Cafe Zaffri.
Photo: Gentl & Hyers
The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From the anticipated opening of Cafe Zaffri at The Twenty Two to a dual showcase featuring new work by George Condo
Installation view of the exhibition “George Condo: Pastels” at Sprüth Magers, New York Photo: Genevieve Hanson; Courtesy the artist and Sprüth Magers
1. George Condo Unveils Suite of New Paintings in Two-Part Exhibition
A multifaceted master of redefining reality through his vibrant paintings, East Coast born and based artist George Condo is mounting a major dual showcase at two notable institutions in celebration of a suite of new works. The exhibition, “Pastels,” reveals Condo’s unique eye for color and form, where a series of new paintings created without a preliminary sketch will be presented at both Sprüth Magers and Hauser & Wirth in New York City starting January 29. A number of the new pieces, titled Centrifuge, Open Forms, No Direction Home, and Chaotic Combustion stay true to Condo’s use of geometric shapes which create whimsical characters of another world, offering a rare glimpse into Condo’s artistic process. The exhibition will run at Sprüth Magers through March 1 and Hauser & Wirth through April 12.—Shelby Black
The Snow Lodge Suite at The St. Regis Aspen Resort. Photo: Courtesy of The Snow Lodge
The guest suite. Photo: Courtesy of The Snow Lodge
2. The St. Regis Aspen Resort Introduces The Snow Lodge Suite
The team behind Montauk hotspot The Surf Lodge took their talents West this winter and introduced The Snow Lodge at The St. Regis Aspen Resort. The collaboration produced the Supper Club, Jade Room Lounge, Après-ski Courtyard, and a series of wellness programs—but it didn’t stop there. Now, guests at The St. Regis Aspen Resort will have the opportunity to rest their heads after a day on the slopes in The Snow Lodge Suite, an upscale yet relaxed guest space meticulously designed by architect Antonio Di Oronzo of Bluarch. With art curated by blue chip galleries Aktion Art and Wynn Fine Art, guests can wind down in the presidential suite amongst major works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Ed Ruscha, Alex Katz, Andy Warhol, and Wes Aderholds while sipping on libations poured into Baccarat’s finest crystal selections. Those looking for more wellness splendor will rejoice in carefully curated selections of by dria-approved beauty products offered in the suite including Orveda’s Overnight Reviving Mask, Furtuna Skin’s Replenishing Balm, La Prairie Skin Caviar Mist, Kate McLeod’s Moisturizing Lotion Bar, and more. So whether in it for the slopes or just in it for the scene, the breathtaking mountain views and top of the line offerings in The Snow Lodge Suite are sure to please all.—Alexandria Sillo
Interior of Kaia restaurant inside Ned's Club Washington D.C. designed by Stonehill Taylor and Soho House Design. Photo: Frank Frances
3. A Private Club Offers an Artful Escape in the Heart of Washington DC
A membership to an artfully appointed private club has become the new status symbol in select social circles, and with posh locations in New York, London, and Doha, The Ned is perhaps one of the most pronounced. Now, a new outpost has opened in the nation’s capital just off Lafayette Square, occupying three floors in the former Walker Building. New York studio Stonehill Taylor—which helped conceived such memorable hotels as the Whitby, Warren Street, and TWA Hotel—preserved many of the structure’s Art Deco and Neoclassical details while adding sumptuous contemporary elements, like a striking de Gournay wall covering that pays homage to the city’s famed cherry blossoms, custom mosaics, and dazzling sculpted metal doors. Rooms draw aesthetic influence from past presidential administrations, including the Obama-era White House, which informs the regal Walker Salon and Library Bar, and the Sister Parish-crafted dining room that drew appreciative guests during the Kennedy years. Members can access The Ned’s multitude of dining options—from Asian cuisine at Kaia to The Gallery’s Italian menu or steakhouse fare served inside the Founders Dining Room—take in sweeping views of the Washington Monument, White House, or Treasury Building from the rooftop garden, or escape the political debate in the lush conservatory.—Jill Sieracki
Bottega Veneta’s new Chicago store. Photo: Daniel Salemi
4. Bottega Veneta’s Chicago Store Nods to Italian Elegance
Bottega Veneta may be in a transitional phase—Louise Trotter will soon take on the role of creative director after her predecessor, Matthieu Blazy, announced his departure for the top job at Chanel—but that isn’t stopping the brand’s carefully considered retail expansion. The Italian maison recently threw open the doors to its latest store, a two-story temple to Italian craft on a tree-lined stretch of Chicago’s fashionable East Oak Street. It follows the same Blazy-conceived blueprint as the label’s recent stores in Paris, Aspen, and notably Milan, melding elements of Italian modernism with a space-inspired yet intimate ambiance. The store is clad top to bottom in classic Italian materials: cement tiling the floor and walls, green Verde Saint-Denis marble distinguishing vitrines and display units, and walnut wood fabricated into custom tables, seating and shelving. A wraparound walnut staircase whisks customers to the skylit lounge, where a dedicated VIC area offers private dressing suites for personalized consultations. Beyond stocking the label’s full product line and an abundance of stylish wares employing the intrecciato technique, the store debuts with the pre-spring collection featuring highlights in the Andiamo family and the season’s new Ciao Ciao bag. —Ryan Waddoups
Bar at Cafe Zaffri. Photo: Gentl & Hyers
Offerings from the menu. Photo: Gentl & Hyers
5. Cafe Zaffri Opens Its Doors at The Twenty Two New York
The third dining concept from the team behind Manhattan’s famed Raf’s and The Musket Room, Cafe Zaffri—or Zaf’s—will open its doors this week in a vibrant celebration of food and good company. The menu, conjured up by a women-led team composed of sisters Jennifer and Nicole Vitagliano alongside Executive Chef Mary Attea, and Executive Pastry Chef Camari Mick, is a modern interpretation of Levantine cuisine spread across breakfast, lunch and dinner. The morning service will offer a selection of pastries, breads, seasonal fruit, and egg dishes such as Shakshuka, Labneh and pickled turnips, while lunch will offer grilled prawns with arak and tarragon, tahini, eggplant, and more. Dinner—beginning at 5 p.m.—will feature an elevated menu with dishes featuring skewer service with Lebanese rice, lamb tartare, octopus with harissa, and an assortment of shareable dishes. The warm and inviting atmosphere is meant to invoke a joyful experience with shared memories around a table.—A.S.
Cover: Cafe Zaffri.
Photo: Gentl & Hyers
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