Kelly Wearstler Debuts New Furniture, FKA Twigs Takes on Noguchi, and More News

Need to KnowKelly Wearstler Debuts New Furniture, FKA Twigs Takes on Noguchi, and More NewsHere’s what you need to know

By Sophia Herring

April 22, 2022

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A still from the FKA Twigs film, which centers on Isamu Noguchi sculptures.Photo: Lucy Owen

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From significant business changes to noteworthy product launches, there’s always something new happening in the world of design. In this bi-weekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know. 

Product Launches

Kelly Wearstler Debuts 1970s-Inspired Furniture Line

On April 18, AD Hall of Fame designer Kelly Wearstler introduced the Morro Collection. The tables, lounge chairs, and sofas draw inspiration from 1970s furniture trends, such as softer, monolithically-formed designs. Nods to midcentury Japanese furniture can also be spotted in the range—as can fabrics from Wearstler’s latest collection with Lee Jofa.

Porsche Teams Up with Rimowa

Porsche has once again teamed up with luxury luggage brand Rimowa (whose own collaborators have included fashion powerhouses like Supreme, Off-White, and Dior, as well as Aesop). When they first joined forces in 2013, Porsche and Rimowa launched a line that included a sleek, limited-edition trolley. Now, a special edition hand-carry case, named Pepita, celebrates the legacy of both brands by drawing from Porsche’s iconic 911 Series. The case is wrapped in Rimowa’s signature aluminum, with the Porsche crest emblazoned center-top. 

Business

Jenni Kayne Home Launches Members Program

Fans of Jenni Kayne’s eponymous homeware brand may find the newly introduced JKH Membership—a members-only trade program—irresistible. For an annual fee of $150, members will receive exclusive perks including early access to new products, invites to members-only events, complimentary styling services, and 20% off on products. The discount also applies to products from the brand’s rotating partnerships. Upcoming collaborations include Portola Paints, Waterworks, Staub, and Olive Ateliers. 

Awards

ICAA Announces Award Winners

The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art has announced its honorees for the 2022 Arthur Ross Awards, which highlights excellence in the classical tradition annually. The illustrious list of recipients spans architecture, design, education, writing, and urbanism. This year’s winners include Appleton Partners LLP, John Danzer of Munder-Skiles, Suzanne Rheinstein and Associates, Barry Bergdoll, Timothy Smith and Jonathan Taylor, Arne Maynard Garden Design, and Raymond L. Gindroz. The finalists were selected by a panel of judges including chairwoman Kathryn Herman, Courtney Coleman, and Elizabeth Graziolo, among others. This year’s honoree chairs included Janet C. Ross, Suzanne R. Santry, and Bunny Williams. A celebration will be held on Monday, May 23 at the University Club of New York.

Openings

A New York Exhibition Focuses on the Women Who Shaped Modern Design

On April 20, Carpenters Workshop Gallery opened the doors to its latest exhibition in New York, “The Female Voice in Modern Design 1950–2000.” Curated by renowned design historian Daniella Ohad, the show examines notable and overlooked female creatives who have helped shape the history of modern design. Spanning the two floors of the gallery, each exhibition section traces a specific era in design, looking at the trends of the time through a historical and political lens. The exhibit features over 50 European designers including Charlotte Perriand, Simone Prouvé, Gae Aulenti, and Lina Bo Bardi; paired alongside artists such as Ingrid Donat and Johanna Grawunder.

Carpenters Workshop Gallery’s newest exhibit, “The Female Voice in Modern Design 1950–2000.”

Photo: Courtesy of Carpenters Workshop Gallery 

Dolce and Gabbana Unveils First-Ever Furniture Boutiques in Milan

On April 6, Dolce & Gabbana opened the doors to two Dolce & Gabbana Casa shops in Italy’s design capital. The debuts represent the brand’s first retail locations dedicated solely to home goods. Themes in the Casa collection include Blue Mediterraneo, Leopardo, Caretto Siciliano, and Zebra, and wares span from plates and kitchenware to fabrics and accessories. While the boutique located at Corso Venezia 7 also focuses on decorative objects—such as cushions, Murano glassware, ceramics, and candles—their second shop at Via Durini 23 showcases larger furnishings, including sofas, oak tables, and custom bar cabinets.

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ArrowIn the News

Young Basquiat Is the Focus at Phillips

Photographer, artist, and musician Lee Jaffe spent many of his formative years traveling with Jean-Michel Basquiat. On April 14, Jaffe celebrated his new book launch and corresponding exhibit at Phillips, both of which showcase intimate and unfiltered footage of the artist. Along with images of his travels, Jaffe creates striking abstract paintings and film reels, which feature throughout the exhibition. The correlating book is being published through Rizzoli.

FKA Twigs Creates a Noguchi-Inspired Film

Each year, the International Woolmark Prize celebrates imagination and playfulness as a mode of creative expression. In lieu of selecting seven finalists for this year’s award, singer-songwriter FKA Twigs released a film titled Playscape. The short centers on Isamu Noguchi sculptures, inspired by the artist’s vision of crafting amorphous objects that invite play. Playscape will also be screened in an immersive showroom as part of the IWP’s partnership with The Noguchi Museum. The winners of the award will be announced on April 26 from an acclaimed roster of judges including Naomi Campbell, Riccardo Tisci, Edward Enninful, and Pieter Mulier.