T&C Design Dispatch: Best Moments from Frieze 2024, A Mining Magnate's Home in Ohio Gets a Makeover, and more

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Once every two weeks, T&C puts together an assortment of the best design news and happenings— everything from interior design projects that pique our interest and auctions of note, to any must-have products on the market

What Went Down at Frieze L.A.?

Leave it to the Serpentine Gallery (queue Princess Diana's revenge dress) to throw a party that captured the energy of Frieze 2024 in Los Angeles. Was that... Lana Del Rey with Swiss Curator Hans Ulrich? The buzzy artist Alex Israel with Zachary Quinto, and photographer Tyler Mitchell looming nearby? Industry mavens descended into the rolling hills of Los Angeles for the fifth iteration of Frieze, and many of them congregating at a private residence to celebrate on the eve of the fair.

Now, all art fairs are essentially a cluster of galleries compiled into a small space (Frieze was nestled near Santa Monica airport). Art enthusiasts leave inspired, collectors may leave with a few pieces, and gallerists hopefully leave with a few transactions.

The standouts from this one include: Victoria Miro who sold all works from their solo booth by artist Hernan Bas, Kaufmann Repetto placed all their works in a group presentation featuring artists Andrea Browers, Katherine Bradford, and Pae White; and David Kordansky Gallery placed all works in their solo presentation of artist Sam McKinniss. The powerhouse gallery, Silverlens, presented the duo of Filipino-American artists, Stephanie Syjuco and Jenifer K. Wofford who sit at the polar opposite of the color spectrum. The gallery's choice to present them not only exhibited the duality of the two artists but also the range of Silverlens. Friedman Benda also presented an interesting exhibition called Chairs Don't Cry, featuring designer Barbora Žilinskaitė. The exhibition was the designer's inaugural solo exhibition opening at the gallery’s Los Angeles location.

In West Hollywood, Hauser & Wirth presented the works of artist Pat Steir (who also had a retrospective at the Hirschhorn Museum in D.C. a few years ago) marking her first show in Los Angeles since 1987. Steir's use of dripped paint on a minimal plain is always a sight to behold, teetering between the controlled and uncontrolled.

The Design Duo of Boland Lord Renovate a Home Once Owned by a Mining Magnate

Martha Lord and Nancy Boland, the Denver-based design duo behind Boland Lord recently took their tastes to Northeast Ohio. There, they renewed a home built in 1929 that was once owned by Katharine Holden-Thayer, the granddaughter of Liberty Holden, one of the most influential men in Ohio.

"This warm and inviting historic home holds a special place in Cleveland history, which you can feel as soon as you step onto the property," Boland Lord said in a release. "From rich architectural details inside to pure secluded peacefulness outside, truly, this Gates Mills home offers one of the best places to live and entertain in the Greater Cleveland area."

Boland Lord kept the classic Americana-essence in the 6,200 square foot colonial home but updated it with a few treasures. The most significant and obvious is the addition of 1,600 square feet, where a garage, mudroom, bar, and informal powder room are now placed. The gardens that illustrate the property were brought back to life, which include running fountains. The two added paneling and trims to the existing architectural details in the formal living rooms, slightly modernizing the space without losing its integrity. There are soft elements that contribute to the home's overall coziness, such as the hand-painted mural Gracie wallpaper in the dining room.

Tu Hongtao: Beyond Babel Opens at Levy Gorvy Dayan

Patti Smith once wrote that she prefers an artist who "transformed his time, not mirrored it." (A jab at Andy Warhol). I wonder what she may think of Tu Hongtao, who may be doing both. It might be a bold theory, but a trip to the artist's solo show, Beyond Babel at Levy Gorvy Dayan Gallery, might convince one otherwise.

Beyond Babel was inspired by the Christian lore of The Tower of Babel. The ascending tower, according to the bible, was built to unite people and reach heaven. God, thought otherwise. He diversified their speech and they were no longer able to understand each other. During the height of COVID-19, Hongtao drew parallels to the use of technology as a form of communicating with one another. Technology was his tower of Babel.

Reflecting on the time, check. Transforming the time comes in how physical the work is. Often, comments on technology in contemporary art feel very literal (a dystopian pile of computers here, a whale stuffed with junk there.) As an abstract artist, Hongtao's work is deeper than that. He comments on technology (again, Babel), with large-scale works with such tactile methods; sharp hues of color, and confident, bold brush strokes. Many of which feel as if you are stepping into his world of sensations. There's also something said about how the artist comments on a contemporary subject with hints of traditional methods. A look closer and you'll see pieces of artists that came before him: Cezanne strokes, Greco colors. In a digital-heavy world where answers easily lie before us, perhaps "transforming" time means reaching for the past and asking to look a little harder.

Tu Hongtao Beyond Babel is on view until March 30, 2024.

Lighting, Anyone?

Whether you're a maximalist or minimalist, lighting remains one of the easiest ways to broadcast a bit of personality in a room. As spring and summer approach, perhaps consider updating your collection.

Red Bellhop Portable Table Lamp

Sofia Sconce (5")

Misewell Q Table Lamp

Eolie Table Lamp

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