The Artful Life: 5 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Claridge’s Unveils André Fu–Designed Spa

Marking a major turning point for the historic Claridge’s Hotel in Mayfair, the esteemed London institution has officially unveiled its first spa concept over its 200-year history. Situated across three floors, this holistic retreat was crafted by acclaimed designer André Fu to evoke complete restoration for the spirt, body, and mind. This full-service spa features an impressive list of amenities tied to major names in the industry, such as a beauty and hair salon led by acclaimed stylist Josh Wood and his team, acupuncture services from Ross J. Barr, and nail artistry courtesy of Harriet Westmoreland. The spa also boasts a heated swimming pool, private consultation spaces, curated treatment rooms, and cabanas added with the intention of total tranquility. Fu’s design for the restorative space was inspired by his visits to Japanese temples and the Zen atmosphere of Kyoto, where he incorporated natural elements such as limestone and wood as well as a minimalist color palette. Now open, the full roster of the spa’s services are listed on their website. —Shelby Black

2. Orior and Christopher John Rogers Present Colorful Collaboration

In honor of the most recent New York Fashion Week, Irish design studio Orior teamed up with in-demand fashion designer Christopher John Rogers for a capsule collection benefitting the nonprofit Color of Change, the civil rights advocacy group formed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The four-piece line features sculptural chairs drawn for Orior’s archives that have all been updated with modern finishes and upholstered in lively fabrics by Rogers, who won the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2019. “I am a massive fan of Christopher’s vision and have been in awe at the incredible mark he has made on American fashion; it’s so exciting for this to be Orior’s first major collaboration with an external designer,” said Orior creative director, Ciaran McGuigan, in a statement. “Orior still remains a family and friends-run company, so it means everything to us to partner with Christopher in this way and support Color of Change.” The made-to-order pieces can be acquired at the brand’s Manhattan showroom at 32 Mercer Street or at oriorfurniture.com. —Geoffrey Montes

3. Txikito Restaurant Debuts a New Look in Chelsea

Regulars of the New York Chelsea art scene have certainly found themselves at Txikito after a night of gallery openings. The neighborhood favorite, revered for its flavorful and soulful reimaginations of Basque dishes, has now reopened after being closed for more than two years. For many other restaurants, that long of the closure would be impossible to come back from, but Alex Raij and Eder Montero, the husband-and-wife chef team behind the food world darling, used its dormancy to update the decor to match the menu’s understated elegance. Highly charactered black marble with white veining now surrounds the bar, and the rough wood planks once on the walls have been replaced for more refined paneling. As for the cuisine, fan favorites such as the octopus carpaccio and crackling-crusted suckling pig are still musts, while the swordfish belly and butcher steak are worthy additions. –Jacqueline Terrebonne

4. Annie Leibowitz Offers a Private Portrait Sitting for Sotheby’s Impact Gala Auction

Sotheby’s hosts its first Impact Gala this Wednesday, September 28, to benefit Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado’s climate protection initiative, Instituto Terra. Cocktails, dinner, and a live auction will all be held at the auction house’s New York flagship, and event co-chair Annie Leibovitz has auctioned off the opportunity of a lifetime: As part of the live-auction lot, the iconic photographer (whose work has graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Vogue, and Vanity Fair) is offering a private portrait commission for up to two people, along with a copy of her TASCHEN limited edition SUMO publication Annie Leibovitz. Among the other auction items are a private studio visit with David Hockney in Normandy and Sebastião Salgado’s debut NFT Tree of Life. Get your paddles ready. —Stefanie Li

5. Holly Hunt Opens Spectacular New Showroom in Los Angeles

Designers on the West Coast now have a remarkable new shopping destination as Holly Hunt debuts a flagship on North Highland Avenue in the burgeoning Sycamore District of Los Angeles, notable for its rising art and design scene. Taking over a 1940s-era warehouse, the showroom was reimagined by L.A. architecture firm Johnston Marklee, which created a pair of residential-style “villas” that display pieces from Holly Hunt’s extensive studio collection as well as myriad furniture, lighting, and design accessories from its roster of collaborators including Vladimir Kagan, Christian Astuguevieille, and Draga & Aurel, with many of the offerings exclusive to the city. Holly Hunt’s South Villa is punctuated by a Kagan’s 24-foot Omnibus sofa, a breathtaking bespoke magnolia hand-blown glass chandelier by Elizabeth Lyons, and a sweeping staircase that ferries visitors up to the second floor gallery filled with textile, rug, wall covering, and trim collections. Guests will also discover three bespoke lacquer finishes, site-specific lighting installations, and new designs by Alison Berger Glassworks, JMW Studio, and Humbert & Poyet for Pouenat, among others. Inside the North Villa, visitors will find Draga & Aurel’s jewel-toned glass side tables, which are exclusive to Los Angeles, as well as the studio’s Joy wall lamps, plus bold color-block artworks by German born artist Anke Blaue.

“Our new L.A. location is more than just a showroom; it is an expression of our core values of design, quality and craftsmanship,” Holly Hunt’s SVP and Executive Creative Director Jo Annah Kornak says in a statement. “We approached the interior architecture in the same way that we would design a new product, being very thoughtful with our use of scale, proportion, and materials. I think we’ve created a remarkable space that is authentic to the Holly Hunt brand, but also to our new neighborhood.” —Jill Sieracki