To kick off the annual week of collecting, gallery hopping and fundraising timed to the Aspen Art Museum’s ArtCrush benefit gala, an accomplished group of art world figures, aficionados and collectors gathered at Sterling McDavid’s residence in Aspen, Colorado for a spirited mountain high lunch on August 1. The intimate soireé, put on in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, Cultured founder and editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson and Kavi Gupta Gallery, featured a tour of the incredible McDavid art collection followed by a seated reception for the talented group.

Upon arrival, guests were escorted into McDavid’s stunning, mountain-side estate to explore her extensive art collection, which includes works by Sabine Marcelis, KAWS and a series of Campbell’s soup cans by Andy Warhol. Attendees including Ashlee Harrison, ​​Ashley Wein, Brynne McNulty, Dana Farouki, Jaclyn Carr, Alex Israel, Jamie Tisch, Jeanne Greenberg, Karen Lord, Sarah Arison, Silvia Cubina, Chanelle Lacy and Sophia Cohen marveled at the gallery-like home, whose picture windows synthesize the natural beauty of the surroundings with the contemporary works. Inspired, they then retreated to the backyard where a floral-scaped table was set for the seated luncheon, a four-course meal paired with wines by female-owned RGNY. Over hand-crafted salads made from farm fresh greens or sliced heirloom tomatoes, peaches, basil, olive oil and burrata; vegetarian tabbouleh with fresh corn, purple onion, squash and roasted carrot; vegetarian lasagna; truffle macaroni and cheese, and a grilled summer vegetable medley with basil pesto, wild rice with locally foraged mushrooms, they swapped stories of art and travel and mused on what they were excited for in the ArtCrush week ahead. A death by chocolate cake and homemade ice cream dessert rounded out the menu.

As the elegant afternoon affair concluded, attendees toasted to the successes of their dinner partners, their hosts and to celebrate the start of long-awaited Aspen ArtWeek. Each went about the rest of their day with a gift to remember: a Cultured tote and copy of the current summer issue, which features some of the exciting artists whose work is on view now at the Aspen Art Museum and in galleries across the city.

Known for designs that connect American and Brazilian sensibilities, Sinesia Karol’s eponymous fashion brand celebrated its 10-year anniversary with an exclusive dinner on July 14 at Sexy Fish Miami, the upscale eatery’s newest location. Cohosted by Cultured and Sinesia Karol, the event took place in the restaurant's dining room where attendees toasted to the success of the woman-owned brands with cocktails, wine and sushi served at floral-filled banquettes.

The elegant affair attracted athletes, entrepreneurs, influencers and fashion enthusiasts alike. Guests commended Sinesia Karol for its success-driven expansion: originally launched as a swimsuit line, the brand now includes ready-to-wear clothing, high-styled accessories and a youth line called AliTai with a men’s swimwear line currently in the works. The collections retail in boutiques across Brazil, Dubai, France, Greece, Lebanon, Portugal and the United States but despite the brand’s growth, it remains committed to its roots, collaborating with local Brazilian artists to set the latest trends in swimwear and ready-to-wear clothing.

As friends old and new caught up about summer plans, predictions for Spring Summer 2023 fashion trends and the next decade of Sinesia Karol, they also admired the restaurant itself. First opened in London in 2015, Sexy Fish quickly made a name for itself for its delicious seafood offerings, immersive entertainment and stunning interior design. Its new location in the heart of Mary Brickell Village is every bit as alluring with sea-inspired interiors designed by the award-winning Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, original artwork by Damien Hirst and a large installation of 26 exquisite fish lamps by architect and designer Frank Gehry. Its seafaring theme made for a perfect synergy for a celebration of the swimwear that made Sinesia Karol’s start and continues to lead it into the future.

This weekend, Hamptons residents and who’s who visiting from New York City boarded the ferry across the Peconic River to toast Marni's Marine pop-up shop at Shelter Island’s iconic Sunset Beach hotel and Cultured’s inaugural Hamptons edition. Now open to the public, the vibrant space immerses guests into the Italian fashion house’s creative energy, taking over the hotel’s indoor and outdoor spaces with furnishings upholstered with Marni’s signature colors and designs, as well as its beloved archived fabrics.

Cohosted by Cultured magazine and Marni's CEO of North America Laura Dubin-Wander, the afternoon soiree blended shopping with happy hour dalliances for a laid-back sunset treat. Attendees including Benjamin Banford, Charlotte Munder, Emma Magidson, Hamzat Raheem, Henrique Cirilo, Kelly Klein, Kirsten Tanjucto, Kyle DeWoody, Roberto Rosselini, Wes Aderhold and William Holer had intimate access to the new space, where they browsed beachwear, limited-edition design objects—such as vases, sculptures and an assortment of accessories—and exclusive Marni Market furniture all created by creative director Francesco Risso. Old friends and new bonded as they fawned over the rare objects and explored the beachside property.

Known for its exclusive offshore allure, Sunset Beach hotel—and its gleaming glass doors and private sundecks leading straight to the ocean—is a mainstay for the most tasteful of visitors. After enjoying Marni’s pop-up, which will stay open throughout summer until September 15, guests retreated to the scenic outdoors, where they flipped through Cultured’s new Hamptons issue and listened to the sound of the ocean’s rhythmic waves. 

Titled “Impact: LA for Choice 2022,” participating artists include Avery Wheless, Becky Kolsrud, Emma Webster, Gwen Hollingsworth and Kate Pincus Whitney. Each utilizes her own figurative style to convey a message about bodily rights. In Kolsrud’s signature peach-and-blue color palette, Protect Choice Protect Women portrays a woman holding a banner featuring this declarative title. Webster paints a colorless profile of a woman hugging herself (Freedom = Body Autonomy) while Wheless’s abstract piece, Reaching as we fall, evokes the feeling of despair. All 44 lots in the auction can be viewed in person at Anat Ebgi Gallery’s Arts District location from July 21 to 23 and bidding will take place exclusively on Artsy until 12:00 p.m. EDT on July 29. 

Also on view at the gallery’s location on Fountain Avenue, Rojas has curated “If you forget my name, You will go astray,” an all-female group show of work made in historically male-dominated art styles: abstraction and landscape. The exhibition brings together 20 international artists, including Carmen Neely, Inka Eissenhigh, Jenny Morgan, Julia Jo, Sarah Lee and Soumya Netrabile, whose presences help support a new narrative about the importance of the art that women are making in these genres, and “engage new perspectives on the sublime and the fragility of the natural world,” says Rojas. Works like Blue Flame in the Wind by Erica Mao, Back to daylight/Vissza a napfényhez by Mónika Kárándi and Mother and Child by Soumya Netrabile explore the relationship between nature and the impermanence of life. On view through August 13, the show portrays a uniquely feminine experience and allows a platform for the voices of women in the face of new restrictions on their bodily rights.

On July 11, Robina Benson Design House, luxury furniture and art gallery, welcomed its partnership with lifestyle brand Giorgetti Italy through a celebration at its Los Angeles flagship on Melrose Avenue. Founded by interior designer Robina Benson, the full-service, concierge-style design company offers curated resources for both residential and hospitality projects, providing for clients’ design needs by creating custom solutions that include- but are not limited to—their exclusive partnerships with many coveted high end Italian brands. Robina Benson proudly includes Giorgetti Italy on that list of partnerships; founded in 1898, the Italian brand specializes in products that prioritize linear, geometric shapes softened with occasional delicate curves, expressed in the leather, textiles and wood.

Co-hosted by Benson and Carlota Espinosa, the soirée allowed guests including Dorothy Lucey, Lisa Breckenridge, Kelly Atterton, Eve Gerber and Gulla Jonsdottir intimate access to the showroom, where they enjoyed handcrafted artisanal Italian cocktails, charcuterie boards and chef-prepared bites with a savory gelato to follow. As attendees admired the newest Giorgetti Italy collections, they also browsed a special exhibition of work by award-winning photographer Michael Haber, the New York City native known for his high profile campaigns for clients like Neiman Marcus as well as his fine art practice throughout his 25-year career. His artwork felt at home in the space, which is arranged in domestic-inspired vignettes that give clients a true sense of living with the designs offered at Robina Benson Design House.

As New Yorkers headed to their Hamptons retreats for a summer spent in the sun and surf this year, the Cultured team followed suit, gearing up for a season of events and parties out East in celebration of the magazine’s inaugural Hamptons edition. On July 15, these festivities began with an intimate evening of cocktails, dinner and a beach bonfire put on in partnership with female-led sustainable fashion brand Another Tomorrow and held at the Sagaponack, New York home of its founder Vanessa Barboni Hallik. A spirited group of women leading the arts, culture, fashion and technology attended the beach chic affair, cohosted by Cultured founder and editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson alongside artist Sheree Hovsepian, New Museum deputy director and International Center for Photography guest curator Isolde Brielmaier and Barboni Hallik.

Upon arrival at Barboni Hallik’s summer abode, guests were treated to handcrafted cocktails made with Casa Dragones Blanco tequila and wines from RGNY, two female-owned companies with sustainable practices. Attendees including Glori Cohen, Kelly Behun, Alexis Hoag, Enuma Okoro, Kyle DeWoody, Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Jessica Willis, Bertha González Nieves, Cynthia Rowley and Kelly Taxter engaged in lively conversations while admiring the beautiful outdoor dinner setup where a long table decorated with florals and calligraphed place cards was lit by glittering lights in the trees above. A three-course dinner crafted by caterers Hamptons Aristocrat followed the welcome drinks, indulging diners with plates that included a cucumber panna cotta with smoked watermelon and whipped feta, ricotta gnocchi with mushrooms and shaved black truffle. Several of the dishes were paired with Casa Dragones sipping tequila, including the dessert, a delicious lemon tart with meringue.

The group then walked down to the adjacent beach for a summer bonfire where the light of the fire reflected onto the ocean’s waves. Admiring the starry sky and the moon that shone near Saturn overhead, guests enjoyed fire-roasted s'mores. When they departed, they left with gifts to commemorate an evening spent in the company of friends old and new: a dress from Another Tomorrow, Dr. Barbara Sturm facial products, a Cultured hat and copy of the Hamptons edition, an essential guide to art and culture on the East End this summer.

Karol grew up on the island beach town of Vitória, just north of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where her mother had a small bathing suit production company. “It seems a bit cliché, but she was my inspiration,” says Karol. Though she and her husband raised their four children in the United States, she maintains a strong connection with her heritage, including her creative upbringing. When her children got older, Karol chose to split her time between America and Brazil; this international connection continues to influence her eponymous fashion brand.

When launching the Sinesia Karol line 10 years ago, Karol sought to create swimwear that would join  American and Brazilian markets while paying homage to her Brazilian heritage. “When I first started, I noticed that most women in the U.S. tend to be more conservative with their beachwear than women of South America,” says Karol, explaining the significance of the cut of a bathing suit. “I created pieces for both, pieces that they would fall in love with and feel comfortable wearing.”  A contemporary art collector since 1995, Karol infused her love for art into her brand, partnering with local Brazilian artists to design the patterns for the swimwear. “What I love the most is when I discuss with the artists on my textile team what I have envisioned and truly see it come to life,” she explains. 

Since those initial designs, Sinesia Karol’s success has soared. The brand has expanded its range to include ready-to-wear clothing and accessories and a youth line called AliTai. Though Karol assures that “our approach is still sincere to our roots,” she admits that “the new generation has changed everything.” Social media plays a large role in dictating the latest fashion trends—its inherent fast-paced nature forces Karol and her team to evolve quickly, a challenge they easily embrace. In the midst of a constantly evolving industry, however, the fashion brand’s commitment to quality is constant. Utilizing entirely Brazilian textiles, labor and development is a point of pride for Sinesia Karol. Production is completed with the same hands-on techniques and processes the company was founded with. The only significant change, says Karol, is that “we have a larger team.”

When reflecting on the evolution of her brand and the fashion industry at large, Karol is excited for the future. “I am extremely happy that fashion is more inclusive and body positive,” she says. “We are embracing all sizes, shapes and types of bodies.” In the next decade, the fashion brand plans to continue expanding and producing more types of clothing, including a men’s swimsuit collection, which will be revealed soon. With every new venture, Karol’s passion is evident, as is her dedication to creating garments that empower wearers, helping them to feel more comfortable in their own skin.

On July 9, the Parrish Art Museum hosted its annual Midsummer Dinner, a highly anticipated benefit event in support of the museum’s exhibitions, education and programming. The elegant affair, put together by co-chairs Deborah F. Bancroft, Preston T. Phillips and George Wells and honorary co-chair Marcia Dunn Sobel, honored four influential art world figures: Racquel Chevremont and Mickalene Thomas of Deux Femmes Noires, artist Jasper Johns and art collector and philanthropist Miyoung Lee.

The evening began with outdoor cocktails, where guests engaged in spirited conversation while browsing the Museum’s two current exhibitions, “Set It Off,” curated by Deux Femmes Noires and featured on the cover of Cultured’s inaugural Hamptons edition, and “An Art of Changes: Jasper Johns Prints, 1960 – 2018” in the galleries and meadow. During the cocktail hour in the sculpture garden, guests had the opportunity to enjoy serves of PATRÓN Tequila’s latest prestige innovation – PATRÓN EL CIELO.

Then, guests moved to the dazzling Mildred C. Brinn Terrace, where they encountered beautifully designed tables set under the pitched roof by architects Herzog and de Meuron. The sunset cast a dreamy backdrop of pinks, purples and oranges onto the sky above as attendees indulged in a multiple-course dinner created by Oliver Cheng Catering & Events. When the sky darkened, hanging light fixtures and candles at each table set the mood for an auction hosted by Christie’s deputy chairperson Sara Friedlander. Guests raised their paddles enthusiastically in support of the Museum’s programs, exhibitions and educational initiatives. 

The event attracted artists, art collectors, curators, philanthropists and business leaders from the Hamptons, New York City and beyond. Attendees included Leilah Babirye, Ugo Rondinone, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Carole Server, Notoya Green, Susan and Louis Meisel, Darius Yektai, Nicole Miller, Carey Lovelace, Stewart Lane, Mel Kendrick and David Granville Smith as well as the Museum’s new director Dr. Mónica Ramírez-Montagut and deputy director Melanie Crader. Though Jasper Jones was unable to attend, Dr. Mónica Ramírez-Montagut paid tribute to the artist and his comprehensive exhibitions.

On July 6, the Miami Design District unveiled its next art intervention, playing canvas to a massive new mural by Afro-Brazilian artist Taina Lima who goes by the moniker Criola. In Jungle Plaza, where works by Gaetano Pesce, Buckminster Fuller and Jean-Thierry Besins were installed nearby in previous commissions, Criola has painted a 39-foot-tall by 137-foot-wide love letter to Black women. Commissioned by Dacra CEO Craig Robins and Miami Design District director of cultural programming Karen Grimson, the mural—titled Interdimensional Portal—portrays Afro-Brazilian ancestors in ritualistic performance. With its monumental scale, its message about their importance cannot be missed. 

Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 1990, painter Criola channels her cultural heritage into her art through figuration—Black women are the protagonists in her work. In Interdimensional Portal, her largest mural to date, Criola alludes to ancestral archetypes. She paints lively female figures that access the ancient forest wisdom for medicinal purposes, seemingly transcending the thresholds of knowledge. Criola’s style combines dense geometric patterns and color-blocked surfaces to highlight the intersection between African matrices and Brazilian flora and fauna. Through her artwork, Criola aims to actively confront racism and state repression; the vibrant mural challenges contemporary social justice issues by affirming the role of women in society. 

Interdimensional Portal replaces its predeeding mural, Jungle, installed by collaborative art studio 2×4 who have an additional work, Vortex, painted on an adjacent surface. Through this new commission, the Miami Design District celebrates trailblazing creatives that use art for the purpose of social justice and the call for equality and equity. The mural marks Criola’s second public exhibition in the United States; her first, titled Black Girl Magic, was unveiled in Las Vegas last year. Her other monumental works have been displayed in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Paris and Minsk, Belarus.

“I hope to be able to really be the catalyst for artists to realize their vision,” says art advisor and curator Nazy Nazhand, who extends beyond her job titles to support the critical growth of creatives. Her multifaceted role in the art world stems from her unique ability to bring people together, a skill which supports her deepest passions: bringing the visual arts into other disciplines and generating dialogues that highlight artists from emerging regions. From New York to the Middle East, Nazhand has carved a niche in the industry that is helping to expand and evolve it, for the better of artists themselves.

Nazhand began her art-related career in 2008 at Artnet, learning about the art market and the ecosystem of galleries. There, she dedicated herself to creating more opportunities for artists with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, launching a series of programming highlighting artists from emerging regions. Her Iranian heritage inspired her to travel to various Middle Eastern and Central American regions for research. On trips to Abu Dhabi, Dhahran, Istanbul, Israel, Jeddah, San Salvador and Sharjah, Nazhand gained firsthand knowledge of the power of cultural diplomacy, social politics in art, patronage and what it means to support artists on the ground. Soon, she began inviting other curators—including Isolde Brielmaier, Flavin Judd, Jose Carlos Diaz, Claire Breukel and Clare Davies—to join her, creating an exchange of knowledge and planting the seeds for new perspectives. Back in New York, she worked with the State Department's Art In Embassies program to continue this mission. 

As her career progressed, Nazhand sought to create an art consultancy that incorporates traditional advisory, the representation of new talent and hands-on work with artists. Though Nazhand admits that “someone who wanted exclusively blue-chip, I can assure you, they don’t call me,” she takes pride in recommending pieces to her clients that “[are] based on their needs and their visions… because it doesn’t matter what I might like, it’s what the client wants.” Mark Gillespie, CEO of talent management and entertainment partnership company threesixzero, began working with Nazhand when he had already been collecting art for many years and was preparing to bring a collection of Andy Warhol Soup Cans to market. “[Nazhand’s] passion was strikingly infectious, so I ended up entrusting her to help find the best possible scenarios for the pieces to be seen and auctioned,” he says. “Ever since, Nazy has been a significant support. She is my go-to.” Gillespie relies on Nazhand to advise him on the best routes to sale, to assist in building networks with the wider art community and to help source pieces that are hard to come by. “The longer we have worked together the more I have grown to appreciate her detailed eye and thoughtful, discerning approach; an attitude that has influenced my own approach to art,” he continues.

When she works directly with artists, Nazhand assumes a role similar to an agent. Her specialty lies in supporting artists that combine visual arts with other creative endeavors in their own work and are open to collaborating with peers who do the same. Recently, Nazhand helped shepherd Detroit-based sound pioneer Carl Craig onto Dia Beacon’s radar. With his distinctive understanding of noise and spatial relations, his show last year electrified the Upstate New York art institute’s basement with a thumping base. Now, the body-shivering commission is a permanent part of its collection. Craig explains that Nazhand served as an essential resource to him in realizing his vision for the exhibition because she could “give me an understanding if my creative ideas would actually be possible or impossible,” and that “she was the perfect liaison to translate my musician-minded language into language that the art world would appreciate.” In collaboration with Shirin Neshat during the pandemic, Nazhand stepped in to help the artist to bring her feature film, Land of Dreams, to completion. 

In the future, Nazhand hopes to continue supporting the creation of similar documentaries that showcase lesser-known topics. It is in line with her personal mission to support work that so often is underrepresented in traditional art venues and forums. “This is just the beginning. The idea is that I will bring more and more ambitious projects like this to life where the visual arts and other disciplines come together,” she explains. “This is the way I want to grow. And my goal is to continue to grow.” 

Known for exhibiting work by artists, designers and architects that challenge traditional expression across its dedicated spaces in London, New York, Paris and San Francisco, Carpenters Workshop Gallery welcomed the public to its new Los Angeles location on June 25 with an inaugural exhibition by Spanish artist Nacho Carbonell. Cultured editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson partnered with Carpenters Workshop Gallery director of the Americas Ashlee Harrison and LA director Louise Torron to host an elegant lunch in celebration. Last Friday, a roster of art and design world figures gathered inside the West Hollywood gallery the day before its official opening for a preview of the show and celebratory libations. 

Seated at a long table in the former pharmacy-turned-exhibition space, guests engaged in conversation while enjoying oysters and other seafood delights from local Mayday Seafood & Market and sipping El Cristiano Tequila and Scotty-Boy! wines. Notable attendees included Anne Crawford, Benjamin Critton, Corinne Auge, Brigette Romanek, Liane Weintraub, Diedrick Brackens, Delaram Rivani, Sophia Penske, Sarah Calodney, Kostas Lambridis, Lizzie Grover Rad, Sami Hayek, Daniela Villegas, Francesca Dutton and Thea Andrews. 

Carbonell’s Carpenters Workshop exhibition—his debut solo show in the United States—includes more than a dozen hand-sculpted works inspired by nature, with one fountain-like piece even incorporating the physical element of water. “These sculptures mark a real departure from Carbonell’s earlier work. His magic lies in his ability to transform organic materials and debris into extraordinary sculptures,” says Carpenters Workshop Gallery cofounder Loïc Le Gaillard. Carbonell’s tactile and experimental studio practices draw from a variety of influential artists throughout history, yet he has a unique ability to create pieces with ethereal landscapes that silently speak about the world we inhabit. This exhibition intentionally resonates with California’s landscapes, while simultaneously paying tribute to Carbonell’s naitive home in Spain. 

The unconventional exhibition is the perfect opening for the gallery’s new location, which aims to engage the community of West Coast collectors through museum-quality exhibitions and educational programming. As cofounder Julien Lombrial says, Carbonell is “perfect for LA and the wild, wild West—strong, rogue and beautiful at the same time. It’s art from the gut.”