By any account, SCAD alumna Hannah Polskin is an embodiment of university president Paula Wallace’s “no starving artists,” philosophy: her oeuvre is known for its near-universal appeal. The New York–born, L.A.-based artist has built a devoted following on both coasts, her body of large-scale paintings, wood carvings, mirrors, and menorahs charming collectors and press alike. Her use of shape and abstraction brings softness and spontaneity to what might otherwise be a severe palette of neutral tones, including a pristine canvas of Baltic birchwood and a dedication to hues of white, cream, and black.

Now on the heels of a formative residency at SCAD Lacoste’s Alumni Atelier, Polskin is in the midst of a breakthrough. “It was an exciting prospect and one of the things that drew me to the program, the question of how my aesthetic would translate in a medieval village in Provence.”

With funding from Wallace’s alumni development endowment, Polskin embarked on a ten-week creative spree in the South of France. There, she created her new Landmark collection, swapping Baltic birchwood for century-old, weathered antique doors. The white walls of her West Hollywood studio gave way to limestone caves. From time to time, she even put down her paintbrushes and picked up a soldering iron.

Now back in California, Polskin is ready to reflect on her experience at SCAD Lacoste and its inimitable sense of place. It’s already evident to her devoted Instagram following, who are quickly acquiring her new works in droves.

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Situated in West Berlin’s Charlottenburg district, Hoxton’s new outpost unfurls itself across an expansive 234 rooms and a variety of public spaces. AIME Studios, London hospitality group Ennismore’s in-house design team, weaved together elements of Art Nouveau and Brutalism, a style they coined “Rough Nouveau.” Highlights include the North Indian chophouse specializing in flame-kissed tandoor cooking, spacious rooms inspired by the salon of German expressionist choreographer Mary Wigman, and a cheery lobby lounge outfitted with a Delft-inspired fireplace and playful mural by Stefanie Kägi.

Last week, the Glass House held its annual Summer Party, drawing luminaries from the cultural sphere to celebrate the historic site. Rich rhythmic vibes from DJ Alexandra Richards filled the summer air that afternoon as guests picnicked in the summer sun, sipped Hennessy Paradis, and enjoyed an alfresco shopping experience by Max Mara. A silent auction powered by Artsy raised $550,000 towards the site’s preservation efforts.

When was it? June 10

Where was it? The Glass House, New Canaan

Who was there? Martha Stewart, Alexander Gorlin, Gregory Sages, Omar Eaton-Martinez, Brian Donnelly, Andy Yu, Derrick Adams, Nikki Glazer, Scott Drevnig, and more.

When: Until July 29

Where: Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago

What: An arresting showcase of hand-cut portraits, the Vietnamese artist’s latest charts a metamorphosis for the depicted members of the AAPI community. Bui’s works feature friends, collaborators, and fellow artists Nicholas Oh and Ayoung Yu, but also pornstars, historic figures, and relatives who shaped his explorations of their heritage and queerness. Shattered ceramic artifacts—both standalone and in the portraits—vehemently reject Orientalism, segueing into an exploration of Asian American masculinity.

New data released by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) reveals a slight decline in the number of licensed architects in the United States. That number stacked up to 119,906 in 2022 compared to 121,600 the year prior. NCARB attributes the slight drop to the pandemic’s continuing effects—around 30,000 architecture positions were eliminated in 2020, with only one-third returning the following year. It may take time for the profession to bounce back, but the advent of AI that can generate building designs autonomously might cause even more inertia.

Our weekly roundup of the internet’s most preposterous headlines, from the outrageous to the outright bizarre.

Dick Amnesia Is a Real Thing [Vice]

New Zealand Seizes Record Amount of Meth in Maple Syrup Jugs From Canada [CNN]

Kenya’s Tea Pickers Are Destroying the Machines Replacing Them [Semafor]

Why Thousands of Dead Fish Washed Ashore in Texas [Smithsonian]

Hey Dad, Can You Help Me Return the Picasso I Stole? [New York Times]

British Man Detained After Climbing 72nd Floor of Seoul Skyscraper [AP]

After Months of Searching, a Sculpture Stolen From a North Dakota Art Museum Has Turned Up—Next to a Dumpster [Artnet News]

World’s Largest Kidney Stone Removed—and It’s the Size of a Grapefruit [CNN]

Grounded in the world of international fine art, Brooklyn-based Callidus Guild conceives, designs, and installs surfaces and wallpapers for the world’s most illustrious clients. Callidus Guild is known for an elevated, one-of-a-kind aesthetic that incorporates plasters, precious metals, and handmade paints.

Surface Says: Owner and creative director Yolande Milan Batteau’s creations—from her wallpapers to gilded mirrors—are infused with a sense of magic. That aura radiates from her verdant and charming Clinton Hill studio, too.

Paul McCartney finishes the “final” Beatles track using artificial intelligence.

Here’s what flipping shrimp at Benihana taught one chef about performance.

David Bowie’s friend documented his trip on the Trans-Siberian Express Train.

MSCHF makes an ultra-tiny Louis Vuitton handbag that needs a microscope.