Galeria Melissa NYC reopens in an expanded Broadway space architecturally developed by Muti Randolph, designed to celebrate and connect the city’s young art scene. The iconic SoHo location at 500 Broadway is a concept store that will function to align Melissa more closely with NYC’s emerging artists, supporting young, local talent and providing a conceptual meeting place. Melissa’s latest creative vision is realized with “The Future of Her,” an immersive, experiential gallery curated by Kelsey & Rémy Bennett, featuring Signe Pirece and Sam Cannon. Inspired by themes of women’s empowerment, cyber-feminism, gender, and sustainability, these two women will transform the new gallery/store space with their own visions of the feminine future.
The new Galeria Melissa NYC will be a canvas for artists and tastemakers of our time to showcase their work. With exhibits rotating four times a year, this gallery will serve as a place for modern installation art to thrive, as imagined and designed by Muti Randolph. Randolph comments “The concept is an inspiration from the first Galeria Melissa in Saõ Paulo, a space designed to change, to interact with others, to welcome installations and its artists. In the Saõ Paulo and London stores, it was important for us to embrace the actual space and the city itself within the gallery— to serve to support art—the same is true in the new NYC Gallery. The most impactful point is at the entrance with the screens depicting an “urban scene” emulating the streets of New York City.”
The re-envisioned Galeria space was born from a futuristic eye, exceptionally innovated with the latest technology to create a multi-sensory experience that surpasses the typical shopping experience. When designing the new Galeria space, Randolph took Melissa’s creative vision and applied it to the essence of New York and the SoHo space continuing, “We kept the idea of respecting the local environment. What we always try to do in all Melissa stores is to incorporate interactive facades that people gravitate toward in a very organic way. In New York, we have a very contemporary space contrasted by a classic architectural building iconic to the neighborhood.”
Randolph adds, “There are 3 main rooms and a side smaller room. The entry is a huge LED installation with mirrors to attract people from the street in a kaleidoscope effect. The main room for exhibition and sales of the shoes is the heart of our structure. This closes into a third main room, with a lounge featuring a green wall bolstered with organic shapes.”
This installation is being curated by sisters, Kelsey and Rémy Bennett. They have joined forces with Muti Randolph to curate a cultural moment featuring two important immerging artists. The sisters recently poured their efforts into an artistic series called Under Her Skin, a documentary focusing on female artists and their processes, which added to the value of this expert curation.
Contemporary artist, Signe Pierce, is known for her boundary-pushing work creating accessible, intersectional, feminist art which rebukes the traditional “empowering feminist” advertising - and the nature of selling to a woman’s sense of self-worth in her own neon world. Pierce will occupy the immersive room as she combines visual, interactive and performance elements that will radiate from this ultra non-traditional, experiential gallery-turned-store space.
Contemporary artist, Sam Cannon, uses film—particularly GIFs—to explore themes of the human body, predominantly the female form. Her work questions the way today’s society observes images of itself in the digital age, thereby redefining the modern era of fine arts fusion with digital media. Sam’s work will live in the entrance and windows within the geometric construct of the Galeria’s pyramidal and polygonal LED presentation. Both artists will come together in a third space, “The Green Room”. This room will combine both artists’ vision in the context of organic futurism to fully immerse audiences in The Future of Her.
The iconic SoHo building which houses the new Galeria Melissa has been totally reimagined and transformed, taking down all of the internal walls to split it up again into a truly visionary artistic experience. The Future of Her installation will inhabit the newly opened Galeria Melissa NYC at 500 Broadway (between Spring and Broome Streets) until September. Melissa.com
When it comes to A-list events it doesn’t get more fabulous than the launch of Mauricio and Roger Padilha's latest book for Rizzoli; Richard Bernstein: STARMAKER, Andy Warhol's Cover Artist—sponsored by FHI Heat, world-renowned provider of professional hair care products and styling tools.
If you're looking for inspired design this season, look no further than Ana Locking's “Preachers and Believers” collection.
Sidle up to Spring with these eye-popping looks courtesy of makeup artist Samantha Klein.
Behind-the-Scenes with Alexander Moura as she presents I’AM a "reflection of a present shaped by it’s past."
Inspired by her mother's battle with breast cancer, designer Maddie Flanigan combines comfort and beauty in her U.S. made lingerie line, Madalynne Intimates.
From stunning dresses to practical ponchos, there's no time like the present to embrace your inner super hero.
From free, wireless charging stations to curated packing lists, here are six travel apps for a stylish and stress-free life-on-the-go.
Inspired by the vast cultural heritage of India, Pariha celebrates the past while looking to the future. We caught up with designer and founder Parinitha Mn, to talk style, substance and sensibility.
If you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear, an appointment with fashion stylist Alison Rodman may be just what the doctor ordered.
With a carefully selected team of hair stylists from across the country, FHI Heat created one of this season's most sought after runway looks.
Ready, set, runway! Independent Dutch designer Ebby Port makes her Berlin Fashion Week debut thanks to KALTBLUT Magazine and FashionClash.
Bigger is not always better particularly when it comes to the entrancing designs of Sivan Sova Jewelry.
As Blue Lagoon Skincare hits shelves in the U.S., our Editor-In-Chief traveled to the source to get the low down on this popular Icelandic destination—the good, the blue and the beauty.
Passionate, humble and talented, Tamasese has a clear trajectory for his designs. These are more than items of clothing they are expressions of art.
Actor Karimah Westwood on creativity, validation and working with Hollywood heavyweights.
Celebrity Makeup Artist Hector Simancas wants to help you get lucky in choosing the right mascara.
Debuting with The Frame collection, MERÉ seeks to meld form and function with touch of Russian avant garde expressionism.
For a country built upon the remnants of prehistoric tectonic plate movements, the Maldives certainly know how to pamper in true 21st Century style.
While it's cooling down for some, it's heating up with Ayra Swim by Genesis Vegas. We talk with founder and creative director Genesis Vegas about style, swimwear and the sweet life.
In the latest fab collab, Timo Weiland has partnered with InterContinental Hotel Group's Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts for a collection created exclusively for hotel team members. We caught up with the minds behind the design to discover their well-guarded travel secrets.
From remnants to ready-to-wear, we catch up with the beauties behind zero-waste label, LIVARI.
Since bringing live streaming to the runway, actually attending fashion week has become "so last season." Has Nicopanda solved fashion week's problems?
Melissa's Galeria in SoHo set the scene for its latest debut, a collaboration with the cool kids of BAJA EAST.
Transformation was the name of this collection and indeed, it's a fitting sentiment for lawyer-turned-designer, Nancy Tran, who debuted this season.
San Francisco based footwear brand Birdies, announced a $2 million Series Seed funding round for their in-demand luxury slippers.
Inspired by a voyage through different types of jungles; exotic, psychedelic, and more... newly appointed Artistic Director, Jean-Paul Goude, debuts his first Desigual collection at NYFW.
The Royal Thai Consulate-General New York hosted its annual "Experience Thailand" at Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City. If Thailand is on your bucket list then you’ll want to bookmark this!