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See This
An Artist Known for His Expressive Vases Debuts a New Bird Series in Tokyo
Left: a grouping of Dan McCarthy’s Facepots in his Hudson Valley, N.Y., home. Right: “Bazooka Joe BirdPot” (2024) is currently on view at the Tokyo gallery Kosaku Kanechika.
Credit… Left: Jason Schmidt, from “Dan McCarthy: Freedom” (Rizzoli). Right: © Dan McCarthy, courtesy of Kosaku Kanechika. Photo: Kent Pell
By Laura Regensdorf
In 2014, artist Dan McCarthy made a significant life change by moving from Brooklyn to a beautifully converted schoolhouse in upstate New York. This change inspired him to envision a grand hall that would eventually become a gathering space for his unique Facepots—large, whimsical vessels adorned with a variety of expressive grins and grimaces. The earliest iterations of these pots, crafted about a decade ago, reflect a turbulent emotional journey. “I hadn’t even found the right clay that worked,” McCarthy recalls about that exploratory phase, “so many of the pots were breaking in the kiln.”
Through this process, he learned to embrace the concept of relinquishing control, often repairing broken pieces using kintsugi, a traditional Japanese technique that highlights mended seams with silver or gold. The Facepots have introduced a refreshing openness to McCarthy’s artistic practice, a transformation that has been further enriched by the serene environment of the Hudson Valley. “Without the pressures of city life,” he explains, “I felt like a child again—on my hands and knees, fully immersed in the act of creation.”
His new monograph, “Freedom,” charts this artistic journey while nodding to his Southern California roots, evident in vibrant paintings of surfers and songbirds perched on guitars. New ceramic works featuring birds are currently showcased in his solo exhibition at the Kosaku Kanechika gallery in Tokyo, open until November 16. For McCarthy, these first faceless pots signify a narrative shift. “Instead of a vessel, maybe it’s a nest,” he muses, expressing a newfound fascination with the birds in his neighborhood. Elements reminiscent of kintsugi also appear in these new pieces: silver-leafed slabs artfully conceal occasional cracks, while shiny rectangles evoke the mirrors often found inside birdcages. Fresh off his inaugural flight to Japan, McCarthy is embracing a time filled with possibility. “I’m 62, which feels both old and young,” he reflects. “I believe there’s another act in me yet. It should be an adventure.”
“Dan McCarthy” is on view through Nov. 16 at Kosaku Kanechika, Tokyo, kosakukanechika.com.
Consider This
A Milanese Members’ Club Opens in a Historic Brera Villa
The Wilde, a new members’ club in Milan’s Brera neighborhood, was designed by the talented Fabrizio Casiraghi. Its top-floor restaurant, Ava, will offer a delightful array of Mediterranean dishes.
Credit… Giulio Ghirardi
By Laura May Todd
Milan often receives criticism as a gray city, characterized by its stone facades and treeless streets. However, upon closer inspection, it reveals itself to be a city rich in hidden gardens—most of which are private, tucked away behind gates and concealed within courtyards. Among these is the enchanting Villa del Platano, a 1950s apartment building that was previously owned by Santo Versace, the former president of Versace and the elder brother of Gianni and Donatella. This villa now houses The Wilde, an exclusive members’ club that is set to open soon.
Founded by Gary Landesberg, the former chairman of the Arts Club in London, The Wilde spans four elegant floors, featuring a rooftop terrace and outdoor tables nestled in the lush garden for delightful al fresco dining. The interiors, designed by Italy-born, Paris-based designer Fabrizio Casiraghi, evoke the vintage charm of midcentury Milan. The ground-floor restaurant, known as the Club Room, is the most casual of the three dining spaces, boasting a backlit ceiling that resembles Art Deco-era stained glass, casting a warm glow over glossy walnut club chairs, upholstered banquettes adorned with leaf and flower patterns, and a mirrored DJ booth for lively late-night gatherings.
Additional social spaces include a library bar, a cigar lounge, and several private rooms designed for meetings and intimate dining experiences. One such room, connected to the top-floor Mediterranean restaurant Ava, features a stunning hand-painted mural by artist Assia Pallavicino, depicting dancing couples and musicians—evoking a sense of the joyful revelry that The Wilde aspires to bring back to Milan.
The Wilde opens Nov. 7. Prospective members can apply at portal.thewilde.com.
Visit This
Maria Pergay’s Stainless Steel Furniture, and Other Experimental Works, on View in New York
A new exhibition celebrates the pioneering designs of Maria Pergay, including her iconic 1968 stainless steel Ring chair (left) and 1967 lacquered Console (right).
Credit… Thierry Depagne
By Zoe Ruffner
In 1968, when Maria Pergay unveiled her groundbreaking collection of curved stainless steel furniture, she pushed the boundaries of this industrial material, forever altering the landscape of French interiors. However, by the 1990s, when collectors Suzanne Demisch and Stéphane Danant stumbled upon one of her alloyed designs at a flea market, Pergay—once a celebrated matron of metal whose discerning clients included Cristóbal Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, and Salvador Dalí—had faded into obscurity.
This month, the namesake New York gallery of Demisch Danant, which played a pivotal role in Pergay’s revival in the early 2000s, is once again showcasing her remarkable work. Opening a year after her passing at the age of 93, “Precious Strength” celebrates Pergay’s extensive oeuvre with a curated collection of about 35 pieces. Accompanied by a trove of samples, sketches, and personal artifacts, her seminal steel creations—including the Ring chair and Three-Tiered table—will be on display alongside her later experiments with lacquer, mother-of-pearl, and precious woods. All of these works are best appreciated through Pergay’s own poignant words: “The only thing I want,” she once stated, “is that the work not leave you indifferent, one way or another.”
“Precious Strength” will be on view from Oct. 24 through Nov. 30 at Demisch Danant, New York, demischdanant.com.