recycled and sustainable materials. A central bar gleams with a backlit top made from repurposed yogurt pots, inlaid with recycled tinsel that also forms the vacuum-molded domes decorating its face. Cheeky green-and-pink wallpaper dotted with dancing crocodiles turns up the whimsy. The restaurant, lounge, and terrace—outfitted with tasseled bar stools, wave-backed banquettes, and mountain views—set the stage for a menu of seasonal California fare, house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and raw bar favorites. —Ryan Waddoups

2. Works by Dan Flavin, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, and Others Go on View at Marc Straus Gallery

Serving as an exciting peek inside the personal collection of Marc and Livia Straus, eponymous gallery Marc Straus’s pearly white walls have been filled with vibrant works made by masters of the 20th century. The not-for-sale exhibition, “The Ray Gun Store,” traces some of the art world’s most influential movements, presenting a series of works by mostly New York-based artists including Claes Oldenburg, Dan Flavin, Ellsworth Kelly, Frank Stella, Larry Rivers, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Kenneth Noland, Carl Andre, Jules Olitski, and Charles Hinma, many of which were purchased by Livia while her husband was in medical school before opening the gallery in 2011. “I was completely taken by the artists who dared to go into a new direction, and started working weekend jobs during medical school to be able to afford works I was passionate about and live with them,” Marc Straus says about his collection. The exhibition runs through September 30. — Shelby Black

3. Dior Maison Imaginatively Reuses Materials for Its New Bee Collection

The bee has long been a symbol at the House of Dior. Christian Dior even described his ateliers at 30 Avenue Montaigne as “a little beehive, that is what my house was when I presented my first collection.” Since then, the symbol has appeared embroidered on shirts, woven onto baskets, adorning bejeweled watches, and more. For its latest interpretation, Dior Maison has created the Bee Dior collection, a limited-edition assortment of accessories crafted primarily from upcycled materials in a nod to the industrious creature. Bag handles are reimagined as holders on trays, while leather fringe embellishes throws and cushions—all a testament to the savoir faire of both the buzzing bee and the artisans at Dior. —Jacqueline Terrebonne

4. Max Lamb Transforms Bali’s Waste Into Irresistible Homeware for Potato Head

Bali’s zero-waste cultural village Desa Potato Head has teamed up with Max Lamb on Wasted Collection – 001, a homewares line that quite literally turns trash into treasure. Five years in the making, the collaboration filters the British designer’s material-driven experimentation through the skills of local artisans, with each piece handmade in Bali from reclaimed and reimagined resources. Recycled HDPE plastics become marbled chairs and side tables; broken glass is reborn as jewel-toned, mouth-blown vessels; retired hotel linens are reworked into soft goods; compost-dyed fabrics in marigold and indigo hues brighten the mix; used cooking oil fuels refillable candles; salvaged ceramics are reshaped into sculptural serveware; and sustainably harvested Balinese bamboo is woven into lounge seating. “Designers have a responsibility to justify every product we bring into the world,” Lamb says. “With Wasted, we’re not just rethinking materials—we’re celebrating the human hands and knowledge that shape them.” The result is a vivid, tactile assortment of one-of-a-kind objects that shift with the materials available, and is available for purchase in Bali, online, and through select global retailers. —R.W.

5. Pamela Anderson Launches “Pamela’s Pickles” with Flamingo Estate, a Limited-Edition Pantry Staple with a Good Cause 

Pamela Anderson is bringing her family’s pickling tradition to the market this summer. The actress and activist has just launched Pamela’s Pickles, a limited-edition product made in partnership with California’s Flamingo Estate. The unique pickle recipe is inspired by Anderson’s Great Auntie Vie’s award-winning pickles and is featured in her cookbook, “I Love You: Recipes From the Heart.” Packed with dill, mustard, and garlic, Pamela took the recipe and added her own personal twist: dried rose petals while Flamingo Estate then added their touch with pink peppercorn, guajillo chile, and smoky sea salt. The result is a cool crunch filled with herb, smoke, and spice. “The hearts and brains behind Flamingo Estate are truly inspiring,” says Anderson. “What a delicious journey… and to meet at their glorious home was a kindred becoming,” says Anderson of the collaboration. “It was such a wonderful surprise to discover another facet of Pamela,” says Christiansen. “She’s a remarkable chef, gardener, and activist. She has big green thumbs and the most wonderful perspective on life of anyone I’ve met.” All proceeds will benefit the California Wildlife Center, a nonprofit wildlife veterinary hospital based in California that provides life-saving care to over 4,000 injured, orphaned, or sick wild animals each year. —Lucy Rees

6. Freeman’s | Hindman Presents The Hamptons Design Edit Auction to Benefit East Side House

Through a special partnership with The Winter Show, Freedman’s | Hindman is hosting the Hamptons Design Edit summer auction to benefit East Side House featuring everything from furnishings and art to accessories and antiques. Designers Bunny Williams, Elizabeth Lawrence, Jamie Drake, Juan Montoya, Nate Berkus, Billy Cotton, and others have joined in support of the cause, as have numerous donors, including Augusta Hoffman Studio, David Kleinberg Design Associates, SR Gambrel, Studio SFW, and many more. “This effort is about bringing the design and auction worlds together to generate real impact,” says Helen Allen, Executive Director of The Winter Show. “We are thrilled that our friends, partners, and clients have rallied to help raise awareness and funds for East Side House in this time of great need.” The auction is running through the firm’s digital and live platforms at cost, with bidding set to close on August 22.—Alexandria Sillo

7. Most Dazzling (and Delicious) Place to View the Las Vegas Strip is at the Waldorf Astoria

While much of the conversation around the Waldorf Astoria brand has centered on the opening of the New York City landmark, the debut of the Las Vegas location should stay top of mind for luxury travelers looking to visit the city for the upcoming F1 Grand Prix yet avoid throngs of tourists and the cacophony of casinos. Inside the tranquil tower, that welcomes guests with a gleaming, hushed white marble entry, the newly remastered 23rd floor is one of the sultriest spots to take in views of the Las Vegas Strip. By day, the glamorous Peacock Alley envelops in elegant environs while serving light bites, but when the sun goes down, the magic happens across the room at Hard Shake. Crafted by the visionary designers at Rockwell Group, the lounge serves flavor forward mixed drinks like the Golden Hour, a zesty blend of Veuve Clicquot, almond and mandarin liqueur, and lemon bitters, zingy potables by Japanese bartender Kazuo Uyeda. The creative bar menu plays against a selection of small plates as mouthwatering as they are beautiful. Must-try offerings include the trio of wagyu sliders; the Honey Shrimp, a spicy plate dressed in honey citrus curry and topped with edible butterfly sculptures, and the sesame tuna, cigar shaped rolls served underneath a smoke-filled cloche conjuring a dish as theatrical as it is tasty.—Jill Sieracki