Tobias Meyer, a chairman of Sotheby’s and the worldwide head of the auction house’s contemporary art department, is often referred to as the  the 007 of the art world. With his cool demeanor and market expertise Meyer also has the custom made suits, slick Time Warner Center apartment and glamorous aura to live up to the title. Continue reading to view additional photos and video.

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Conceived by the Design Laboratory at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art & Design, Dom Perignon’s A Tribute To Andy Warhol is focused on adding a Warhol-ian twist to the iconic champagne maker’s bottle. The three commemorative bottles in the set display the traditional seal and artwork of Dom Pérignon but are done in the shades of neon red, yellow and blue frequently used by the late pop artist and are set against black glass bottles.

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Helly Nahmad Gallery presents a collection of radiant masterpieces by Henri Matisse (1869– 1954). Influenced by the relaxed and joyous atmosphere of the Côte d’azur, Henri was at his happiest and most creative in this warm, lightfilled environment. Here he produced some of his most beautiful works; luminous vistas, sensual models in flower filled interiors, open windows looking out to the dazzling blue sea. Also exhibited, and in great contrast to the radiant paintings, are the four monumental bronze Backs. Developed alongside his painted compositions in which the figure was a central feature, these monolithic sculptures of female figures were made at intervals between 1909 and 1930. Kindly loaned by Tate, and at almost 2m tall, these sculptures show a progression of the female form, moving away from naturalism towards a more abstract, primitive and direct sense of the nude. A full colour catalogue, limited to a numbered edition of 800, is available.

The exhibit runs until the 23rd of July, so get down to Cork Street asap!  Helly Nahmad Gallery –  2 Cork Street, London W1S 3LB.

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A film made by photographer Ryan McGinley featuring actress Tilda Swinton while the pair were shooting the S/S 2010 ad campaign for Pringle of Scotland. Swinton is captured running breathlessly through the Scottish countryside and delivers some short asides and voice overs. The campaign is meant to promote Scottish heritage and talent which both McGinley and Swinton represent to Pringle.

“Antonio Lopez is the Picasso of fashion illustration.

An unparalleled virtuoso, he captured the pulse of style from the 1960s to the 1980s, and is still revered as the most inspiring illustrator by today’s practitioners. Recording and predicting contemporary style trends, Antonio also used his immense versatility to adopt a broad range of art movements, from Pop Art to Surrealism.

The man himself, his life and friendships, particularly with Juan Ramos, his constant collaborator, define his oeuvre. For Antonio, life – bestial and sublime – surpassed any fiction. His illustrations and photographs capture the beautiful people who are part of celebrity folklore, and who were more often than not his friends: Jerry Hall (to whom he was engaged), Grace Jones, Mick Jagger, Audrey Hepburn, Andy Warhol (with whom he worked on Interview magazine), Paloma Picasso and Marlene Dietrich.

Packed with previously unpublished material, this is a thrilling retrospective about an artist who is represented in major collections from the Metropolitan to the Louvre. Even posthumously, Antonio has not relinquished his grip on the fashion world: his style and quest for beauty live on.

Paul Caranicas met Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos in 1971. They became best friends and lived together in Paris and New York. A widely exhibited artist himself, Caranicas currently lives and works in New York City. Laird Borrelli is the Senior Fashion Editor at Style.com in New York City. A fashion historian and writer, she is author of Fashion Illustration Now and Net Mode.”

RDuJour has just found this book so no personal review can be offered yet, but it looks yummy so I wanted to share! You can order a copy HERE and then we shall discuss at a later date! 

“This exhibition explores the life, work, and legacy of Jane Austen (1775–1817), regarded as one of the greatest English novelists. Offering a close-up portrait of the iconic British author, whose popularity has surged over the last two decades with numerous motion picture and television adaptations of her work, the show provides tangible intimacy with Austen through the presentation of more than 100 works, including her manuscripts, personal letters, and related materials, many of which the Morgan has not exhibited in over a quarter century.

A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy also includes first and early illustrated editions of Austen’s novels as well as drawings and prints depicting people, places, and events of biographical significance. A highlight of the exhibition is a specially commissioned film by the noted Italian director Francesco Carrozzini, featuring interviews with artists and scholars such as Siri Hustvedt, Fran Lebowitz, Sandy Lerner, Colm Tóibín, Harriet Walter, and Cornel West.

The exhibition is organized into three sections: Austen’s life and personal letters, her works, her legacy, and concludes with the documentary-style film.”

Film – The Divine Jane: Reflections on Austen from The Morgan Library & Museum

Exhibit from November 6, 2009, through March 14, 2010, visit TheMorgan.org for additional information. 

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The 31.06-carat Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is going to be put on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History from January 28 through August 1. The rare blue diamond will be shown in the National Gem Collection in the Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, where the Hope diamond is as well (they are thought to have come from the same mine). The stone’s notoriety dates back to 1664 when Philip IV of Spain gave it to his daughter, the Infanta Margarita Teresa, when she became engaged to Emperor Leopold I of Austria. In 2008 it was purchased by Laurence Graff at auction in London for $24million. 

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This is the first issue of Chanel’s new in-store magazine called 31 Rue Cambon. Karl Lagerfeld chose fellow Parisian fashion hipster Olivier Zahm, of Purple magazine, to art direct and design the debut issue. It will be distributed world wide so now everyone can go into a Chanel boutique and walk out with a goodie!

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Pieces from Princess Grace of Monaco’s wardrobe will go on display at the V&A in the spring of 2010 from the 16 April – 26 September.

The spectacular wardrobe of Grace Kelly will be on display at the V&A. Tracing the evolution of her style from her days as one of Hollywoods most popular actresses in the 1950s and as Princess Grace of Monaco, the display will present over 50 of Grace Kelly’s outfits together with hats, jewellery and the original Hermès Kelly bag. Dresses from her films, including High Society, will be shown as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar award in 1955. These will be accompanied by film clips and posters, photographs and her Oscar statuette. The display will also include the lace ensemble worn by Grace Kelly for her civil marriage ceremony to Prince Rainier in 1956 and 35 haute couture gowns from the 1960s and 70s by her favourite couturiers Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and Yves St Laurent.

‘Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels’, Jean Fouquet

“This is one of my favorite paintings in the world. What inspires me about this is the bold colour of red in the angels perceiving the darker side of heaven and the gray blue angels depicting the lighter side. I’ve always been inspired by 14th/15th-century art and this painting in particular.” — Alexander McQueen, The Moment Blog, NYTimes 2008.