Photography by Annie Leibovitz/Ikea Artist in Residence…
The Design Dispatch offers expertly written and essential news from the design world crafted by our dedicated team. Think of it as your cheat sheet for the day in design delivered to your inbox before you’ve had your coffee. Subscribe now.
Have a news story our readers need to see? Submit it here
Annie Leibovitz’s “Dream Project?” An Ikea Collab.
Annie Leibovitz was recently named Ikea’s first-ever artist in residence, a creative collaboration the esteemed photographer described as a “dream project,” and has culminated in her newest exhibition: “Life at Home.” In keeping with her accolades as the fashion glossies’ photographer of choice, the exhibition’s 25 images will be on view for the remainder of Paris Fashion Week, until March 3 at 28 Rue de Lappe.
Yet “Life at Home” doesn’t focus on the kinds of gilded residences often enshrined in the magazine pages of yore. Instead the project took Leibovitz around the world in pursuit of documenting diverse ways of life—think houseboats, apartment dwellings, and recreational vehicles—everywhere from London to Mumbai and Tokyo. A single statistic, shared by Ikea and Leibovitz, underpins the collaboration: 48 percent of people around the world do not feel that their home life is represented in the media. With “Life at Home,” it seems the tides are changing. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
An aerial view of Luna Luna in 1987. Photography by Sabrina Sarnitz, courtesy of Luna Luna LLC…
Prada Mode is bringing its cultural activation to Los Angeles with the third edition of The Double Club by Carsten Höller, in collaboration with Luna Luna. The event, happening March 7 and 8 at Luna Luna Studio, features a site-specific installation in the Arts District, employing Höller’s signature tropes to create nine unique spaces that deconstruct carnival rides, investigating spectacle and delight through contemporary art. Musical programming curated by Höller and Drake adds to the experience. The project is part of Prada’s ongoing Mode series, previously hosted in Tokyo, Dubai, and Moscow to showcase collaborations with artists and architects.
Christian Cowan is venturing into musical theater as the costume designer for “The Queen of Versailles,” slated to premiere in Boston this summer. Starring Kristin Chenoweth as socialite Jackie Siegel and F. Murray Abraham as her husband David, the musical is based on the 2012 documentary depicting the Siegel family’s pursuit of a lavish personal residence in the face of the 2008 recession. Directed by Michael Arden, with music by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Lindsey Ferrentino, tickets are now available for the pre-Broadway run from July 16 to Aug. 18.
The Wilmington Waterfront Promenade. Photography by Barrett Doherty…
Wilmington, Los Angeles, a community overshadowed by the bustling shipping industry, is undergoing transformation with the opening of the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, a $77.3 million park by Sasaki aimed at enhancing public access to the waterfront. Funded by the Port of Los Angeles, the promenade is part of a broader initiative to invest in the surrounding area. Designed to integrate with the natural landscape and provide recreational opportunities, the park reflects the area’s industrial heritage while offering respite and community engagement. However, amidst the celebration, concerns about noise pollution and gentrification linger, highlighting the complex ties between economic development and community well-being.
Brad Gooch’s biography of Keith Haring offers a comprehensive look into the artist’s life, from his rural Pennsylvania upbringing to his rise as an international art icon. Through meticulous research and interviews, Gooch traces Haring’s journey from art school dropout to celebrated figure in the New York art scene. Haring’s exploration of his identity as a gay man and his merging of art and activism during the AIDS crisis are also highlighted, showing his profound impact on both the art world and the LGBTQ+ community. Gooch’s narrative captures the vibrant yet tumultuous atmosphere of 1980s New York, providing not only a portrait of Haring but also a reflection on the era’s cultural and social dynamics.
Dia Art Foundation has recently expanded its collection to include more works by women and artists of color. This shift is exemplified by adding Meg Webster’s sculptures at Dia Beacon, which interact with the landscape and symbolize a transition from industrial to natural materials. Webster’s sculptures, made of soil, beeswax, moss, and other elements, invite contemplation of themes like environmentalism and human interaction with nature. Despite some missed opportunities to connect Webster’s work with contemporary movements like Indigenous art, her presence at Dia signals a potential shift towards a more dynamic and inclusive landscape.
A still from the 'Barbie' movie. Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures…
