Art and design lovers can be among the hardest people to shop for out of everyone on your list this season. The challenge is finding gifts that meet their high aesthetic standards while retaining the element of discovery and surprise. Oftentimes, picking the perfect gift for these particular aesthetes requires stealth research into their hobbies, design interests and favourite labels.
Then, you can either look for iconic, classic products that will never go out of style, or take a leap of faith and get them the newest and greatest fashionable objet. Read on for a sampling of such gifts that guaranteed to please even the pickiest people of good taste.
Art Forum
If your budget allows for original artwork, stop by Galerie de Bellefeuille’s 7000-square-feet gallery space at Yorkville Village for inspiration, and guidance. Founded by Helen and Jacques Bellefeuille in 1980, the gallery features photography, sculpture, paintings, prints and more from both Canadian and internationally-renown artists.
Galerie de Bellefeuille.
Crystal Clear
For the gal who prefers to stand out while supporting independent designers, there’s this reworked baseball cap by Korean luxury label Tiger In The Rain. Designer Jung Sun Lee’s unique, handmade pieces feature reworked vintage pieces and a bold, rock ‘n’ roll–inspired attitude.
Tiger In The Rain baseball hat, available at TNT.
Arm Candy
You can find a large selection of pieces by Canadian jewelry designer Dean Davidson at Valency for the sculpture-lover in your life, including this stunning, Morocco-inspired cuff made of 22-karat gold over brass and featuring black onyx details.
Dean Davidson Casablanca cuff, available at Valency.
Light Show
Let them bask in the good light with one of Bois & Cuir’s sleek lighting options, like this elegant table lamp made of concrete, wood and brass. Perfect for a home office or a bedside table in a modern residence.
Bois & Cuir Bell-2 table lamp, available at Bois & Cuir.
Uncommon Scents
Featuring a “spiced plum” scent, this candle—with a fragrance created by Givaudan—features work by the late American graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It’s the colourful result of a collaboration between the Jean-Michel Basquiat Foundation and tableware brand Ligne Blanche Paris.
Ligne Blanche Paris Basquiat candle, available at TNT.
Wearable Art
Toronto designer Suzi Roher’s scarves double as works of art. When worn, they present an abstract menagerie of colours; laid flat, it reveals a graphic and artful image worthy of a frame.
Suzi Roher Tout Est Possible scarf, available at Andrews.
