California Gains a Striking Design Gallery in Maison Lane, and Other News – SURFACE

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California Gains a Striking Design Gallery in Maison Lane

Long considered a hub for Los Angeles creatives, Venice is now home to Maison Lune, a latest art and design gallery from Sandrine Abessera and Lubov Azria. The 4,000-square-foot residential-style gallery features art, collectible design, and objets, all of which were curated by Gaia Jacquet Matisse. For its debut exhibition, works by Matisse’s mother, Sophie, together with those by Bobbie Olivier, Jeannie Weissglass, Edson Fernandes, James Fischetti, Angela Damman, and Santiago Martinez Peral shall be on view through the top of Frieze L.A. 

“We would like to construct an alternative choice to traditional galleries, which are sometimes perceived as too elitist and intimidating,” Abessera and Azria told Dezeen. The duo worked with interior designer Gabriella Kuti to convert the space, formerly a personal residence, right into a “dream home, where beauty rules,” of their words, making it the nice and cozy and welcoming gallery it’s now. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s friendly rivalry stars in a latest Broadway play.

“Who will win the title of “Biggest Painter within the World Today”? That’s the premise at the center of a vibrant latest Broadway play that examines how two of the Twentieth-century’s best artists competed for supremacy while working together. The Collaboration, which opened Dec. 20 on the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, explores how Andy Warhol, then an aging has-been within the latter portion of his profession, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the art world’s latest rising star whose semi-abstract canvases injected latest life into painting and sold handsomely, planned a joint exhibition. Billed as a match between two heavyweights, the pair donned boxing gloves to advertise the show—a clash between the old guard and the brand new.” [H/T ARTnews]

Elena Xausa, an in-demand illustrator renowned for her whimsical style, dies at 38. 

“Elena Xausa, who was wanted by top publications and corporations for her vibrant and kooky illustrations that evoked joie de vivre even amongst essentially the most seemingly on a regular basis subjects, died on Nov. 27 at her home in Marostica, Italy. She was 38. Her death got here as she was gaining ever wider recognition, together with her work appearing in The Economist, The Recent York Times, Rolling Stone, The Recent Yorker, and The Washington Post in addition to in campaigns by Apple, Nike, and other advertisers. Ms. Xausa’s illustrations were known for boldly outlined minimalist shapes full of vivid, solid colours. They were often visual metaphors accentuating the irony of a situation.” [H/T The New York Times]

Mexico City, UNESCO, and Airbnb form an alliance to advertise creative tourism there.

“Mexico City, UNESCO, and Airbnb announced an alliance to position the town because the capital of creative tourism and distant staff in Latin America. The announcement was made known through the Mexico City Government’s social networks and Airbnb’s news section. UNESCO unveiled the strategy with the intention of “contributing to the reactivation of tourism in a responsible and sustainable way in Mexico, and increasing the advantages of cultural and inventive tourism to more communities. Mexico City joins the list of 20 cities all over the world, together with other destinations comparable to Dubai, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, Palm Springs, and Queensland, to turn out to be a bunch destination for distant staff and digital nomads. This initiative is a component of Airbnb’s Live & Work Anywhere campaign that was launched in May.” [H/T ArchDaily]

A latest review of Santa Barbara’s “megadorm” calls for sweeping design changes.

“A latest independent review produced by a 13-member panel made up of college and community members on the University of California, Santa Barbara has outlined a bunch of health and safety risks inherent within the contested Munger Hall megadorm design proposal. The report cited the necessity for Covid-safe ventilation techniques, safer egress routes, and the psychological toll taken on students as aspects to be considered in a “robust redesign” that might follow the changes made previously in response to a torrent of community feedback. It also decried an absence of out of doors input early on.” [H/T Archinect]

An Iranian artist unveils artwork outside Tate Modern honoring victims of Khamenei.

“From a distance, there’s a festive look to the red, white, and green streamers fluttering within the riverside breeze in front of Tate Modern. But move closer and also you see that these strips of crepe paper are interspersed with signs declaring ‘Say Their Names’ and multiple images of men, women, and kids. Red, white, and green are also the colours of the Iranian flag, and the people whose faces and names are on display are the 400-plus Iranians who’ve been killed by the regime for the reason that protests erupted with the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Say Their Names is an ongoing project instigated by the Iranian artist Anahita Rezvani-Rad, who has lived in London since 2004. The project got here from a desire to record and commemorate those that have died within the recent uprisings.” [H/T The Art Newspaper]

Vandals destroy a 30,000-year-old Aboriginal artwork at Australia’s Koonalda Cave.

“In a devastating hit to world heritage, vandals struck South Australia’s Koonalda Cave on Nullarbor Plain, destroying 30,000-year-old artwork on the national heritage site. The cave is taken into account sacred by its owners, the Mirning people. “This is kind of frankly shocking,” South Australia Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Kyam Maher, told Australia’s ABC Radio. “These caves are a number of the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation of that a part of the country.” He called for a “severe penalty” for those responsible. Under the law, damaging an Aboriginal site may lead to 6 months jail time or a high-quality of $6,700.” [H/T Artnet News]

Today’s attractive distractions:

Lionel Messi winning the World Cup is now Instagram’s most-liked picture.

Titanic’s best unsolved mystery involves a bowl of PCP-laced chowder.

Nobody has known the mysterious origins of a Joan Didion portrait until now.

Lizzo’s SNL performance paid homage to a famous Annie Lee painting.