Check it out now, and then go buy your camping supplies before it drops on Thursday March 29th.
Images courtesy of Supreme
The designer has achieved so much in a short amount of time, having curated her first exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, titled A Time for New Dreams, in 2019 and winning prestigious awards like the LVMH prize for young fashion designers in 2016 and CFDA menswear designer of the year in 2021 so this milestone is no surprise. She spent years researching pieces that drew inspiration from a variety of dynamic entities connected to performance, music, bodies, and communion, such as Terry Adkins’s Last Trumpet (1955), David Hammon's Afro-Asian Eclipse (1978), Moustapha Dime's Lady with a Long Neck (1922), and more. Adkin's work beautifully captures the essence of musicality, emphasizing sound, performance, and elegy. Hammon's work connects Afro-Atlantic and Afro-Pacific cultures reflecting Bonner's transatlantic identity. Dime's piece was crafted from reclaimed materials found in Dakar's urban environment.
Bonner is collaborating with Michelle Kuo, curator of the Marlene Hess, and Dana Lijergern, Assistant, Department of Painting and Sculpture to bring the exhibition to life. Michelle says that Bonner has influenced the way they see style, as structure rather than surface.
After the series closes, the work in the exhibition will be immortalized in a book titled Grace Wales Bonner: Dream in the Rhythm — Visions of Sound and Spirit. The book will serve as an “archive of soulful expression” and showcase Bonner’s ability to move an audience through different art forms.
![](https://officemagazine.net/sites/default/files/500_1996_cr-press-site-2000x1350.jpg "Henri Cartier-Bresson. Washington, D.C. 1957. Gelatin silver print, 6 3/4 × 10" (17.1 × 25.4 cm). Gift of John C. Waddell. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. © 2023 Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos, courtesy Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paris.")
What is your ideal office?
A live/work space where I can have my art practices all under one roof. A big stainless steel kitchen, a studio with a kiln, and a sunroom with citrus trees.
Do you have any rituals around your work — music you listen to etc?
Procrastination is key :^).
What is one song that never fails to make you dance?
“Make It Up,” by Tirzah.
What is the last thing you fell in love with?
Reena Spaulings, the book. Complete chaos, nearly illegible.
What would your last meal be?
Pozole rojo and a freshly baked cuernito pan dulce.
What is one food trend you could live without?
The absence of frozen yogurt places. They used to be everywhere — I love froyo.
Which art form outside of your own do you find the most stimulating?
Fiction writing. It’s incredible to me how people can just make shit up! I know you can say that about a lot of things, but writing is hard for me, so I find it really impressive.
Where do you go to seek inspiration?
Galleries, fancy bodegas, and defunct Mom blogs from the 2010s.
Who was the first person you idolized?
Paloma Herrera, former principal dancer at ABT.
What is the sexiest texture?
Stucco, particularly the cat face pattern.
What brings you peace?
Being warm and knowing when to shut up.
What was the last thing to make you laugh until you cried?
Happens all the time! Can’t recall any one thing.
Breakfast of champions?
Leftover carne asada burrito eaten cold.
Lyrics to live by?
‘Smile like you mean it.’
Published in office Issue 19, Spring 2023. Get your copy here.
What is your ideal office?
The beach. I love to float around.
What is the sexiest smell?
I don’t remember his name, but oud & cigars.
Who might play you in the Bambi biopic?
Denzel Washington and Eartha Kit’s love child.
Do you prefer sunlight or moonlight, and why?
I always tell guests their days are more important than their nights on the island. It’s important to witness the subtle energy the sun provides.
However, moonlight, because it’s the caviar of light. Also, have you ever tried to cast a spell under the sun?
What disgusts you?
Saltless margaritas. If you wanted a lemonade, you should ask for one.
What would you say your role is in your community?
I like to think that I create space for people to be themselves authentically. I’ve been referred to as a gentle reminder…a reminder of all things Real, Beautiful, Rich, & ethereal.
I hope by being myself, I inspire others to get cozy in their skin.
Who brings you to your knees?
Again, I don’t remember his name, but oud and cigars.
Can you describe the last dream you had?
I’m living it.
What mythological creature would best describe Bambi, and why?
I love this question. The only way to describe me is as a mythological creature.
I’m going to lean between mermaid and Pegasus – you can draw your own conclusions.
Where do you consider the most sacred place on earth?
Dominican Republic. The town I come from literally translates to “good taste.” Talk about an origin story.
What about at Palm Heights?
The most sacred place at Palm Heights isn’t necessarily a physical space, but a shared way of thinking.
Although in its physical form, it is rich in design, nature, and beauty – what makes Palm Heights super special is the shared consciousness between the guests and those that run the space.
It’s truly the people that make the place. There are sacred moments to be found in every corner(but also the hamam at garden club is giving.)
What track will never fail to lift the spirits of a whole room?
When “Thinking About You” by Sister Sledge comes on, and I’m in a room surrounded by amazing people with a drink in my hand (Manhattan two cherries), there is no better place in the world to be.
Now if we are talking sunsets, nothing makes you feel rich like Marvin Gay’s, “I Want You.” It's giving, ‘thank God for this gentle breeze on my mega yacht.’
