The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Michael Mina Returns to San Francisco with Bourbon Steak and Stephen Curry’s First Bar

In 2004, Chef Michael Mina opened his namesake restaurant inside the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, earning two Michelin stars and cementing his place as one of the Bay Area’s defining culinary voices. The Egypt-born chef and MINA Group founder’s latest venture marks both a return to the grande dame of Union Square and a reinvention: he recently unveiled the latest outpost of Bourbon Steak. Part of Mina’s acclaimed collection of modern steakhouses with locations in New York and beyond, the San Francisco location reinterprets the genre through a distinctly Californian lens, spotlighting seasonal produce and the region’s exceptional seafood offerings. Interiors, designed by AvroKO, honor the hotel’s historic grandeur—green marble columns and molded ceilings—with walnut millwork, fluted glass, and botanical chandeliers nodding to early 20th-century hotel interiors. Green velvet seating and a stained-glass wall by Bay Area artist Theodore Ellison add a warm, contemporary polish.

The menu heightens classic fare with Mina’s signature touch: butter-poached and wood-grilled steaks, inventive starters like the Caviar “Twinkee” (red onion, egg, chive, yuzu créme fraîche), and showpieces such as the Maine Lobster Pot Pie in brandied lobster cream or Hay-Smoked Australian Wagyu Tomahawk flamed tableside. Across the lobby, NBA champion Stephen Curry makes his hospitality debut with The Eighth Rule, a sultry lounge where an omakase-style cocktail tasting celebrates his Gentleman’s Cut whiskey with rare pours perfect for after-dinner drinks. The bar, also designed by AvroKO, layers velvety textures and polished finishes with subtle nods to whiskey culture, including artwork inspired by the amber and crimson hues of classic bourbon cocktails like the Manhattan or Old Fashioned. —Ryan Waddoups

2. Celebrated Maldives Resort Unveils Revamped Private Residence

The longstanding Maldives resort Velaa Private Island, located on the picturesque Noonu Atoll, lures wellness-minded travelers for its longevity-focused programming, José María Olazábal golf academy, and elevated dining venues, including the country’s only 50 Best-ranked restaurant. Now, the property is debuting the refresh of its Kuredhi Residence, crafted by Winch Design, featuring artworks by textile designer Anne Kyyro Quinn. Encompassing four bedrooms, a living room, and an expansive pool terrace, the renovated accommodation joins other exceptional guest areas, including a two-story private villa outfitted by the Galerie Creative Mind Patricia Urquiola. —Jill Sieracki

3. An Exhibition at Di Donna Galleries on Madison Avenue Brings Together the Visionary Worlds of René Magritte, François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne

In an unlikely pairing, Di Donna Galleries presents a striking new exhibition, “Magritte and Les Lalanne: In the Mind’s Garden” that places the work of surrealist master René Magritte in a direct and fascinating conversation with the whimsical sculptures of François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, known collectively as Les Lalanne. Featuring over 50 paintings, works on paper, and functional sculptures drawn from important private collections, this exhibition is an invitation into a world where nature is not fixed but fluid—shaped entirely by vision, memory, and invention. Taking inspiration from Magritte’s 1936 painting La Clairvoyance, the exhibition explores the power to reveal the unseen. Along with their shared artistic sensibility, all three artists were also concurrently championed by the legendary dealer Alexander Iolas, who recognized their rare ability to infuse mystery and playfulness into their work. The exhibition, which is organized with Ben Brown Fine Arts, runs through December 13—Lucy Rees

4. A Dreamy New Travel Series by Assouline & Belmond Spotlights Portofino

Known for hosting some of the most glamorous celebrities across decades, from Elizabeth Taylor to Denzel Washington, the waterside Italian village Portofino has always dazzled visitors with its striking landscape and high-end luxury stays. Now, travelers have the opportunity to visit the destination from the comfort of their own coffee table, courtesy of a new collaboration between Assouline and Belmond. Inaugurating their Legendary Destinations series, title Splendido: The Radiant Stage of Portofino spotlights the five-star hotel property and its place in Portofino’s history since opening in 1902. Boasting an array of stunning photography alongside words by journalist Matthew Bell, the tome offers an exclusive glimpse into the making of the property as well as the recent revamp by Galerie Creative Mind Martin Brudnizki and landscape architect Marco Bay. The second title as part of the collaboration series, Peru: An Odyssey Across a Time-Honored Land, is now available for pre-order. — Shelby Black

5. Monaco’s Inaugural Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie Was a Celebration of High Jewelry, Rare Stones, and Exceptional Craftsmanship

The high-jewelry world recently converged on Monaco for the inaugural Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie (GPHJ). Designed by co-founder Jean-Philippe Braud as a celebration of the art of jewelry, the GPHJ focused on spotlighting excellence among one-of-a-kind entries and exceptional design. The winners, chosen by a jury led by prominent historian Fabienne Reybaud, revealed a brilliant array of exceptional talent from the world’s top jewelry maisons. The evening’s highest honor, Le Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie 2025, went to Chanel for its spectacular and whimsical Sweater Necklace. Louis Vuitton took the Gemstone Prize for the Apogée necklace, and Messika won the Prize For Design for the Zebra Luhlaza necklace. Tiffany & Co., meanwhile, was recognized with both the Jury’s Special Prize and the Heritage Prize for a Jean Schlumberger design. Amidst this formidable international roster, Beverly Hills’s own Martin Katz stood out as the only American entrant—a major testament to his visionary artistry and unique American style.—L.R.

6. Helena Clunies-Ross Debuts a Sleek, Material-Driven Furniture Collection

Since launching her namesake firm in 2018, Helena Clunies-Ross, the former design director at Anouska Hempel, has brought architectural rigor and cinematic scale to sumptuous homes and hospitality spaces defined by tailored proportion, dark timber, lustrous metal accents, and the alluring play of filtered light. That sensibility carries seamlessly into Calma, a suite of furnishings she created exclusively for Room. Comprising a sofa, daybed, dining chair, dining table, console, and cocktail table, the collection conveys a disciplined approach to structure and a refined understanding of how disparate materials can make each other shine. The dining table pairs solid blackened walnut with aged brass detailing, including a vertical seam that gleams as light passes along its edge—a nod to Art Deco craftsmanship. The console table continues the motif with curved legs clad in burnished bronze panels that reflect light through their recesses; the cocktail table’s burnished steel legs echo those shapes. Timber screens, meanwhile, wrap the sofa’s corners to form an enveloping frame that reveals a striking command of craft. —R.W.