GLOBAL CULTURAL BULLETIN | HAPPENINGS | CABANA MAGAZINE

A monthly guide to the events and exhibitions on Cabana's Radar: a global cultural bulletin and a must-read for anyone looking to keep their finger on the pulse of art and design. Read on for December's world-firsts and Christmas markets.

CURATED BY TEAM CABANA | HAPPENINGS | 1 DECEMBER 2024

Draught screen sewn by Lady Mary Dalyell, 1910s, from House of the Binns, West Lothian (detail). Image courtesy of Dovecot Studios. Photography by Phil Wilkinson.

While much of the world embraces the magical glitz of the festive season, galleries, museums, and cultural institutions worldwide continue to cater to those seeking inspiration beyond tinsel and twinkling lights. From Europe's improbably charming Christmas markets and Jess Wheeler's intimate seasonal residency at Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, to the creative force of Design Miami. and a compelling exhibition that explores the untold stories of women in the Cyclades, there’s no shortage of events and exhibitions worth your time this December.

EXHIBITIONS

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Johann Strauss – The Exhibition

Set design for ‘Die Fledermaus’ by Johann Strauss Design: Alfred Moser, undated Theater and der Wien, first performance 1874 © KHM-Museumsverband, Theatermuseum

Christmas and New Year in Vienna are not to be missed. Whether visiting for the festive markets, classical concerts to set the Advent tone, or to experience the traditional Silvester (New Years Eve) Ball, what better way to get into true Viennese spirit than by visiting the Theatermuseum’s new exhibition, celebrating 200 years of Johann Strauss – the hailed ‘King of Waltz’. Set in the backdrop of the grand Palais Lobkowitz, this exhibition will shed life on Strauss’ life, extensive concert and theater work, as well as relationships and Russian love-affairs, offering a chance to experience the glamour of the Strauss era in the Austrian capital.

December 4, 2024 - June 23, 2025, Theatermuseum, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

ATHENS, GREECE

Kykladitisses: Untold Stories of Women in the Cyclades

Marble statue of Artemis Elaphebolos, Late Hellenistic period. Archaeological Museum of Delos, Α00449 © Hellenic Ministry of Culture; Andreas Santrouzanos

The Museum of Cycladic Art presents Kykladitisses: Untold Stories of Women in the Cyclades, a compelling archeological exhibition exploring the lives of Cycladic women through 150 artefacts spanning early prehistory to the post-Byzantine period. Tracing their evolving roles from deities to mothers and active figures in religious, public, and private life, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on the islands' history, featuring treasures from major institutions and private collections.

December 12, 2024 - May 4, 2025, Museum of Cycladic Art, ATHENS, GREECE

NEW YORK, USA

The Met Fifth Avenue: Colorful Korea: The Lea R. Sneider Collection

© The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lea R. Schneider (1928–2020), a renowned dealer and expert in Japanese and Korean folk art, curated acclaimed exhibitions on Japanese antiques and Korean folk art. Colorful Korea at the MET offers a vibrant exploration of Korea's rich material culture, showcasing 100 objects either gifted or loaned by her children.

Spanning from the fifth century to the present day, the exhibition reflects Schneider's deep fascination with everyday objects. Her extensive collection includes ceramics, vivid textiles, illustrations and ceremonial objects, all highlighting the cultural and practical significance of these items in Korean life.

December 2, 2024 - February 16, 2026, The Met, NEW YORK, USA

PETWORTH, UK

Adam Dant: Legends of Albion

Adam Dant, 'Ancient Briton' © The artist and Newlands House Gallery.

Step into the former world of kings, giants and warrior queens; Adam Dant’s Legends of Albion is a retelling of Britain’s mythic past, told on maps, tableaux and the long-lost Painted Cloth – an important but now largely forgotten art form. Incorporating images from the London Society of Antiquaries’ 300-year archive, Dant illustrates myth and legend in scenes that would have been very familiar to the medieval Briton, with touches of whimsical, present-day commentary.

Through February 16, 2025, Newlands House Gallery, PETWORTH, ENGLAND

ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Engadin

See (Lake), 1983. Courtesy Private Collection © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York; Jon Etter.

Hauser & Wirth invites visitors to experience the Engadine through the eyes of one of the most influential American artists to date, with an exhibition showcasing Basquiat's unique impressions of the Swiss Alpine cultural and natural landscape.

Though primarily associated with New York, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s deep connection to Switzerland began in 1982 with his first exhibition at Galerie Bruno Bischofberger in Zürich. He returned frequently in the 1980s, and it was in Switzerland where he, Andy Warhol, and Francesco Clemente launched their groundbreaking collaborations, marking a pivotal moment in his career. 

December 14, 2024 - March 29, 2025, Hauser & Wirth, ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

Andy Mister: I always knew it would come to this 

Andy Mister Carmine Lake Arrangement, 2024. © The artist and Rebecca Camacho Presents.

I always knew it would come to this will be Andy Mister's third show with Rebecca Camacho Presents, this time showcasing his latest floral still-life drawings, rendered in his signature medium; vivid oil pastel on linen. Known for its ties to Impressionist masters, the medium's rich textures and bold hues bring Mister's bouquets to life, capturing fleeting moments of beauty and nostalgia. 

Through December 20, 2024, Rebecca Camacho Presents, SAN FRANCISCO, USA

EDINBURGH, UK

Stitched: Scotland's Embroidered Art

Draught screen sewn by Lady Mary Dalyell, 1910s, from House of the Binns, West Lothian (detail). Image courtesy of Dovecot Studios. Photography by Phil Wilkinson.

The love-child of Dovecot Studios and the National Trust for Scotland, Stitched: Scotland's Embroidered Art is an exploration of Scotland's domestic textile treasures spanning two centuries – from the ascension of George III to the end of WWI. Examining the ubiquity and variety of Scottish embroidery, the exhibition will include 80 pieces, many of which have never been on public display before, to illustrate the story of these textiles, works of art in their own right.

Now through January 18, 2025, Dovercot Studios, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

LONDON, UK

Hew Locke: what have we here? at The British Museum

Hew Locke, Armada 6 , 2019, mixed media. Courtesy the Artist and Hales London and New York © Hew Locke

What Have We Here? is a bold new exhibition by acclaimed Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke, designed to provoke reflection and leave visitors with more questions than answers. Featuring over 150 objects from the British Museum’s collection, Locke delves into Britain’s historical interactions with Africa, India, and the Caribbean, challenging imperial narratives and exploring the museum’s entanglement in these histories through a personal lens.

Through February 9, 2025, The British Museum, LONDON, ENGLAND

MILAN, ITALY

Jordan Watson; 'Octavia's Butler' at Robilant+Voena

Jordan Watson, You said this was going to be easy, 2023, Oil on canvas. © The Artist and Robilant+Voena.

Robilant+Voena's new Milan gallery launches with Octavia’s Butler, the solo debut of celebrated American art advocate and creator, Jordan Watson. Best known for his platform @love.watts, which champions accessibility in the art world, Watson unveils his paintings to the public for the first time. The exhibition pays homage to Octavia E. Butler, the iconic sci-fi author whose visionary narratives of Afrofuturism and Black excellence inspire Watson’s artistic vision.

Now through January 17, 2025, Robilant+Voena, MILAN, ITALY

CHICAGO, USA

Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica

Samuel Fosso. The Chief: He Who Sold Africa to the Colonists, from the series Tati, 2008. The Art Institute of Chicago, promised gift of Isabel Wilcox. Courtesy Jean-Marc Patras Gallery, Paris. © Samuel Fosso.

Pan-Africanism is a global political and cultural movement that advocates for the unity, solidarity, and the empowerment of African nations and people of African descent. This umbrella term is the focus of The Art Institute Chicago’s latest visually rich and insightful exhibition, Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica, a bid to survey Pan-Africanism’s cultural representations, bringing together over 350 objects made my artists from 4 continents.

December 15, 2024 - March 30, 2025, The Art Institute Chicago, CHICAGO, USA

LONDON, UK

María Berrío: The End of Ritual

María Berrío 'Phobos', 2024 Collage with Japanese papers and watercolor paint on linen. © María Berrío and Victoria Miro.

A symphony of realism and fantasy; María Berrío's The End of Ritual, presented by Victoria Miro, is an amalgamation of mythological folklore and the very real sociological struggles faced by women and children in today's ecological, economical and geo-political climate. Depicted in crowded interiors, adding a sense of urgency, Berrio's works merge collage with Japanese paper and watercolour to depict dreamy yet imperative scapes – a result of a collaboration with the New York City-based GALLIM contemporary dance company, whose improvised movements governed much of Berrío’s creative process.

Through January 18, 2025, Victoria Miro, LONDON, ENGLAND 

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

FLORA YUKHNOVICH: INTO THE WOODS

Flora Yukhnovich, If You Go down in the Woods Today, 2024. © The Artist and Ordrupgaard.

In her first solo exhibition outside the UK, Flora Yukhnovich unveils Into the Woods, an exploration of the conscious and subconscious realms. Featuring four newly commissioned works alongside loans from private collections, this show reimagines the forest as a fête galante of transformation, where lush color and gestural abstraction meet figuration in compositions that shift seamlessly between fantasy and understanding in a hypnotic world.

Through January 18, 2025, Ordrupgaard, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

BERLIN, GERMANY

Semiha Berksoy. Singing in Full Colour 

Starring in Tosca, Ankara, 1941. © Courtesy der Nachlass Semiha Berksoy und GALERIST

Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart presents Germany’s first comprehensive retrospective of Turkish painter and opera singer Semiha Berksoy (1910–2004), a diva whose vibrant six-decade career seamlessly blended music with visual and performance art. Featuring over 80 paintings, works on paper, archival documents, and rare recordings, the Berlin show unveils themes central to Berksoy’s practice and caotures her distinctive legacy and charismatic persona.

December 6, 2024 - May 5, 2025, Hamburger Bahnhof, Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, BERLIN, GERMANY

BRESCIA, ITALY

IMAGES: First retrospective on American artist Larry Stanton (1947-1984)

Larry Stanton, Images, installation view, APALAZZOGALLERY, Brescia, Italy, 2024. © The artist and APALAZZOGALLERY. Photo by Melania Della Grava.

APALAZZOGALLERY presents Images, a captivating retrospective celebrating the life and work of American artist Larry Stanton (1947–1984). Known for his vivid portraits of friends, lovers, and the vibrant queer community of 60s-70s New York, Stanton’s art captures the fleeting beauty and essence of a generation lost to AIDS. 

Offering an intimate look into Stanton’s world through sketches, drawings, oil paintings, videos, and photographs—many shown publicly for the first time since their debut at the Venice Biennale – the works are arranged as a constellation of faces, conveying a raw yet tender energy.

Through January 6, 2025, APALAZZOGALLERY, BRESCIA, ITALY

ROME, ITALY

Gerhard Richter: Moving Picture (946-3) Kyoto Version

Gerhard Richter 'Moving Picture (946-3) Kyoto Version, 2019-24' (still). © Gerhard Richter 2024 (28102024) Courtesy the artist and Gagosian.

A feast of sound and colour, Gerhard Richter’s Moving Picture (946-3) Kyoto Version is an immersive installation and the pinnacle of his 2010 Strip project. Marking his first exhibition in Italy since 1983, the work reflects Richter’s relentless innovation, redefining painting through his explorations of photography, chance, and analytical methods. Spanning an impressive 7 meters in width, Moving Picture is a collaboration with filmmaker Corinna Belz and composer Rebecca Saunders, transforming the Gagosian’s Rome gallery into an all-encompassing experience.

December 12, 2024 - February 1, 2025, Gagosian, ROME, ITALY

OXFORD, UK

Jess Wheeler Reveals ‘Leaf Shadows’ - A Residency at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Jess Wheeler, photographed by Joya Barrow © Jess Wheeler and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, a Belmond Hotel.

Strolling among the serene Japanese garden of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, you’ll find British artist Jess Wheeler’s delicate Leaf Shadows, glimmering among the flora. This seasonal residency, spanning autumn to spring, captures the ephemeral beauty of time and change through sculptural artworks that immortalise the of falling leaves, fossilised into stone using Wheeler’s signature raw metals.

The perfect winter walk for tranquil pondering, enriched by Le Manoir’s renowned gastronomy and connection to nature. Open to guests, and visitors by appointment.

Through Spring 2025, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, OXFORD, ENGLAND

EVENTS

CABANA: The Editor's Circle with Interior Designer, Michael Smith

One of the most original and respected interior designers responsible for redefining the look of American interiors, Californian-born interior designer Michael Smith will join Martina Mondadori for an intimate conversation brimming with inspiration.

December 6, 2024, 6pm CET / 12pm EST Online. Click here to purchase tickets.

MIAMI BEACH, USA

DESIGN MIAMI.

Sofas and Ottomans, 2023 by Magnetic Midnight Maison by Lucía Echavarría for Lamb Gallery at Design Miami. 2024 © Magnetic Midnight Maison

Following this year’s success at Los Angeles, Basel, and Paris, Design Miami. is set to return home to it’s flagship location to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Forty-five prestigious galleries will exhibit the finest in innovative design – from historic to contemporary – under this years 'Blue Sky' theme. Cabana collaborator Lucía Echavarría, will unveil her latest Magnetic Midnight collection inspired by Miami’s coastal hues and Colombian craft and in partnership with London’s Lamb Gallery.

December 3 - 8, 2024, Convention Center Drive & 19th Street, MIAMI BEACH, USA

MIAMI BEACH, USA

ART BASEL

Paul Cadmus, Male Nude NM149, 1979 Courtesy of DC Moore Gallery, New York © Art Basel

As with Design Miami., the world's leading contemporary art fair, Art Basel, promises an electrifying American edition with its curated exhibitions, public art installations, and dynamic programming. A world-class experience that celebrates the latest in groundbreaking contemporary art with established as well as up-and-coming artists from five continents, all under one roof.

December 6 - 8, 2024, Miami Beach Convention Center, MIAMI BEACH, USA

EUROPE

Christmas Markets

Christmas Market in Frankfurt, Germany. © Unsplash; cmophoto.net

And how can we overlook this year's Christmas markets, set to transform European cities into realms of tradition and nostalgia. From Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt or the charming wooden chalets of Cologne, to the lesser-known – though equally charming – market in the historic town of Košice, each is a unique experience, offering handcrafted treasures, seasonal treats, and cultural warmth. Whether it's the scent of roasted chestnuts or cinnamon trdelník in Prague, or the choucroute (sauerkraut and sausage) in Strasbourg, these markets invite all to bask in the holiday spirit.

Throughout December, EUROPE

LONDON, UK

Candlelit Tour of Leighton House with Daniel Robbins

The Arab Hall at London's Leighton House @  Miguel Flores-Vianna.

 

Join Senior Curator Daniel Robbins for an exclusive candlelit tour of Leighton House, offering guests a unique opportunity to explore this celebrated artist's home in an intimate, ambient setting. Delve into the rich history of both the icon and his iconic house, with expert insights into its art and architecture. Visitors will discover the treasures highlighted in Cabana’s One Hour at Leighton House, and many more, while gaining access to private rooms not typically open to the public.

December 12, 2024, Leighton House, Kensington, LONDON, UK

 

LONDON, UK

Alina Abegg's Christmas pop-up

British jewelry designer Alina Abegg invites Londoners to explore her playful, one-of-a-kind jewelry - from cosmic-inspired rings and necklaces to whimsical, collectible pieces infused with nostalgia - at the brand's Christmas pop-up.

December 12-13 2024; The Foreign Exchange, 22 Leinster Terrace, W2 3ET