If there’s one thing we can’t deny about a Baz Luhrmann movie it’s the ‘wow’ factor. So, when we saw Architectural Digest’s sneak peek of the Great Gatsby sets, our enthusiasm naturally grew even greater in anticipation for the visual magic to come. The meticulously crafted sets have something for the art-deco lover in all of us – just take a look at Gatsby’s streamlined bedroom, grandiose ballroom featuring an intricately patterned floor and a sitting room brought to life with a melange of textures and that fabulous red floral rug!   (image credits: Architectural Digest)

For anyone that may be in doubt, the current “Real/Surreal” exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art is part of an ongoing two-year project to remind visitors of all the hidden gems at the institution’s disposal, casting pieces from the museum’s permanent collection in a new light, placing them in novel contexts and company. “Real/Surreal” seeks to illuminate the co-existing intersections and tensions between Realism and Surrealism, both of which flourished in American art in the twenties, thirties, and forties. The result is absolutely mesmerizing. Wander through the collection, mounted against walls painted in rich colors and expertly installed … (read more).

Don’t know yet what you’re doing this weekend? I’ll tell you: Italian artist and prankster provocateur Maurizio Cattelan‘s “All” retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum will be showing for two more days (through 1/22) and you should go. One of the museum’s most buzzed about exhibitions in years, this unprecedented show features 128 pieces from 21 years of work–all hanging from the Guggenheim’s iconic rounded ceiling. That’s right. 128 sculptures, installations and photos have been suspended from a complex nest of cables and strings, lowered into the rotunda at varying heights. As you make your way up the spiraling levels of … (read more).

The Spanish Institute’s latest exhibit, Joaquín Sorolla and the Glory of the Spanish Dress, gives viewers a glimpse into Spanish culture by combining the works of Joaquin Sorolla with a gorgeous display of traditional Spanish apparel. As a traveler and painter, Sorolla’s works are focused on everyday life. From peasants working in the field to a traditional wedding scene and even a bullfight, all of these captured moments can make the viewer feel as though they’re looking through the artist’s eyes. Adding even more to this cultural voyage, is the small but carefully curated display of authentic Spanish apparel and … (read more).

One of the best parts of living in NYC during the holiday season is that you get the chance to visit the famed holiday department store windows. From Saks Fifth Avenue to Barneys to Bergdorf Goodman, the glamorous displays keep visitors coming from around the world year after year in anticipation of what has been unveiled. Take a look below at our two favorites: Bergdorf Goodman’s opulent menagerie and Saks Fifth Avenue’s bubble factory. Tell us what store you think wins the prize for best windows this year! Bergdorf Goodman “Carnival of Animals” Saks Fifth Avenue “Land of the Bubble … (read more).

If you were unable to attend Art Basel Miami’s 1oth anniversary, here are some photos of galleries and artists’ works (as promised in our previous post). Check them out below: L+M Arts- New York Gallery   Mcaffrey Fine Art- New York   Andrea Rosen Gallery- New York Sadie Coles Gallery- London Harser and Wirth Gallery- Zurich Air de Paris Gallery- Allen Ruppersberg Hauser and Wirth- Subodh Gupta Brown New York- Rob Pruit Kelly New York- Antoney Gormley Gagosian- New York Gallery- Robert Rauschenberg image credit: Art Basel Miami

Ten years ago, Miami was considered a beautiful beach paradise, but hardly a world-wide arts haven. Now on the 10th anniversary of Art Basel, we are reminded of what a great feat it was when this Swiss art fair came to Miami. The show ran from Thursday Dec. 1 through the weekend, and exhibited contemporary works by more than 2,000 artists and 265 major galleries representing five continents. The massively popular fair extended from the beach to vibrant art districts like Wynwood, and the energetic streets of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. Take a look at some of what I … (read more).

Taking a trip to the International Center of Photography this week, we were inspired by the Harper’s Bazaar: A Decade of Style exhibit. Featuring a small collection of photographs from the 2000s, you will find covers and editorials featuring supermodels, fashion designers, and a slew of celebrities including Lady Gaga and Kate Winslet. For a glimpse into the world of Harper’s Bazaar photography, visit the museum now through January 8th to see works from Tim Walker,  Jean-Paul Goude, and Karl Lagerfeld. Also, pick up Harper’s Bazaar: Greatest Hits to see even more from these notable photographers. image credits: Freja Beha … (read more).

  This weekend I was fortunate enough to go to trendy, Lincoln Road in Miami, Florida to Peter Lik’s stunning photography gallery, LIK Miami. Hearing the word Miami might bring to mind beaches, swaying palms, and aquamarine waters, and Peter Lik captures this beauty in a way you’ve never seen before. From jeweled seas to exotic forests, Lik photographs the city’s natural beauty in a wonderful way, and this gallery is living proof that Miami has never looked better. Here are just some of the photographs inside LIK Miami:

  For those unlucky people who have not had the opportunity to visit the Alexander McQueen exhibition—well, you’re now in luck! It has been extended until the 7th of August at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Savage Beauty exhibition can keep one waiting in line for a while, but the museum is now featuring extended hours to accommodate the demand. As the Met blog reports, “On Thursday and Friday, August 4 and 5, the exhibition will be open until 9:00 p.m. On its last two days—Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7—the exhibition will remain open until midnight.” The … (read more).