Dr. Samuel Ross. Image courtesy of Kohler Photography Studio…
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Samuel Ross Will Lead the Next London Design Biennale
Samuel Ross has been named artistic director of the London Design Biennale’s fifth edition, scheduled for June 5–29, 2025. The British designer and founder of SR_A SR_A was tasked with selecting the event’s theme and landed on “Surface Reflections,” which promises to explore how internal and external experiences fuel our ideas and how revelations and personal histories inform who we are. He’ll also debut large-scale sculptural works in the courtyard at Somerset House, marking his first U.K. installation. “London’s consistent spirit of experimentation and palpable artist culture remains a fresh forum for global thinking,” Ross says, also noting his eagerness to “fuel a spirit of experimentation” and “blur the edges of where design meets art.”
In other people news, Pierre Yovanovitch Group has acquired the historic French manufacturer d’Argentat and its subsidiary Ecart International, founded by the legendary Andrée Putman. The move allows the French interior designer’s business to vertically integrate manufacturing and develop historic French design on an international scale. Elizabeth C. Babcock has been named the new founding director of the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum after Nancy Yao stepped down last year. The curator, critic, and digital art specialist Tina Rivers Ryan will leave her position at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum to become editor-in-chief of Artforum, succeeding ousted editor David Velasco. —Ryan Waddoups
Marmol Radziner has completed The Beaudry, which now stands as California’s tallest residential skyscraper. Rising 695 feet with 64 floors, it houses 785 units, commercial space, and a vast outdoor terrace. Inspired by midcentury American skyscrapers, the sleek tower features a base integrating parking and massive columns. Balconies and operable windows offer city views and embrace the mild climate, while interior aesthetics echo midcentury influences with wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling glazing. Integrating with the streetscape and plaza, the tower signifies a shift for Marmol Radziner towards larger-scale projects while maintaining its signature modernist style and incorporating local craftsmanship.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has launched American Riviera Orchard, a kitchen and lifestyle brand, with a mysterious 15-second Instagram video featuring her arranging flowers and cooking in her Southern California kitchen. Though details are scarce, a trademark application hints at a retail store and product line including cookbooks and spreads. The announcement follows Meghan and Prince Harry’s move to Montecito and previous ventures like their Netflix deal and Meghan’s former lifestyle blog, The Tig. Despite the lack of information, the brand’s Instagram quickly gained more than 200,000 followers upon the announcement.
“Lady in Blue” by Tschabalala Self for the Fourth Plinth Commission. Photography by James O Jenkins…
Tschabalala Self and Andra Ursuţa will exhibit sculptures on London’s Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in 2026 and 2028, respectively. Chosen from a shortlist of seven artists by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, chaired by Ekow Eshun, the decision also considered public votes. Self’s Lady in Blue, a bronze sculpture depicting a woman of color, aims to symbolize London’s spirit, while Ursuţa’s Untitled features a life-sized horseback figure in translucent, slime-green resin, sparking discussion about public space and historical narratives. Maquettes of the shortlisted works are currently on display at the National Gallery.
Adam Neumann’s real estate startup, Flow, is embarking on a $300 million development in downtown Miami. Part of the Miami Worldcenter redevelopment, includes apartments, the venture includes apartments, retail spaces, and offices. Despite Neumann’s involvement with WeWork, which recently filed for bankruptcy, Flow secured $350 million in funding in 2022 and is moving ahead with its Miami plans. The involvement of Neumann-linked firms in Miami Worldcenter dates back to 2021, with his projects expected to reshape the city’s landscape.
The Brooklyn Museum is auctioning more than 200 furnishings and four historic period rooms, spanning from the 17th to the 20th century, including pieces from prominent figures like Luke Vincent Lockwood and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. Among the period rooms for sale is a dining room from the Federal-style Cane Acres Plantation, with an estimated value of $4,000. The sale, set for March 20 at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, follows the museum’s decision to refine its collection and make room for new exhibits, though the exact proceeds are undisclosed. Notable items range from a Virginia Queen Anne walnut dressing table to a Le Corbusier LC4 lounge chair, highlighting both historic and modern pieces up for auction.
“Isle of Light” by MARS Studio. Image courtesy of MARS Studio…
