California wins striking design gallery at Maison Lane, and other news – SURFACE

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California wins a striking design gallery at Maison Lane

Long considered a hub for Los Angeles creatives, Venice is now home to Maison Lune, a new art and design gallery by Sandrine Abessera and Lubov Azria. The 4,000 square foot residential-style gallery showcases fine art, collectibles and objects, all curated by Gaia Jacquet Matisse. For its first exhibition, the works of Matisse’s mother, Sophie, as well as those of Bobbie Olivier, Jeannie Weissglass, Edson Fernandes, James Fischetti, Angela Damman and Santiago Martinez Peral will be displayed until the end of Frieze LA

“We want to build an alternative to traditional galleries, which are often seen as too elite and intimidating,” Abessera and Azria said. Dezeen. The duo worked with interior designer Gabriella Kuti to convert the space, formerly a private residence, into a “dream home, where beauty reigns”, in their own words, making the gallery warm and inviting that it is today. —Jenna Adrian Diaz

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s friendly rivalry plays out in a new Broadway play.

“Who will win the title of ‘Greatest Painter in the World Today’? It’s the premise at the heart of a vibrant new Broadway play that examines how two of the greatest artists of the 20th century battled for supremacy while working together. Cooperation, which opened December 20 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater, explores how Andy Warhol, then aging in the latter part of his career, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the art world’s latest rising star whose canvases semi-abstract paintings injects new life into the painting and sells handsomely, plans 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 new. [H/T ARTnews]

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

“Elena Xausa, who was sought after by top publications and companies for her vibrant, whimsical illustrations that evoked the joy of living in even the most seemingly everyday subjects, died November 27 at her home in Marostica, Italy. She was 38 years old. Her death came as she gained wider recognition, with her work appearing in The Economist, The New York Times, rolling stone, the new yorkerand The Washington Post as well as in the campaigns of Apple, Nike and other advertisers. Ms. Xausa’s illustrations were known for their minimalist shapes with bold outlines filled with bright, solid colors. These were often visual metaphors that accentuated the irony of a situation. [H/T The New York Times]

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

“Mexico City, UNESCO and Airbnb have announced an alliance to position the city as the capital of creative tourism and remote workers in Latin America. The announcement was made via Mexico City government social media and Airbnb’s news section. UNESCO unveiled the strategy with the aim of “contributing to the reactivation of tourism in a responsible and sustainable way in Mexico and extending the benefits of cultural and creative tourism to more communities. Mexico City joins the list of 20 cities of the world , along with other destinations such as Dubai, Lisbon, Buenos Aires, Palm Springs and Queensland, to become a welcoming destination for remote workers and digital nomads.This initiative is part of the Live & Work Anywhere campaign from Airbnb which was launched in May. [H/T ArchDaily]

A new review of “Santa Barbara”mega dormitorycalls for radical design changes.

“A new independent review produced by a 13-member panel of faculty and community members from the University of California, Santa Barbara has outlined a host of health and safety risks inherent in the contested design proposal of the Munger Hall Megadorm The report cited the need for Covid-safe ventilation techniques, safer exit routes and the psychological toll suffered by students as factors to consider in a “robust overhaul” that would follow changes made previously in response to a torrent of community feedback, he also called out a lack of outside input early on. [H/T Archinect]

An Iranian artist unveils a work outside the Tate Modern in honor of Khamenei’s victims.

“From a distance, the red, white and green streamers fluttering in the river breeze in front of the Tate Modern look festive. But get closer and you see these strips of crepe paper are interspersed with signs declaring “Say their names” and multiple images of men, women and children. Red, white and green are also the colors of the Iranian flag, and the people whose faces and names are on display are the more than 400 Iranians who have been killed by the regime since protests erupted with the death of Mahsa Amini in September. . Say Their Names is an ongoing project initiated by Iranian artist Anahita Rezvani-Rad, who has lived in London since 2004. The project grew out of a desire to record and commemorate those who died in recent uprisings. [H/T The Art Newspaper]

Vandals destroy 30,000 year old Aboriginal artwork in Australia’s Koonalda Cave.

“In a devastating blow to World Heritage, vandals have struck South Australia’s Koonalda Cave on the Nullarbor Plain, destroying 30,000-year-old artwork at the National Heritage Site. The cave is considered sacred by its owners, the Mirning people. “It’s frankly shocking,” South Australia’s Attorney General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Kyam Maher, told Australia’s ABC radio. “These caves are among the earliest evidence of Aboriginal occupation of this part of the country.” He called for “severe punishment” for those responsible. Under the law, damaging an Indigenous site could result in six months in jail or a $6,700 fine. [H/T Artnet News]

Today’s attractive distractions:

Lionel Messi winning the World Cup now belongs to Instagram most liked picture.

Titanic’s biggest unsolved mystery concerns a bowl of PCP chowder.

No one has known the mysterious origins of a Portrait of Jeanne Didion so far.

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