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D.S. & Durga’s Tennis-Themed Fragrance Serves an Ace
As anticipation builds for the U.S. Open, D.S. & Durga is serving up irreverence in the form of its latest limited-edition launch. Crush Balls is an ode to the confluence of discipline, dedication, and sometimes sheer luck that make it possible to crush a game of singles or doubles. The fragrance house’s co-founder David Moltz initially doubted whether “another green, fresh fragrance” was really necessary, but its summer-forever notes of green grass, verdant hedge flowers, and white cotton have us convinced. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
David Adjaye, facing allegations of sexual misconduct, has reportedly lost his role in Neom’s The Line megacity development in Saudi Arabia. This follows Adjaye’s dismissal from several other major projects, including the International Slavery Museum renovation in Liverpool, Vermont’s Shelburne Museum extension, and the planned waterfront redevelopment in Cleveland. The UK Holocaust Memorial project has also suspended his role, while some underway projects have cut ties. Only the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art project in India has not yet commented on their continued involvement with Adjaye or his firm.
The Orlando Museum of Art has filed a lawsuit against its former director, Aaron De Groft, and five co-owners of paintings, accusing them of a scheme to exhibit and sell fake works attributed to Jean-Michel Basquiat. The lawsuit alleges that De Groft sought personal profit by leveraging the museum’s reputation to legitimize the fraudulent paintings, with the promise of a significant cut from their sale. The FBI’s involvement led to a raid on the museum and the seizure of the paintings, followed by the firing of De Groft and probation for the museum.
A post from designer Elizabeth Goodspeed pointing out similarities between Kith and Felix Gonzalez-Torres. Via X…
A footwear campaign by clothing brand Kith, in collaboration with Asics to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Marvel’s X-Men franchise, is facing criticism for its resemblance to Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s iconic artwork Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) (1991). Independent designer Elizabeth Goodspeed pointed out the similarity on social media, though she stated she did not believe the resemblance was intentional. Legal scholar Eduardo Peñalver told Hyperallergic that the visual similarities between the ad and the piece are striking, and it seems unlikely that Kith’s reference to the artwork was accidental. Some sneaker enthusiasts and others disagreed, arguing that the “pile” motif is common in both art and sneaker culture.
Thierry W. Despont, a renowned French architect known for his eclectic classicism and lavish designs, died unexpectedly at 75 in Southampton, New York. His illustrious career included the establishment of his own practice in Manhattan, the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, and the transformation of the Woolworth Building’s office floors into high-end apartments. He earned a reputation as a sought-after designer for wealthy clients, creating private residences that evoked historical elegance. His firm announced that his team would continue his legacy, ensuring that his spirit remains present in all future architectural and design endeavors.
Former commodities trader Christian Levett is transforming his Mougins Museum of Classical Art in the south of France into “the first museum in Europe dedicated to art by women artists.” The museum will close at the end of August 2023 and reopen in June 2024 as the Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins, featuring rotating shows of Modern and contemporary art. Works by artists such as Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, and Elaine de Kooning from Levett’s collection will be displayed in the refurbished venue. Levett, who began building a female Abstract Expressionism collection during the pandemic, has also loaned numerous paintings to exhibitions and sponsored shows at other museums.
