A first look inside LA’s fantastical Lucas Museum, how artists have captured Gloria Steinem over the years, and a real-life Poké Ball hotel is coming to Japan. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Gloria Steinem’s legacy in art
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Gloria Steinem died on September 2nd in New York at the age of 92. While remembered as a trailblazing author, speaker, and feminist, there’s another title some may be surprised she also earned: muse. And with signature aesthetics like her long hair, aviator shades, and soft eyes, it’s no surprise. Los Angeles street artist Shepard Fairey unveiled a Steinem “Rubylith” in 2012, while fellow artist Keith Mayerson painted a Steinem portrait of his own in 2021. Steinem also appeared in a 2023 exhibition of work by New York titan Marilyn Minter and LA painter Megan Gabrielle Harris was tapped to capture the civil rights advocate for the inaugural issue of Inez & Vinoodh’s magazine The Shift. The same Dutch photographers also captured a portrait of Steinem for The New Yorker in 2015 as did Annie Leibovitz for a 2016 exhibit. Perhaps most notably, American photographer Dan Wynn immortalized Steinem and fellow activist Dorothy Pittman Hughes with raised fists in an iconic 1971 image later recreated in 2017. Explore Artnet’s summary of Steinem’s legacy in the art world.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art readies to open in LA
Photo by Hufton Crow
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is set to make its long-awaited Los Angeles debut in a fantastical complex crafted by Beijing-based architecture firm MAD. Invoking drama with design fixtures like a waterfall feature on the north lawn reminiscent of a storm cloud, the museum is conceived to attract and inspire both ticketed and unticketed guests. The public green space spans an amphitheater, expansive gardens, and a slew of artwork, including a fountain anchored by statues of both Yoda and Grogu (aka Baby Yoda), Wallpaper reports. Also free to the public is the museum’s Education Wing, where visitors can walk below a full-scale Naboo Starfighter (congrats to all you “Phantom Menace” defenders) and visit a free three-floor library. Tickets are required for access to the Museum Wing, where a trio of tubular elevators are fashioned akin to the interior design of the Death Star space station. Two onsite theaters screen films nonstop, while inaugural exhibition “The History of Narrative Art: Heroes, Myths, the Sacred” awaits in an adjacent gallery. Additional galleries showcase artwork inspired by the “Star Wars” universe as well as homages to artists like Norman Rockwell and the fantasy, science fiction, and adventure genres. School, sports, civic life, and anti-war propaganda will inform other galleries as well.
A wild Poké Ball hotel appears!
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If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a Pokémon sheathed inside a Poké Ball between battles… wonder no more! Designboom reports that NOT A HOTEL has partnered with Pokémon Sleep on the design of a Poké Ball-themed hotel. More information on the human-scaled retreat in the Hokkaido woodland is expected to arrive on September 15th. What we do know is that the design embodies the logic of the Pokémon Sleep mobile game, which tracks rest and rewards users for developing healthier sleeping habits. The Poké Ball is not expected to operate as a conventional property with bookable rooms, instead offering stays during a limited campaign only. Hopefully Snorlax doesn’t book the whole thing out!
Your favorite podcast is looking good
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In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of podcasts are going visual. Though it feels counterintuitive, Dwell reports that YouTube continues to grow into the dominant consumption platform, driving visuals as an imperative. And it is pretty intriguing to take a peek at the cozy, sound-absorbing spaces our favorite podcasters record our favorite shows. Award-winning “You’re Wrong About” host Sarah Marshall famously recorded from inside of a closet for years, but plenty of other audio fixtures bask in cushier digs and show them off accordingly. The set for Jake Shane’s “Therapuss” podcast has already undergone three redesigns, while “What We Said” received a set renovation after adding visuals in 2024. Comedian Caleb Hearon was also bestowed with a set for his studio after his show was acquired by Wave Sports and Entertainment. Aesthetics in the medium range from “nostalgic lounges” complete with comfy residential flair like wallpaper and plush seating, to the expressive adolescent bedrooms of our youth like those of Owen Thiele and Becca Moore. With sexy neutrals and elevated branding, the luxe living room is another popular backdrop for audio heavyhitters like Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy” and even Khloé Kardashian. There’s also the man cave, but does anyone reading this blog really listen to “The Joe Budden Podcast?” Didn’t think so.
2026 Gold Key finalists announced
The AvroKO-designed Shangri-La Kunming in China, a 2026 Gold Key Awards finalist in multiple categories
The finalists for the 46th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design have been revealed! Presented by Boutique Design magazine, the prestigious awards program celebrates standout international hospitality projects across 25 categories including hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars and lounges, wellness spaces, and more. A jury of eight leading industry experts selected this year’s finalists and winners from more than 440 entries. Find out who’s taking home the gold during the 2026 Gold Key Awards gala on November 9th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York.