Rocker, actor, designer – not just a musician, Lenny Kravitz is in fact a man of many talents. A fact that storied champagne house Dom Pérignon evidently recognised when the brand appointed him creative director in May.
The company is known for commissioning diverse talents such as Tokujin Yoshioka, Jeff Koons, and Karl Lagerfeld to contribute their artistic viewpoints, so asking Kravitz to establish a new vision is not such a leap of faith. A longtime fan of Dom Pérignon and friend of chef de cave Richard Geoffroy, Kravitz’s first steps were to travel to Hautvillers, France to learn more about the winemaking process. From this a more extensive collaboration was born.
The first outcome of this partnership is ‘Assemblage,’ an exhibition of photographs by Kravitz. Debuting at New York’s Skylight Modern before it embarks on a global tour (and subsequent advertising campaign), the showcase captures a warm gathering of his friends and family (daughter Zoë Kravitz appears), captured socialising while ‘tasting the stars’.
Kravitz became captivated by photography as a child, when he would play with his father’s Leica camera. ‘My father gave me the camera when I was 21,’ he says. ‘When I was 24 I got a record deal, so I had to be in front of the camera, but I always thought it was far more interesting what was going on behind it.’ Over the years, Kravitz developed close relationships with photographers such as Mark Seliger and Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who taught him the craft.
For ‘Assemblage’, Kravitz referenced the work of another famed lensman. ‘I was very much inspired by the Studio 54 photographs of Ron Galella, who did all these wonderful shots of New York nightlife,’ he says. The black-and-white images in the Dom Pérignon exhibit were captured at the Stanley House, a 10,700 sq ft residence in the Hollywood Hills designed by Kravitz and XTEN Architecture. The musician started his firm Kravitz Design in 2003.
‘I took the interiors and architecture lane because that was something I was so interested in,’ he says. ‘I had no idea how to make it happen, but I basically used my own money to start the company.’ The studio has since completed projects including a collection with Philippe Starck for Kartell, product lines for CB2 and Flavor Paper, and the interiors of 75 Kenmare, a luxury condominium in Manhattan. ‘I got accepted into the design world by paying my dues, going to Milan, and spending time with designers,’ he adds.
It seems Kravitz’s multidisciplinary approach to creativity won’t be slowing down any time soon. ‘Music is my nucleus, but I’m just as passionate about design, photography, and acting,’ he says. ‘I’m always weaving the different mediums and it enables me to continue to be creative.’
Kravitz’s role will continue in 2019 with the release of a limited-edition bottle.
INFORMATION
‘Assemblage’ is on view until 6 October, register for tickets here. For more information, visit the Dom Pérignon website
ADDRESS
Skylight Modern
537 West 27th Street
New York
-
Peek inside Uchronia’s celadon green suite at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde ParkThe Paris-based studio teamed up with Pantone to transform a suite at the storied hotel into an aquatic dreamscape. Here’s how to check in
-
This legendary villa was built for the Cuban government. Now it’s The Future Perfect’s new Miami galleryWith Villa Paula, the boundary-pushing collectible design gallery expands its footprint
-
Hassan Hajjaj's vibrant portraits put Moroccan women at the centre of the storyFor more than three decades, the visual artist has been making portraits that centre Moroccan culture, albeit through a subversive lens. Now, an exhibition in Toronto explores the sporty facet of his portraits
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekAs we approach Frieze, our editors have been trawling the capital's galleries. Elsewhere: a 'Wineglass' marathon, a must-see film, and a visit to a science museum
-
June Leaf’s New York survey captures a life in motionJune Leaf made art in many forms for over seven decades, with an unstoppable energy and fierce appetite leading her to rationalise life in her own terms.
-
Jamel Shabazz’s photographs are a love letter to Prospect ParkIn a new book, ‘Prospect Park: Photographs of a Brooklyn Oasis, 1980 to 2025’, Jamel Shabazz discovers a warmer side of human nature
-
The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles launches the seventh iteration of its highly anticipated artist biennialOne of the gallery's flagship exhibitions, Made in LA showcases the breadth and depth of the city's contemporary art scene
-
Inside a Courtney Love-inspired art exhibition in New YorkLiza Jo Eilers looks to the glory days of Hole at an exhibition at Grimm New York
-
Thomas Prior’s photography captures the uncanny fragility of American lifeA new book unites two decades of the photographer’s piercing, uneasy work
-
Apple unveils its next-gen camera in a powerful new photography exhibitionThe new iPhone 17 Pro Max takes centre stage in a New York exhibition where artists Inez & Vinoodh, Mickalene Thomas, and Trunk Xu explore the theme of joy
-
Central Park’s revitalised Delacorte Theater gears up for a new futureEnnead Architects helmed an ambitious renovation process that has given the New York City cultural landmark a vibrant and more accessible future
