Surreal staples and a new Chinese Monochrome capsule join curated sculptures—plus Justin Bieber’s head—at the Spanish house’s new Rodeo Drive flagship
In partnership with LOEWE
Words by ELIZABETH VARNELL
A glimmering blue facade made of hand-glazed Spanish tiles, as well as three interlocking interior rooms adorned with the ceramic rectangles in other natural hues, lend Loewe’s new Los Angeles boutique an earthy allure. The art-filled 3,700-square-foot space is stocked with creative director Jonathan Anderson’s madcap ready-to-wear designs including tube dresses, Balloon pumps and Mirror Bow sandals for women, and sparkling shorts, transparent coats and torso-printed T-shirts for men. The sun-filled space is also an art gallery of sorts, housing select pieces curated from the Loewe Foundation’s vast collection amid newly launched Monochrome Puzzle bags and a capsule of unisex shirts and trousers—part of the aptly named Chinese Monochrome collection, inspired by ancient Chinese porcelain techniques developed during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The capsule foregrounds Anderson’s fascination with ceramics (his grandfather collected 16th-century Delftware from the Netherlands), which is also reflected in the glazed wall tiles meant to evoke tile work in Spanish cities of Valencia and Madrid. Printed images of bowls and vessels created by artisans seeking to mimic the colors in nature—from blue skies to ripe apples—appear on capsule T-shirts and the ready-to-wear looks in muted mint green and yellow tones reminiscent of Chinese ceramic glazes. Loewe’s architectural Puzzle bags, and also Hammock, Puffer Goya, Luna, Flamenco and Bracelet Pouch designs—pieces that nod to the house’s 1846 origins as a leather goods collective—are all available in subtle Monochrome glaze shades such as pale aubergine, tea dust and celadon.
Poured concrete floors contrast with the refined, glazed interior tiles, and works by an international coterie of artists sourced from the house’s nonprofit Foundation, which was launched in 1988 by Enrique Loewe Lynch of the founding family’s fourth generation. Among the displayed artworks are American sculptor Paul Pfeiffer’s painted wood sculpture of Justin Beiber’s head (above)—along with the singer’s arms. Also on view are two works by Berlin-based Iranian-Armenian artist and Nasher Prize-winner Nairy Baghramian, including one of her bright yellow cast aluminum sculptures, Mooring (2016). Japanese ceramic artist Tomonari Hashimoto’s metal and clay Rain Box (2018) sits near abstract impressionist pieces by American Peter Voulkos, and pots and bottles from English potter Joanna Constantinidis. Dutch designer Gerrit Thomas Rietveld’s Utrecht armchairs appear in various marine colors throughout the space, joining an Axel Vervoordt table. Podiums, martini tables and vitrines crafted in concrete, glass or ceramic tile sit atop a woven carpet by British textile artist John Allen—all awaiting the arrival of a host of Hollywood starlets who have recently donned Anderson’s designs for the label including Kylie Jenner, Taylor Russell, Tessa Thompson and Ayo Edebiri. 327 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-388-6771.
November 30, 2022
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