Alessandra Branca
Alessandra Branca is a traveler. Born in Rome and currently living in Chicago, the designer's aesthetic is a fine mix of disparate regions, rooted in her Italian upbringing. Her range of interior designs feature rich colors, distinctive patterns, varying textures, and antique and custom furnishings. Branca's Casa Branca Palm Beach offers locals a chance to adorn their beachside abodes in an eclectic mix of patterned and whimsical objects, including porcelains and ceramics, lighting, bedding, and more.
CULTURED: Which gallery shows are must see this season?
Alessandra Branca: The André Leon Talley collection at Christie’s in advance of the Feb. 15 auction, or Ben Brown and Beth DeWoody’s "Think Pinker."
CULTURED: What is the new restaurant of the moment?
Branca: I have my old standbys like Sant Ambroeus, Le Bilboquet, and Swifty’s but dying to try Florie’s by chef Mauro Colagreco.
CULTURED: Describe the Palm Beach art and culture scene?
Branca: Hot and hopping!
CULTURED: What is the perfect day of shopping and culture in Palm Beach?
Branca: The collection of Beth Rudin DeWoody at The Bunker is one of the most amazing! Kassatly’s for linen, Mary Mahoney for tabletop, Stubbs & Wootton for custom loafers, and Aerin Lauder for everything!
CULTURED: What are you most looking forward to this season?
Branca: The Palm Beach Show, all the great lectures at The Four Arts, and all the incredible designers and authors that are popping up at Casa Branca!
CULTURED: How does Palm Beach weave its way into your designs and interiors?
Branca: The love of light supports my passion for color, and of course the mix here is everywhere you look. High/Low, modern/classical, shiny/dull, work/play!
Lisa Perry
A Chicago native, Lisa Perry has created a lifestyle brand that extends far past her roots, selling in regions all over the world. Her line gained recognition with its integration of one-of-a-king artist collaborations, a children's collection, a whimsical home collection, and a design book by Assouline. The glossy pages go far in capturing the designer's love of bold colors and fresh ocean air.
CULTURED: Which gallery shows are must see this season?
Lisa Perry: Must see shows include Taha Heydari at Gavlak Gallery, and the “Tropic of Cancer” group show at Pace gallery.
CULTURED: What is the new restaurant of the moment?
Perry: My favorite, newly-reopened restaurant is TooJay's. I love a good deli and TooJay's has the best tuna and rye bread. So happy it’s back! My favorite restaurant in Palm Beach, although it’s not new, is Sant Ambroeus for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Every meal is amazing. Find me there anytime of day!
CULTURED: Describe the Palm Beach art and culture scene?
Perry: The Palm Beach arts and culture scene is exploding and exceptional. The quality of galleries and art has gone from zero to 100 in the last few years, and it’s very exciting to witness.
CULTURED: What is the perfect day of shopping and culture in Palm Beach?
Perry: The perfect day of shopping and culture is a day at The Royal Poinciana Plaza. It has everything one would want: great shopping, great food, and great galleries. It’s also a beautiful, historic plaza exuding charm.
CULTURED: What are you most looking forward to this season?
Perry: I’m most looking forward to continuing my passion for giving visibility to women artists, and I will now start searching for more women to showcase in West Palm Beach and the surrounding areas. My friend Kelly Klein introduced me to the Armory Art Center in West Palm, where she learned her own ceramic practice, which is gorgeous. There are many other talented local artists creating ceramics, stone carving, painting, and jewelry making. I’ll be keeping my eye out for new talent!
CULTURED: How does Palm Beach weave its way into your designs and interiors?
Perry: The “new” Norton museum is a fabulous addition to the Palm Beach area. The design is exceptional; the Oldenburg sculpture placement in a shallow pool outside the front entrance is perfection, and there’s currently a photography show of iconic fashion images from the '50s, '60s, and '70s, which is superb. And the Rob Wynne installation in the three story staircase is a must-see.
Fairfax Dorn
New York-based Fairfax Dorn works across the arts world in a seemingly never-ending quest for beautification. In 2003, she co-founded the arts space Ballroom Marfa. Then, she went on to launch the interior design collective Fairfax Dorn Projects, a hub for arts-focused curation. When she's not juggling those companies, Dorn also serves on the boards of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Judd Foundation.
CULTURED: Which gallery shows are must see this season?
Fairfax Dorn: Pace’s "Tropic of Cancer" fantastic group show, Acquavella’s Tom Sachs new and exciting show “Spaceships," Sarah Gavlak’s exhibition of new works by T.J. Wilcox, Beth DeWoody’s The Bunker Artspace to see genius guest curation handy work by Thelma Golden and Anne Pasternak, Ben Brown’s show of Enoc Perez’s new paintings, and Lehmann Maupin’s show of Tammy Nguyen paintings.
CULTURED: What is the new restaurant of the moment?
Dorn: Carriage House.
CULTURED: Describe the Palm Beach art and culture scene?
Dorn: Curious, vibrant, and unexpected.
CULTURED: What is the perfect day of shopping and culture in Palm Beach?
Dorn: Breakfast if you can get there early enough at the Surf Side Diner. Treasure hunting at the shops on Old Dixie Highway for the sofa or dresser or lamps you never knew you needed. Ponce Berga is a favorite. Visiting Maynard, Laura, and Beth DeWoody at The Bunker to find the best of everything in contemporary art. Afterwards, I recommend visiting The Norton to be wowed by that incredible Norman Foster building. Worth Avenue has it all. If you need to complete your fine dining experience, must go by Mary Mahoney. Check out the new David Yurman store. Maybe grab a bite at Le Bilboquet and see what’s happening at Paula Cooper Gallery. Shopping is not complete without a long lunch with pasta and pizza outside near the fountain at Sant Ambroeus in the Royal Poinciana. No lines to get into Hermès. [There's] always great options for dinner party wear at Kirna Zabête. Grab a green juice at Celis Juice Bar if you need those extra greens and hydration.
CULTURED: What are you most looking forward to this season?
Dorn: Time on the beach with my son.
CULTURED: Tell us about an artist or musician you are currently excited about.
Dorn: Alejandro Piñeiro Bello and Joel Gaitan.
