Sunbathing Raffia Pouch by La Double J
£330

Raffia bags have become something of a summer staple. Not only do they make ideal companions for daytime trips to the beach — or after-work aperitivos in the park — but they are also stylish and practical too. La Double J’s Raffia Pouch is no exception. Hand-woven by women in Madagascar, it has a natural raffia base, braided raffia handles and a silk top printed in the brand’s newest print. Big enough for your sunnies, phone and SPF, it will lift even the simplest of daytime looks. Just love.

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Theaster Gates x Gagosian Shop in Burlington Arcade
Prices vary

Theaster Gates is the name on everybody’s lips. He’s the creative brains behind the 2022 Serpentine Pavilion, Black Chapel, which has garnered praise from critics and collectors alike, and is the subject of a new solo show at Gagosian in Basel. Until 2 July, he’s also taking over Gagosian’s shop in London’s Burlington Arcade. Shown alongside wall and floor sculptures are a range of clay vessels including tea bowls, water jars and sake cups that are integral to Gates’s practice. Downstairs, the shop has been transformed into a reading room where visitors can browse a curated selection of books that have influenced the artist. Also available for purchase are two limited-edition vinyl records produced by Gates and his musical ensemble the Black Monks. We’d buy everything if we could.

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Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel
£18.99

This compelling book tells the story of five women who dared to enter New York’s postwar art world. They are Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartington, Joan Mitchell and Helen Frankenthaler. Named after the Ninth Street Show in 1951, which brought together the cream of New York’s artistic crop for one short month, it traces the development of Abstract Expressionism through their pioneering work. You’ll encounter their artistic highs and lows, their romantic and professional relationships, as well their own creative trajectories, life stories and New York studios. This is an engaging account that shines a new light on five powerful but oft-overlooked figures of postwar American art.

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Aesthetic Dining: The Art Restaurant Around the World by Christina Makris
£28

This brilliant book by art collector and patron of the RA and the Tate, Christina Makris, takes you on a whistlestop tour of 25 of the best art restaurants around the world, from New York to Hong Kong. Alongside celebrated arty hangouts like the Colombe d’Or and Chateau La Coste, you’ll travel to lesser-known gems such as Cairo’s Abou el Sid and the Gunton Arms in Norwich. It’s no surprise that Aesthetic Dining is a delicious feast, with juicy anecdotes from celebrated chefs, restaurateurs and artists, including Vik Muniz, Julian Schnabel and Tracey Emin, as well as enticing imagery of the art in situ. A delightful meeting of great art and memorable food, it is an ideal gift for the style-conscious foodie in your life.

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