East West Lifestyle
Agnes Lew’s A-List: The Perfect Gifts for the Holidays 2022
2022 has been another eventful year for the wo rld, but through it all, the one constant we can all look forward to are gifts for the holiday season. Whether you know exactly what’s on this year’s wish list, or it’s still a mystery waiting to be solved, Agnes Lew, head of Private Banking at East West Bank has the perfect recommendations for you.
“I can’t believe it’s already December,” says Lew, “this year has been filled with lots of emotional reunions as we came out of travel restrictions, making up for time seeing friends and family. 2022 has literally flown by.”
To jumpstart your holiday shopping this year, here is a diverse list of curated selections from art pieces and cooking equipment to musical experiences and community giving that Agnes Lew shares on her 2022 A-List.
Hauser & Wirth Shop: Where art finds a place in your home
The Hauser & Wirth Shop is a sophisticated one-stop shop with many unique art items from books and prints to elevated home and personal accessories.
“These three items are things that I would personally love to receive and are excellent gift choices for anyone who appreciates art and enjoys having it in their home,” says Lew.
Louise Bourgeois cashmere blanket: Cozy up to luxury
It is just so soft and pretty, you’ll never want to take it off”
As part of the shop’s Artist Blanket collection, this blanket is 100 percent cashmere and a collaboration piece between gallery artists and ROAM, a small studio based in the heart of the Scottish cashmere and fine woolens industry. “It is just so soft and pretty, you’ll never want to take it off,” claims Lew.
Go to Hauser & Wirth’s Artist Blanket collection to get cozy.
Zhang Enli Blue Tree large silk square: Adding the blues to any outfit
“Dress any outfit with this beautiful scarf. Anyone who looks at you will know you have great artistic taste.”
With beautiful hues of blue by artist Zhang Enli, Hauser & Wirth’s Artist Scarf collection celebrates the collaboration between gallery artists and Jane Carr, an esteemed British luxury accessories designer. This limited-edition scarf is produced in Como, Italy, home of the art of silk printing, with a rich history of textile craftsmanship. “Dress any outfit up with this beautiful scarf,” says Lew. “Anyone who looks at you will know you have great artistic taste.” This gift is hand-finished using traditional methods for hems and delicate frayed edges and is the perfect accessory to any outfit.
Visit the Artist Scarf collection for Zhang Enli’s Blue Tree silk square scarf.
Alexander Calder set of 6 plates: Adding art to your dining experience
“These plates are so beautiful. If I’m in a rush to entertain, I can literally pull something out from the freezer and put it on these plates and it would look good,”
Made in Limoges, France, by Bernardaud, each plate shows depictions of six artworks by artist Alexander Calder. With unique geometric shapes decorating the porcelain, these plates are sure to add artistic flair to any dish that is served. “These plates are so beautiful. If I’m in a rush to entertain, I can literally pull something out from the freezer and put it on these plates and it would look good,” says Lew. Each plate has a diameter of 27 cm and is a limited-edition piece.
To view the plates, please visit Alexander Calder’s set of six plates.
Karma Bookstore: More than meets the eye
For those who love books and are open to learning new things, Lew recommends the following visually appealing books to gift.
“The Realm of Appearances” by Matthew Wong: A book to add color to your space
“If you’ve seen Matthew Wong’s artwork, then you understand the value of having all of his amazing and colorful pieces in a visually stunning book.”
“If you’ve seen Matthew Wong’s artwork, then you understand the value of having all of his amazing and colorful pieces in a visually stunning book,” says Lew.
Wong was a self-taught Canadian artist who painted otherworldly landscapes from luminescent midnight forests and trees comprised of thousands of colorful dots. Wong was hailed as one of the most impressive artists of his time before he passed in 2019. A formal survey of Wong’s 60 landscape paintings throughout his prolific career, “The Realm of Appearances”, published this year, is sure to be a wonderful addition to any office or home.
Explore “The Realm of Appearances” at Karma.
“To look without fear” by Wolfgang Tillmans: A conversation starter
“I’ve always found Tillman’s work to be so expressive and bold, so I love that this book provides a holistic view into his diverse artistic career.”
“To look without fear” is a 320-page book that spans across multiple art genres from photography, print media, video, and more. “I’ve always found Tillman’s work to be so expressive and bold, so I love that this book provides a holistic view into his diverse artistic career,” says Lew.
According to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Tillman continually experimented with ways to amplify social and political causes while rejecting conventional photographic expressions through his camera lens and artwork. The book is sure to be a conversation starter for any environment.
Check out “To look without fear” at Karma.
Robin Birley’s homeware collection: The new chic and stylish aesthetic
“It’s where curated elegance meets comfort, and tradition meets modern edge.”
Robin Birley, the owner of one of London’s most exclusive private members clubs, 5 Hertford Street, recently launched a homewares collection that features everything from vintage tableware to custom-made interiors and fabrics.
“Its where curated elegance meets comfort, and tradition meets modern edge,” says Lew. “If you’ve ever been to 5 Hertford Street of Oswald’s, you know that Robin Birley is the perfect man who can deliver this balance.”
To view Birley’s homeware catalogue, you can download it directly from his website.
San Francisco Symphony: Gift of live music
“If you know someone who enjoys musical experiences, this is the perfect gift.”
With Esa-Pekka Salonen as the new music director at the helm, the San Francisco Symphony is reemerging with a fresh new take on engaging classical music. Salonen has a rich musical career and is a recipient of many major awards, including the UNESCO Rostrum Prize.
“I’ve always loved going to the San Francisco Symphony,” says Lew. “And I can’t wait to see how Salonen leads this award-winning symphony. If you know someone who enjoys musical experiences, this is the perfect gift.”
To see a full calendar of performances and buy tickets, visit the San Francisco Symphony website.
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts: Gift of experience
“Whether it’s ballet or opera you want to watch, you’ll be sure to find something enjoyable among the diverse programming.”
From dance to theater, give the gift of performing arts this holiday season with tickets to World Class music, dance and theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Gift certificates are available for single performances or subscriptions, with access to dynamic cultural and creative experiences for many years.
“The 2022/2023 season subscription won’t disappoint,” says Lew. “Whether it’s ballet or opera you want to watch, you’ll be sure to find something enjoyable among the diverse programming.”
A Wallis subscription allows a member to unlock exclusive benefits, and view at least four events throughout the year.
To take a look at the programming calendar and purchase a subscription, go to the Wallis website.
Summaeverythang: The gift of giving
“If you’re looking to give the gift of kindness in the most meaningful way and contribute to our social fabric, I would highly recommend Summaeverythang.”
Summaeverythang is a community center in South Central Los Angeles that was founded by artist Lauren Halsey in March 2020 in an attempt to deliver organic produce to more black and brown communities.
To date, Summaeverything has delivered more than 750 boxes of organic, fresh and free produce. In addition to fresh produce, each box distributed also contains a packet of information about jobs and professional training opportunities from the Los Angeles Black Worker Center. Halsey hopes to collaborate with other community centers to further expand the center’s reach across Los Angeles.
“If you’re looking to give the gift of kindness in the most meaningful way and contribute to our social fabric, I would highly recommend Summaeverythang,” says Lew.
To see the impact of Summaeverythang and donate or get involved, check out its website.
SP351 Series Ninja Foodi Smart Dual Heat Air Fry Oven: Your best kitchen companion
“People don’t know this about me, but I love to cook because I find it very relaxing and meditative. With a crazy schedule, this air fryer oven saves me a lot of time to entertain larger groups.”
From broiling the perfect casseroles to air frying crispy French fries at home, the Ninja SP351 Series is a great addition to your kitchen, especially if you’re looking for a convenient way to cook multiple types of dishes. The 13-in-1 functionality helps save valuable counter space and prepare a variety of meals in a short amount of time.
“People don’t know this about me, but I love to cook because I find it very relaxing and meditative,” says Lew. “With a crazy schedule, this air fryer oven saves me a lot of time to entertain larger groups.”
To learn more about the range of functionalities with the SP351 Series, follow this link.