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Jeffrey Gibson and Jennie C. Jones Head to the Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has revealed the next two artists who are taking over its Fifth Avenue facade and rooftop garden in 2025. The former will go to Jeffrey Gibson, the Choctaw-Cherokee artist known for vibrant abstract works that celebrate Native identities. He’s planning four figurative sculptures that he describes as “ancestral spirit figures” for the niches. The commission follows his selection to represent the United States at this year’s Venice Biennale. The rooftop commission, meanwhile, will go to Jennie C. Jones, who is known for her minimalist sound installations that probe Black avant-garde music.
Interior designer Jeremiah Brent has joined the cast of Queer Eye, completing the Fab 5 following Bobby Berk’s exit after the Netflix show’s first eight seasons. Brent founded his namesake design firm and lifestyle brand Atrio and rose to fame while working as Rachel Zoe’s styling associate on The Rachel Zoe Project. He has collaborated on multiple projects with his husband, Nate Berkus, including an exclusive line with Living Spaces and co-hosting several renovation-themed reality shows. The ninth season of Queer Eye, which will take place in Las Vegas, is expected to air in 2025. —Ryan Waddoups
Zoe Saldaña in a scene from the forthcoming movie “Emilia Perez.” Image courtesy of Saint Laurent Productions.…
Anthony Vaccarello, fresh from unveiling a highly anticipated collection for Saint Laurent in Paris, is expanding his horizons to include more film costumes. Saint Laurent Productions, the fashion house’s production arm, will co-produce French director Jacques Audiard’s upcoming film Emilia Perez, described as a melodrama musical featuring an ensemble cast including Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Edgar Ramírez, and Adriana Paz. The movie, co-produced with French production companies, will feature music by Clément Ducol and Camille, with choreography by Damien Jalet. Saint Laurent’s commitment to filmmaking has recently intensified, with the house establishing a dedicated subsidiary for full-fledged movie production, marking a departure from traditional fashion house involvement in cinema.
Steve McQueen received the prestigious Volta Lifetime Achievement Award last week.
Steve McQueen has been honored with the prestigious Volta Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dublin International Film Festival. Recognized for his compelling and intense storytelling, the British filmmaker’s work delves into pressing social and historical issues, notably depicted in films like Hunger (2008), Shame (2011), and 12 Years a Slave (2014), which made Oscar history as the first film by a Black director to win Best Picture. His recent projects, including the documentary Occupied City (2023), continue to provoke thought on themes of race, class, and power. Beyond film, McQueen’s body of work encompasses shorts, installations, and ongoing durational pieces, earning him numerous accolades, including knighthood in 2020.
The entrance hall of the Estonian House. Image courtesy of the Estonian House …
Esther, a new art fair launching this spring in New York City, will take place during Frieze from May 1–4. Founded by Margot Samel and Olga Temnikova Tallinn, the fair will host 25 global galleries at the New York Estonian House, a historic Beaux-Arts building designed by Thomas A. Gray. Despite competition from established fairs like Frieze and NADA, Esther aims to stand out by encouraging exhibitors to tailor their presentations to the venue’s unique architecture and history. The fair will feature artworks, site-specific installations, performances, and events throughout the building’s spaces, which are all open to the public.
Last year, advertisements featuring artist Julia Sinelnikova in a passionate embrace with a former partner began appearing across New York City, promoting the Museum of Sex’s “erotic carnival.” Despite the images being taken without Sinelnikova’s consent during a 2019 photo shoot at the museum, she received no compensation. After requesting $25,000 in restitution, Sinelnikova filed a lawsuit seeking $250,000 in damages when the museum refused to comply. The museum, acknowledging the absence of a release, contended that Sinelnikova was aware of the shoot’s professional nature and usage of the images. The museum now intends to remove the unauthorized image from its ads.
Mercedes-Benz has revealed plans for its inaugural branded skyscraper in North America, a 67-story mixed-use tower named Mercedes-Benz Places in Brickell, Miami. Developed by JDS Development Group and designed by SHoP Architects with Mercedes-Benz’s design team, the project seeks to embody the brand’s philosophy of “sensual purity.” The tower, set to be one of Florida’s largest ongoing developments, will feature 791 residences, office space, a hotel, retail areas, and extensive amenities. Reflecting the brand’s design principles, the building features distinctive curved-corner balconies and a color scheme dominated by “technical silver,” with nods to classic Mercedes-Benz colors. The project also includes a revitalization of Miami’s Southside Park, Construction has started, with occupancy projected for 2027.
The forlorn Oompa Loompa from the viral Willy Wonka experience…
