The holiday season is in full swing, bringing with it parties, events, and occasions to give gifts. While this can be daunting, it also bring a host of exciting new products and partnerships to help find the perfect present. From artist-designed sneakers to a vase guaranteed to impress, here are some of this season’s newest, unique, and most coveted gifts for the art and design lovers on your list.
On x Pamela Rosenkranz
Revealed last week at Art Basel Miami Beach, the chic sneaker company On has collaborated with leading artist Pamela Rosenkranz on a new, limited edition design guaranteed to bring envy beyond the halls of the art fair. Featuring vibrant pink and red tendrils set against a sleek white background, the design is inspired by Rosenkranz’s celebrated public art installation in the form of a tree on the High Line. To make this installation, the artist created digital renderings of trees and scans of human muscles, tissues, and blood, which inspired the drawing Healer Scrolls (2022) that adorns On’s popular Cloudnova Form sneakers. The Art Basel Miami Beach drop brought remarkable fanfare that saw fairgoers abandoning their high heels for the much more comfortable and coveted sneaker. Snag a pair now before they sell out.
On x Pamela Rosenkranz sneakers. $170; on-running.com
Mortlach “The Katana’s Edge”
If you’ve had the chance to try Mortlach whisky, you know how special the 200-year old distillery is. For its latest release as part of Diageo’s Spirited Xchange Special Release Collection, Mortlach has introduced “The Katana’s Edge,” a single malt Scotch whisky aged in both Kanosuke and Pinot Noir casks, the first single malt Scotch whisky to use casks from Japan’s Komasa Konosuke Distillery. With fruity notes and a full-bodied, umami-rich taste, “The Katana’s Edge” is a delicious addition to any whisky connoissiuer’s bar. A testament to the distillery’s ongoing interest in and support of art and design, the bottle was designed by artist Kouzou Sakai. Known for his whimsical blending of nature and fantasy, Sakai has created a bold, sword-wielding soldier to adorn the bottle.
Mortlach “The Katana’s Edge” single malt Scotch. $280; mortlach.com
Damiani Art Books
You can’t go wrong with a thoughtful art book. This year, several new releases stood out for their quality and unique perspectives. First on the list is When I Think About Power, a black-and-white photo series by rising photographer Eric Hart Jr. that explores power in relation to the Black, queer experience. Published by Damiani, the book features 60 stunning portraits. Also by Damiani is The Pleasure of Seeing: Conversations with Joel Meyerowitz on Sixty Years in the Life of Photography, which, as the title indicates, offers an intimate look into the life and career of the legendary photographer. While focusing on some of Meyerowitz’s iconic images, including powerful scenes from Ground Zero, the book also includes new and unpublished material.
Eric Hart Jr. When I Think About Power. $55; damianibooks.com
Tom Dixon Vases
For the design enthusiasts on your gift list, Tom Dixon is a guaranteed hit. Among his coveted lines is “Bump,” a playful, visually stunning collection that includes cups, vases, and a teapot that combine black, green, and gray tones. Particularly captivating are the vases, which, as the name suggests, feature bulbous shapes inside a minimalist exterior. Resembling sculptures on their own, the vases are a perfect blend of design and function. For the fragrance-lovers, Tom Dixon’s candle and diffuser sets are a perfect gift. In addition to his widely celebrated “Elements” collection, which includes Water, Earth, Fire, and Air–scents celebrating the bare essentials of life — the designer’s “Alechemy” line is perfect for the holidays. With notes of gunpowder, black pepper, and suede, the fragrance is bold and complex. Sold individually and in sets, including a cost-effective diffuser and candle combination, each piece is encased in sleek and sophisticated matte-black, hand-spun vessels.
Tom Dixon “Bump” vases. $95-$230; tomdixon.com
L’Objet Candles
High on my own wish list is virtually anything by L’Objet, including the Lito Candles, a series of candles in porcelain vessels with whimsical, surreal designs. Made in blue, gold, and green, each candle features a prominent eye to symbolize protection and awareness. As is expected of the brand known for craftsmanship, luxury, and timeless designs, the candles are well-made and long lasting and have a fragrance developed with perfumer Yann Vasnier and crafted and assembled in Portugal. With notes of vetiver, citrus, and moss, the soothing, rich scent is perfect for the holidays and year-round. Part of L’Objet’s larger Lito collection, all of which feature the protective eye, the candle is exquisite as a standalone gift, or can be combined with other designs in the collection, including the plates, bookend, and humorous, oversized paperweight.
L’Objet “Lito” candles. $220 to $315; l-objet.com
The Future Perfect x Ben Noam
For a unique holiday gift and exceptional shopping experience, head over to one of The Future Perfect’s locations in stunning homes in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Working with leading and innovative names in design The Future Perfect is an ideal place to find a one-of-a-kind gift that will undoubtedly impress. If you’re in need of a Hanukkah gift, Los Angeles-based artist Ben Noam’s menorah series is a unique way to celebrate tradition with a whimsical, contemporary twist. Featuring forests of mushrooms, the brightly colored, stoneware menorahs recalls Alice in Wonderland and the art of Marc Chagall. Each one in the series is painted with different colors and details, reflecting the vibrancy of Jewish traditions.
Ben Noam mushroom menorah. $2,200; thefutureperfect.com
Caran d’Ache Writing Tools
A staple in any creative’s home, the high-quality pens, pencils, notebooks, and paints by Caran d’Ache are perfect and useful gifts. For the legendary Swiss brand’s latest collaboration, they’ve partnered with the Keith Haring Studio on a collection of art and writing products. Paying tribute to the late artist, the designs feature line drawings inspired by the iconic graffiti that made Haring a beloved and daring figure in the 1980s, including one of his most famous images of two figures carrying a red heart. Using white chalk on the black paper that covered advertisements in New York City’s subways, Haring was both an artist and activist who believed in the power of art to enact change, in particular public displays of expression. Under the theme of art for all, Caran d’Ache and the Keith Haring Studio created a variety of products, including ballpoint pens, colored pencils, and coloring books.
Caran d’Ache “Keith Herring” collection. $16.50 to $250; carandache.com
ClubRoom by Invisible Collection
Launched this summer as a concept boutique for one-of-a-kind, readily available design objects and curated vintage items, Invisible Collection’s ClubRoom has quickly made a name for itself as a reliable source for unique, enviable pieces by emerging designers and well-known industry leaders. An elegant personal favorite is the “Of Gardens” candle, a Grecian-inspired vessel that takes its name from Francis Bacon’s essay Of Gardens. Romantic and bucolic, the piece was designed by London-based duo Austin Moro and Eliza Dabron of Moro Dabron. A nod to sustainability, the candle can be used as a vase or decorative object after it has been used.
Invisible Collection “Of Gardens” candle. $180; theinvisiblecollection.com
