Graffiti Art Commissioned on European Train

Jon One 156

SEAK

The Thalys highspeed train parked in Paris' Gar du Nord is due for some retouching this September. Thalys, whose trains service France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, commissioned Graffiti artists Jon One 156, SEAK, Sozy, and Zedz to create a series of custom works on their cars. The project, titled Wholetrain, is a giant step towards the legitimization of graffiti art in Europe. In an interview Jon One acknowledged the progressive stance of the European Government, “Only in Europe…Maybe NYC will pay homage to the old school one day." The Wholetrain will run between Paris, Cologne, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

Paraty House, Brazil

Arrive at Paraty Island by boat and hop off into this beautiful residence designed by Brazilian based Marcio Kogan Architects. The 8m cantilever of the reinforced concrete "boxes" is balanced by the natural topography of the land, creating an open dialogue with the surrounding nature and beachy environment. The sprawling patio invites residents to enjoy the private pool or venture upwards to the rooftop garden and observation deck. Furnished with a collection showcasing 20th-century design Marcio Kogan provides the perfect harmony between home and the outdoors. Images courtesy of Nelson Kon

Showing the Black Light

Known for his lavishly painted compositions, Kehinde Wiley features his new collection, Black Light, at Deitch Projects. Instead of relying on paintbrushes for this show, the prints are photographically inclined and still contain the intricate wallpaper-style patterns of his usual style. Using the beautiful balance of hip-hop trendsetters meets renaissance posing, the subjects photographed in their plaid shirts and flat brim New Era hats, pop off the page with the color and pattern choice they are paired with. Free Arts NYC teamed up with Wiley to set a raffle to win a print, with all proceeds going to aid arts education with Free Arts.

Fashion Etcetera

The natural collision of two creative talents has occurred with the partnering of famed photographer, Sam Haskins, and fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger. At the recent exhibition opening of Fashion Etcetera at MILK Gallery, one hundred prints of Haskins' work were on show. Known for his photographic layering and juxtaposition of images on a single print, the photos represented the whole spectrum of Haskins' lifetime of work, exquisitely depicting the natural flow and diversity of his talent. An exciting and beautiful collection, Fashion Etcetera, has now been printed into a special edition book available for sale.

New Kids On Le Block

Already a fan of mini fashion blogger and self-proclaimed "style rookie" Tavi Gevinson, we look to the younger set once again with a new line of clothing for your hip elementary schooler. Trying his hand in the competitive children's market for the first time fashion legend Jean-Paul Gaultier has created looks that are both tres moderne and tres Parisienne. Produced by the French company Zannier (Little Marc Jacobs and Kenzo kids) the line is scheduled for a January launch.

The Hollow Earth: Banksy x Radiohead

Thom Yorke and Banksy, two of the UK's most influential and elusive creative voices, have joined forces for a match made in heaven. For his latest video the lead singer of Radiohead has tapped the famed graffiti artist for imagery pairing his street art with scenes of London. Proving good things do come in threes, experimental filmmaker / mixed media artist, Raymond Salvatore Harmon, produced the video, titled The Hollow Earth. Both FeelingPulledApartByHorses, the new LP, and video are available for sale and view on Radiohead's website.

Sergio Rodrigues x ESPASSO

Amidst Fashion Week chaos Brazilian beats echo and caipirinhas abound to celebrate an inspired collection of new works by Sergio Rodrigues for ESPASSO. Known as the "father of Brazilian furniture" for identifying a signature aesthetic of jacarandá, peroba and imbuia wood furniture characteristic of the international scene in the 1950's Rodrigues is featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Accented by exclusive lamps the acclaimed "Chifruda" (aka Aspas) armchair goes on sale in numbered editions exclusively in ESPASSO's New York and Los Angeles locations this fall. Image of Sergio Rodrigues in the "Chifruda" chair courtesy of Nadine Johnson.

The Return of Robert Palmer

New York Fashion Week didn't just bring an influx of edge and modernity for next season, but rather some hints of a return to the old school vibe of NYC. With the opening of the new Boom Boom Room at Andre Balazs' the Standard Hotel, one can forget the affiliation of its namesake to focus on the vintage polished glamour, like a scene out of Mad Men. Waitresses were adorned in rich, white silk dresses by Reuben Chapelle, their hair in slick chignons or tightly wound up-do's accentuated with playful silk ribbon. The lovely ladies glided around on opening night to serve cocktails amongst the very best of the local and international art and fashion crowds. Proving the ultimate trifecta of gorgeous decor, the very best music, and jaw-dropping views of this iconic city, The Boom Boom Room may be a vintage-inspired hotspot, but it is most definitely hip, fresh, and now. Photo: Shala at POP Magazine

Anselm Reyle and Takashi Murakami Open at Gagosian Gallery Chelsea

Gagosian Gallery on West 24th Street was packed on Thursday night for the opening of a major show of Anselm Reyle's new works and an unveiling of Takashi Murakami's latest triptych painting. Berlin based artist Anselm Reyle's show is appropriately titled "Monochrome Age." His monumental sculptures with shiny, lacquered surfaces create vistas within the white cube of the gallery, reflecting its visitors and one another.

Takashi Murakami's 'Picture of Fate: I am but a fisherman who angles in the darkness of his mind' depicts the legend of the "China-lion" in his distinctive superflat style mixing American Pop with Japanese Anime and Otaku content.

"Between Being Born and Dying" at Lever House

Currently on display in the Art Collection at Lever House is an exhibition of American collage artist Barbara Kruger's text-based works. The entire ground floor lobby of Aby Rosen's midtown office building is wrapped with black and white vinyl text. Quotes that Kruger appropriates in this installation include:

"The meaning of life is that it stops." -Kafka

"The globe shrinks for those that own it." -Humi K. Bhabha

And our personal favorite...

"If it laughs, choke it. If it cries, drown it. If it sighs, shame it. If it loves, buy it. If it moves fuck it."

Gagosian and Other Criteria Open

Damien Hirst's publishing company Other Criteria launches its first and only US location inside Gagosian's new store opening this week at 988 Madison Avenue. "Gagosian" is the first retail outpost for the mega-gallery's artist roster.

Other Criteria is located on the store's lower level and will sell books, t-shirts, limited editions, jewelry, photographs, posters, and prints by such artist superstars as Ghada Amer, Johannes Albers, Banksy, Kehinde Wiley, and Matt Collishaw.

Sol LeWitt "Whirls and Twirls" @ Columbus Circle

Five years in the making, the MTA is finally unveiling a giant, energetic mural in the 59^th Street Columbus Circle subway station designed by conceptual artist Sol LeWitt. That the mural was installed post-humously, on what would have been LeWitt’s 82^nd birthday, the absence of the artist is actually a part of LeWitt’s process. Like most of his wall-drawings, LeWitt’s specifications constitute the art, and the execution, usually carried out by studio assistants, is the manifestation of his instructions.

The mural consists of 250 porcelain tiles cut and colored to LeWitt’s exact directions. The proposal was created in 2004, during which time LeWitt selected the site and titled the work “Whirls and Twirls (MTA).” The project was included in the $108 million revamping of the Columbus Circle station. Two more circular floor works are planned for installation. We are told they are compass-rose designs in a contrasting light and dark grey color scheme. As the construction subsides passengers will be greeted by a colorfully saturated, vibrant, and playful piece of work by a world-renowned artist and one of conceptual art’s great masters.