Lauren S. Thompson. Photography by Matteo Bianchessi…
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Lauren S. Thompson’s Tetrastella Collection Launches at Spring
For her latest launch, Los Angeles artist and designer Lauren S. Thompson is heading east, to the New York City outpost of Spring. The bold shapes and lines at work in Tetrastella, pictured above, represent her quest to capture energy patterns and frequencies in geometric forms. Equally at home indoors or out, each sculpture in the 10-piece collection captures the rugged energy of the California coast. The collection will enjoy a limited launch at Spring’s New York gallery before heading to Frieze L.A. in February. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal. Photography by Philippe Ruault…
The 2023 Soane Medal has been awarded to French architecture practice Lacaton & Vassal. The firm’s founders, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, will receive the honor during a ceremony at Sir John Soane’s Museum, where they will deliver the sixth annual Soane Medal Lecture. The duo are renowned for their honest design approach, characterized by resourceful repurposing of materials and existing structures. With more than 30 years of experience, they have transformed buildings, including social housing and cultural institutions, and seek to enhance spaces and respect the needs of communities. Their commitment to avoiding unnecessary waste and prioritizing the well-being of occupants and local communities has earned them multiple accolades, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2021.
Gucci is relocating its design office from Rome to Milan, prompting 153 out of 219 employees to strike in the Italian capital. The move aims to foster collaboration between the creative director, Sabato De Sarno, and the strategic functions of the company already based in Milan. The transition will be gradual, ensuring compliance with existing regulations, with the relocation of all affected employees expected to be completed by the first half of 2024. Gucci assures that the transfer will not result in staff reductions and offers favorable measures to support the move. The design offices in Rome will remain operational, with the historic Palazzo Alberini and Palazzo Mancini retaining their significance in Gucci’s history.
“. . . they were just hanging out . . . you know . . . talking about . . . ( . . . when they grow up . . .)” (2016) by Ebony Patterson. Photography by Adam Reich, courtesy of artist, The Dean Collection, Monique Meloche Gallery, and the Studio Museum in Harlem…
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys’ extensive art collection is heading to the Brooklyn Museum.
The Brooklyn Museum has announced “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” a forthcoming exhibition scheduled to open in February. This show offers insight into the couple’s extensive history of collecting, reflecting their passion for both music and supporting Black artists. It features a wide array of artists including Gordon Parks, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lorna Simpson, Kehinde Wiley, and Nina Chanel Abney. The exhibition explores the connections between multigenerational Black artists and encourages discussions about societal critiques and celebrations of Black culture through monumental artworks.
Since 2020, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has invested nearly $173 million in 80 completed or ongoing monument projects across 37 states, aiming to diversify narratives in the public spaces. Now, they’re doubling their initial commitment to $250 million over the next five years, totaling $500 million for their Monuments Project, the largest multi-year funding initiative in their history. Their work, influenced by Monument Lab’s 2021 study on monument demographics, seeks to represent a broader range of stories, especially in the context of ongoing discussions about American identity. Recent projects, like Harriet Tubman Square in Newark and changes at Washington National Cathedral, reflect this shift. President Biden’s designation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument also highlights the impact of such efforts.
Sotheby’s is making strategic changes to its real estate footprint by leasing out half of its longtime Manhattan headquarters at 1334 York Avenue to Weill Cornell Medicine. The medical institution will occupy 200,000 square feet across five floors, transforming the space into research labs focused on neuroscience, cancer, and women’s health. This shift is part of Sotheby’s owner Patrick Drahi’s asset reshuffling efforts, as he looks to sell parts of his holdings while facing tax charges and a corruption probe. The move also reflects a larger trend on the Upper East Side where institutions are reevaluating their real estate usage and tenants.
Books designed by Iris Alba. Image courtesy of Flecha Books…
