Wes Anderson, Frank Gehry, and the Art That Stuns
From Wes Anderson’s full-theater fantasy to Frank Gehry’s tribute at MOCA, this week reminded us to look deeper—toward the subterranean spaces where art still surprises.
This week, we’re caught between spring’s last gasp and summer’s first spark—craving both stillness and spectacle.
Ping-ponging from subterranean gems to big museum galas, New York made us choose daily: boots or sandals. Wes Anderson took over a theater in full whimsical force. Grace Jones and Santigold are gearing up to shake the jazz scene, and MOCA crowned its legends. Plus: a radical NYC play reimagines Sam Shepard.
At the heart of it all? Experience. Whether it’s sipping champagne at Marseille Bob’s bar, sitting through a mind-bending play in the West Village, or watching Cruise out-charm Beckham in Munich—what sticks is what moves us. And it’s the quieter, art-first spaces—like Angelika or Collapsible Hole—where that still feels possible.
Frank Gehry, ever the quiet master, reminded us why the best don’t chase noise—shape it.
Wes Anderson Takes Over the Angelika
Starting May 29, NYC’s Angelika Film Center transforms into a full-on Wes-world for the premiere of The Phoenician Scheme—Anderson’s latest globetrotting espionage fantasy.
Every screen, every inch of the theater is dedicated to the film. Expect more than just a screening: the lobby morphs into Marseille Bob’s Bar, slinging champagne cocktails, with a live jazz band, vintage train sets, and a photo-ready Egyptian elevator. Yes, really.
It’s a full sensory trip—Anderson style. Plus, exclusive merch (tote bags, tees) available in-theater and online.
The Phoenician Scheme, written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, stars Benicio del Toro, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Michael Cera, and more in a darkly stylish tale of inheritance, espionage, and absurdity.
This is NYC’s first-ever full-theater film takeover. Don’t just watch the movie—step inside it.
📍18 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Blue Note Jazz Fest Hits NYC — Grace, Janelle, Santigold & More
Whether you’re on a date, soul-searching, or just chasing good sound—consider this your cultural cue: Blue Note Jazz Festival is back, running now through July 2 across NYC.
From Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe to Branford Marsalis, Santigold, Emily King, Tank and the Bangas, and Joshua Redman, this year's lineup is wild, wide, and boundary-breaking.
Catch shows at Sony Hall, Blue Note, SummerStage, Prospect Park, and more.
MOCA Gala 2024: $3.1M Raised, Gehry Honored
MOCA’s annual gala at the Geffen Contemporary hit a new high with $3.1 million raised and a tribute to living legend Frank Gehry, alongside Theaster Gates and Wendy Schmidt.
BVLGARI backed the launch of MOCA Legends, while guests wandered immersive installations and Olafur Eliasson’s OPEN. Frank Gehry’s intro? A surprise cameo by Nancy Pelosi—an unexpected touch in an otherwise creatively charged room.
Gehry, ever modest, recalled how artists welcomed him in the ’50s: “They opened my eyes to another world.” Tierra Whack brought the afterparty vibes, closing out the night and turning dinner into a dance floor as board chair Maria Seferian reminded us, “Museums are freedom—the freedom to imagine outside circumstance.”
We genuinely want to believe, while questioning a current art scene that frequently falls into biased, group thinking—sprinkled with politics, big egos, and opinionated board members and donors. It often feels like a staged and choreographed show, lacking coincidence and raw brilliance.
New Play by Amanda Horowitz “Bad Stars” just launched in NYC
Using Sam Shepard’s “True West” as a starting point to explore obsessive friendship, disintegration, and performance itself, the show blends vaudeville, schlock, and naturalism. The story centers around two brothers writing a Hollywood movie about worms struggling to split apart, with a plein air painter rendering each scene live.
Performed by Jess Barbagallo, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Pete Simpson;Live painting by Adi Blaustein Rejto & Ada Friedman; Scenic design by Andreea Mincic.
📍Collapsable Hole May 29th - June 8th
155 Bank Street
New York, NY 10014
Leonardo Drew’s raw power at South London Gallery
American sculptor Leonardo Drew brings chaos, decay, and raw power to London in his first UK institutional solo show. Known for his explosive, hand-distressed wood installations, Drew transforms SLG’s main gallery into a storm of splintered energy—weathered like it’s survived a thousand lifetimes.
This new site-specific work doesn’t explain itself. No titles, no easy answers—just fragments and force. “I become the weather,” says Drew. And it shows.
This one’s less about what it means, and more about what it does to you.
📍 South London Gallery | May 30 – Sept 7, 2025
DIOR's Next Era: Jonathan Anderson Steps In
After nearly a decade, Maria Grazia Chiuri exits Dior, leaving behind a solid, feminist-forward legacy. Now enters Jonathan Anderson—Northern Ireland’s esoteric fashion mind and the creative force behind Loewe’s cult rise.
His appointment as artistic director of both womenswear and menswear marks a high-stakes shift for LVMH’s crown jewel. Dior is not just any house—it’s the group’s pride, always in quiet competition with Chanel.
And Anderson? He’s known for risk, wit, and warped elegance.
As Dior pivots into a more experimental phase, all eyes are on whether Anderson can move the house from “good” to game-changing.
Hailey Bieber Sells Rhode to e.l.f. for $1 Billion
Like it or not—but we’re choosing awe—Hailey Bieber just pulled off one of beauty’s biggest power plays. Rhode, her minimalist skincare line launched less than three years ago, has been acquired by e.l.f. Beauty for a staggering $1 billion.
With only 10 products and zero retail footprint, Rhode scaled to $212 million in direct-to-consumer sales—something most legacy brands chase for decades.
CEO Tarang Amin called it “unprecedented” in his CNBC interview.
And yes, the deal drops as headlines swirl around Justin Bieber’s rumored financial strains. But Hailey? She’s firmly in mogul territory now.
Tom > David? Beckham & Cruise Steal the Spotlight in Munich
During the UEFA 2025 Championship finals in Munich, David Beckham hosted his “Beckham & Friends Live” show—this time with none other than Tom Cruise. The longtime friends lit up the stage with playful banter, sharp suits, and a shared love for football.
Fans at the stadium, as well as online, couldn’t get enough of their chemistry—but let’s be honest, between the two, Cruise might just be aging a little too well.
Sorry David, but the mission remains: Tom’s winning this round.