The Artful Life: 7 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Jessica McCormack Opens First New York Boutique on Madison Avenue

London’s darling of diamond design, Jessica McCormack, has officially crossed the pond, bringing her signature blend of cool to the heart of New York City. The designer, celebrated for her effortlessly chic jewels, has unveiled her first stateside boutique: a beautifully restored townhouse on Madison Avenue. Stepping into the new space at 743 Madison feels akin to being welcomed into an impeccably stylish home. Spanning 3,200 square feet across two floors of a Beaux-Arts building established in 1879, the space has been masterfully restored by Johnston Cave and the city’s Society of Guilders. With a keen passion for art collecting and design, McCormack has injected her distinctly personal aesthetic into the interiors—think an eclectic mix of antique and contemporary furniture, bespoke, blue-velvet lined vitrines, upholstered elements in custom fabrics, and a whimsical art collection. With a design ethos that champions the idea that diamonds aren’t just for special occasions, McCormack’s key pieces, from her playful Gypsets to the subtly rebellious Ball n Chain collection and the evocative Beaches line, are designed to be seamlessly integrated into one’s everyday wardrobe. The Madison Avenue boutique will also showcase a dazzling array of new and exclusive Exceptional Stones creations. —Lucy Rees

2. Fritz Hansen Explores Poul Kjærholm’s Legacy at NYCxDesign

Poul Kjærholm’s legacy runs deep in the history of Fritz Hansen. In 1982, two years after the designer died, his trustees tapped the heritage Danish furniture brand with the production and sales of his namesake collection of furnishings he developed between 1951 and 1967—a partnership that continues to this day. To celebrate Kjærholm’s enduring relevance and seminal role in design history, Fritz Hansen mounted a special exhibition about his life and work at the brand’s showroom in New York City during NYCxDesign. Showcasing his most vital works and contextualizing him within design history, the show marked the inaugural presentation dedicated to him in the Americas. Beyond showcasing classics like the PK15 Arm Chair and PK0 A™ Chair, the show also included a live weaving demonstration of the PK25 Chair to witness Fritz Hansen’s dedication to craftsmanship up close. —Ryan Waddoups

3. The Met Celebrates Reopening of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing with Daylong Festival

On Saturday, May 31, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will once again welcome the public to the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing following a multiyear renovation led by WHY architecture in collaboration with Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects LLP, and The Met’s Design Department. The wing, which features the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and the Oceania collections, has been reimagined so that each has a dedicated and distinct area for viewing. On Saturday, live performances, live music, food, art making, and more will mark the occasion both inside and outside museum walls. Live performances will include traditional West African dances by Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation’s Youth Ensemble, soulful melodies of Mariachi Real de México, and more.  “This celebration for the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing reflects the extraordinary spirit of creativity and community that is so essential to The Met and New York City itself,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO. “After four years of transformation, we are delighted to welcome everyone to celebrate this reopening with a festival that will offer opportunities for art lovers of all ages to experience the historic reimagining of these collections through the objects, ideas, music, and dance of the cultures represented in the galleries.”—Alexandria Sillo

4. Sumptuous Japanese Restaurant Teruko Finds Home at Hotel Chelsea

Known as the former go-to stay for rock and roll’s most notorious and talented faces, Hotel Chelsea has transformed itself into one of New York City’s most coveted high-end destinations across Manhattan. Joining the hotel’s other culinary giants including Café Chelsea and El Quijote, new Japanese restaurant concept Teruko marks the final addition to the property’s impressive offerings. Housed in the basement level, formerly the iconic Chelsea nightclub Serena, raw materials and wabi-sabi aesthetics bring true Japanese influence to this contemporary space which are further emphasized by thoughtful design details including panels of indigo-dyed denim and antique limestone floors. Led by executive chef Tadashi Ono, guests can expect refined fare such as whole dover sole karaage served with ponzu and robata grilled ozaki wagyu with fresh wasabi served alongside an impressive collection of Japanese whiskies and sakes. To celebrate the restaurant’s opening, New York City art gallery Hollis Taggart has teamed up with Hotel Chelsea to present a special exhibition of renowned Japanese artist Teruko Yokoi, who lived and worked at the hotel and who the restaurant is named for, where 20 works by the talent will be on display through June 14. — Shelby Black

5. A Collection of Rings Designed by JB Blunk Are Available in a Limited Edition 

Wearable art is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, but these limited edition reproductions designed by JB Blunk, the revolutionary ceramist and woodworker, live up to that distinction. Crafted in silver and recycled gold versions, only 50 of each of the five pieces have been executed as part of a collaboration between the JB Blunk Estate and Los Angeles fine jewelry designer J. Hannah. A mix of reverence for both Japan and nature, the designer loved to return to the small scale of jewelry throughout his career. Today, these pieces represent the same transfixing approach that makes his sculpture so highly sought after by collectors. –Jacqueline Terrebonne

6. Thomas Heatherwick Conceives Art-filled Flagship for Longchamp in Manhattan

New Yorkers are well-versed in the imaginative output of English designer Thomas Heatherwick, who has helped shape the city landscape by conjuring famed Manhattan landmarks Little Island, Lantern House, and the Vessel. His vibrant interiors for the newly renovated Longchamp flagship in New York’s SoHo neighborhood will surely be another must-visit locale. Punctuated by an “Energy Green” stair comprised of undulating steel ribbons, the space boasts a spectacular mix of custom furnishings by Heatherwick Studio; collectible design pieces including a 1970s Raphaël Raffel Croissant sofa, Gio Ponti table, Guillerme et Chambron arm chairs, and bar stools by Erik Buch; and visually arresting rugs by French heritage company Lelièvre. A thoughtful collection of artworks complete the newly remastered interiors of La Maison Unique, which was first composed by Heatherwick in 2006. Today, visitors can peruse the last styles and vintage works from Longchamp alongside sculptures by Nitsa Meletopoulos, Dorothée Loriquet, David Nash, and Tanaka Tomomi, among others.

“With this renovation, Thomas Heatherwick has reimagined the very heart of the store and brought new energy to how we think about retail,” says Jean Cassegrain, CEO of Longchamp. “This dialogue between authenticity and energy defines the new SoHo boutique. Each design detail adds warmth, surprise, and personality to the space.”—Jill Sieracki

7. Dornbracht Debuts Atelier Program for Designing Custom Fittings

Dornbracht is introducing a new business segment that affords designers and architects unprecedented creative freedom to create one-of-a-kind kitchen and bath fittings. The program, Dornbracht Atelier, wields 75 years of the German manufacturer’s artisanal heritage into exploring how unusual materials, finishes, production techniques, and shapes can be channeled into creating spectacular individual fittings akin to fine art. Thanks to the program’s vast customization options, even the most imaginative and unorthodox material possibilities can be made a reality. These run the gamut from a black-and-white version of the Vaia faucet with a chequerboard shell finish and variations of the Tara fitting sheathed in sumptuous velvet and leather to a faucet whose handles resemble the wings of a swan. The program also offers unique engravings and customized dimensions. —R. W.