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Maximilian Davis Stokes a Ferragamo Renaissance
Just over a year after Maximilian Davis took the top job at Ferragamo, the young creative director’s reinvigoration of the heritage Italian label iscontinuing apace. Look no further than the brand’s forthcoming Fall/Winter 2023 collection for proof of an impending Renaissance. For the campaign, he enlisted Beyoncé-favorite photographer Tyler Mitchell to capture Renaissance-inspired images shot at Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where Salvatore Ferragamo headquartered the brand in 1927 after a short stint in the United States.
In the photos, which celebrate the beauty and cultural history of Florence, models draped in the new collection pose alongside 15th- and 16th-century treasures like Paolo Veronese’s Annunciation to the Virgin and Piero della Francesca’s Diptych of Federica da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza. “The Renaissance is hardwired into Florence, and Florence is hardwired into Ferragamo,” Davis says. “At this time of a new beginning at the house, it made perfect sense to reclaim the cradle of the Renaissance as our spiritual home, and to harness the deep, artistic spirit of this city to showcase the new collection.” —Ryan Waddoups
A painting from Hilma af Klint’s “Eros” series. Image courtesy of the Hilma af Klint Foundation …
Hilma af Klint, celebrated as a pioneer in abstract painting, faces new scrutiny as scholars are questioning the authorship of her works. Recent research indicates that Anna Cassel, part of af Klint’s spiritualist collective the Five, likely contributed to 15 paintings central to the Guggenheim’s blockbuster 2018 exhibition. This has sparked debate about af Klint’s role and the collective nature of her work. Concurrently, legal disputes in Sweden have erupted over control of af Klint’s foundation, which oversees nearly 1,300 paintings. Three lawsuits are challenging the foundation’s governance, causing delays in establishing museum loans and jeopardizing lucrative licensing deals.
After a decade of planning, Alex Ohebshalom is gearing up to unveil The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York’s NoMad area this fall. The hotel is a lavish blend of old and new, incorporating a landmarked mansion by McKim, Mead & White and a contemporary glass tower designed by Perkins Eastman and PBDW Architects. Martin Brudnizki Design Studio has crafted the interiors, mixing opulence with modernity and paying homage to the building’s Gilded Age roots. The hotel’s 153 rooms feature a “romantic bohemian” aesthetic with design elements like antique furnishings and colorful Murano chandeliers. A high-end dining experience is provided by a restaurant led by Chef Andrew Carmellini. Ohebshalom aims for the hotel to set a new standard in hospitality, targeting a discerning audience that values unique experiences.
Furniture by Rafael de Cárdenas for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Image courtesy of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams…
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, a well-known furniture company based in North Carolina, has abruptly shut down, sending shockwaves through the furniture and interiors industry. Owned by family-run equity firm Stephens Group since 2015, the company cited an inability to secure additional financing as the reason for its closure. The shutdown follows a similar move by Klaussner Home Furnishings, another company owned by private equity investors, which also recently closed. Interim CEO Chris Moye, who joined the company in April as a turnaround specialist, announced the closure, leaving the fate of the company’s assets and its North Carolina manufacturing facility uncertain. The company had recently collaborated with designers Rafael de Cárdenas and Eskayel.
The New Mexico Museum of Art is expanding with the opening of the Vladem Contemporary on September 23. Located in a renovated 1930s warehouse in Santa Fe’s Railyards district, the new space adds 18,000 square feet for exhibitions, educational programs, and artist residencies. The inaugural show, “Shadow and Light,” explores New Mexico’s unique light quality that has inspired artists in the Transcendental Painting Group, the Light and Space Movement, and Land Art. The $20.2 million project was funded by the state and private donors, including a $4 million contribution from local patrons Robert and Ellen Vladem.
LuxImpact, a company founded by ex-Cartier colleagues Frédéric de Narp and Coralie de Fontenay, is on a mission to breathe new life into defunct French jewelry brands. After successfully reviving the Vever brand, they’ve turned their attention to 19th-century jeweler Léon Rouvenat. The revived Rouvenat brand debuted its high-end pieces during Couture Week, with each piece selling for more than 100,000 euros ($108,000). The brand also has an exclusive sales arrangement with Fine Arts Jewellery in Dubai and plans to expand to the U.S. market. In line with LuxImpact’s ecological principles, Rouvenat uses recycled gold and repurposed gemstones in its designs. The brand aims to be a mission-driven company with specific sustainability goals and will participate in the upcoming ReLuxury Fair in Geneva.
