Yayoi Kusama leaves behind a boundless legacy, Donald Judd’s Marfa masterpiece gets a refresh, and the U.S. Open serves up a summer sendoff. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Yayoi Kusama passes away at 97
“Hymn of Life: Tulips” by Yayoi Kusama at Beverly Gardens Park in California; photo by Walter Cicchetti/Adobe Stock
Just when we thought this week couldn’t be more punishing, news broke that iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama died on August 14th at a Tokyo hospital. She was 97. The David Zwirner gallery formally announced her passing on August 26th, citing multiple organ failure as the cause of death. Kusama leaves behind a legacy of era-defining work spanning seven decades and numerous media. Polka dots were famously her central muse, inspiring audiences to consider the “boundless nature of the universe,” Artnet writes. Kusama’s “Infinity Nets,” “Infinity Mirror Rooms,” and pumpkins skyrocketed her to mainstream renown and remain Instagram fodder to this day. Even as her work traveled the globe and enticed the masses, Kusama struggled with her finances and mental health. Voluntarily checking herself into a Tokyo psychiatric hospital after 1977, Kusama rarely made public appearances even as her celebrity augmented. She was named a knight in France’s Order of Arts and Letters in 2003 and won the Praemium Imperiale award for painting in 2006. The documentary “Kusama: Infinity” was released in 2018.
U.S. Open fever is upon us
Waldorf Astoria New York transformed its Grand Ballroom into a full-sized tennis court on August 27 to celebrate the 2026 Us Open; photo courtesy Waldorf Astoria New York
It may signal the end of summer, but the U.S. Open never fails to provide one final jolt of fun before Labor Day. Plenty of brands are getting in on the action this year, too. If you don’t (yet) have tickets for a match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, fans are invited to stop by tennis activations across the city. Last night, the Waldorf Astoria New York transformed its iconic ballroom into the backdrop for the Ballroom Tennis Invitational, while the Plaza hotel is teaming up with Lacoste to offer tennis-inspired merchandise. Galerie reports the retail pop-up beckons inside the landmark hotel where items for sale include co-branded apparel and the signature Le Café Lacoste Polo pastry. The hotel’s famously red-carpeted Fifth Avenue steps will even be swapped for Lacoste green as it leads guests into a lobby installation as well. If you have an extra $150 for lunch, stop by afternoon tea, where themed treats will also be served. Tiffany & Co., another Fifth Avenue fixture, is also celebrating 40 years as a partner of the U.S. Open—specifically, crafting the championship trophies. A new pop-up located near Fountain Plaza offers a glimpse into the world of Tiffany & Co. artisans, from a showcase of engraving tools to keepsake Men’s and Women’s Singles Championship trophies. Don’t worry, there’s also a dedicated photo op.
Marfa’s Chinati Foundation readies for an upgrade
Donald Judd, 100 untitled works in mill aluminum, 1982–1986. Permanent collection, the Chinati Foundation, Marfa, Texas; photo by Alex Marks, courtesy of the Chinati Foundation. Donald Judd Art © 2026 Judd Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
For those who have yet to make the trek to the desert gem of Marfa, Texas, Donald Judd’s Chinati Foundation is one of the essential institutions awaiting art lovers in town. Two former artillery sheds stretch across the arid landscape, showcasing 100 untitled mill-aluminum sculptures from Judd beneath secondary arched roofs made of corrugated steel. However, the intense desert heat has long tested staff, guests, and the artworks, causing the pieces to shift over time. Luckily, both sheds are poised to receive an update courtesy of an “integrated restoration” led by Houston-based Schaum Architects. Wallpaper reports that a layer of invisible film will be added to 10,000 square feet of onsite windows to block UVA and UVB rays. Other upgrades will improve air circulation and prevent the accumulation of dust and grit in the building’s envelope, while engineering team TYLin will incorporate a new roof structure to address leaks and drainage issues and facilitate rainwater harvesting. Landscape experts Maggie Tsang and Jim Martinez will even analyze the soil to inform restoration efforts, steward the revival of native plant species, redirect rainwater, and mitigate the risk of grassfires.
Major Food Group is hungry for more
Major Food Group cofounders Rich Torrisi, Jeff Zalaznick, and Mario Carbone; photo by Weston Kloefkorn
Gracing the pages of GQ this month, Major Food Group (MFG) partners Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalanick offer a behind-the-scenes look at their hospitality empire. With annual revenue exceeding $500 million, business is booming at MFG—and setting its sights on new territory. Condos, clubs, hotels, and wellness pop-ups are all being explored as avenues to further expand its global footprint, alongside plans for fixtures like ZZ’s and Carbone to continue unveiling new locations worldwide. The team is even offering rentals of the Grill, the Pool, and the Lobster Club in a sumptuous 3-for-1 wedding package. Curious how much that may set you back? Dive into this capacious profile by Daniel Riley, which charts the meteoric rise of Major Food Group and its mission to prove more really is more.
Boutique Design names its 2026 Up-and-Coming Hotelier
Melissa Shelton; photo by Two Studios
Melissa Shelton, founder and creative director of New Orleans-based Dear Valentine, has been named this year’s Up-and-Coming Hotelier by Boutique Design magazine. The annual honor recognizes emerging visionaries who are reshaping how hotels look, feel, and operate to elevate the guest experience. Established as a boutique hospitality development and management company in 2024, Dear Valentine touts a portfolio of soulful guesthouses across the Big Easy. Shelton will be formally spotlighted at the 2026 Gold Key Awards gala on Monday November 9th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. Want to join in on the celebration? Purchase tickets to the event.