Felix’s Sartorial Spin

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It’s no wonder the Los Angeles-based Felix Art Fair keeps returning to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The hotel’s opening night in 1927 was a star-studded event, with Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, and Gloria Swanson making appearances. Two years later, it hosted the first-ever Oscars. After all these years, the Roosevelt continues to open its doors to creative minds, including the robust roster of artists taking part in this year’s Felix Art Fair. Founded in 2019 by art collector Dean Valentine along with Al and Mills Morán, the dynamic duo behind Los Angeles-based gallery Morán Morán, the avant-garde art fair commences for the fifth year this month—and this time with a fashionable twist at the same time as Paris Fashion Week. Over 60 galleries from around the world will showcase artwork throughout the storied hotel’s rooms; while a pop-up by concept store Dover Street Market takes up shop inside the Roosevelt’s ballroom.

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Housed within a site-specific, wooden installation designed by Los Angeles-based sculptor, architect, and mixed-media artist Oscar Tuazon, the curated boutique is stocked with apparel, accessories, and footwear by Dover Street Market’s eclectic roster of fashion labels, many featuring designs by art-world favorites past and present. Streetwear brand Brain Dead has partnered with the Mike Kelley Foundation For The Arts to create T-shirts and a tote bag emblazoned with artwork by the late artist. Nike's iconic Air Force 1s are transformed into Cloud Force 1s thanks to the imaginative minds behind KAWS.  Total Luxury Spa T-shirts feature the magical realism and humor of Moroccan artist Meriem Bennani, while prints contain highlights from French artist Cyprien Gaillard’s exhibition of sculptures and photography "Reefs to Rigs.” Exclusive tote bags crafted from Ocean Plastic from environmental non-profit Parley for the Oceans include collaborations with renowned artists such as Julian Schnabel, Doug Aitken, and Ed Ruscha. Standalone designs by creatives such as Rick Owens, Kiko Kostadinov, Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, Susan Nemeth, and Brett Westfall are showcased alongside the artist collaborations, underscoring the artistic pulse that runs through brands in the Dover Street universe.

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To celebrate the partnership, a special (and free) zine features original photography by Jack Bool and interviews with Al Morán, Tuazon, and James Gilchrist. It also documents the fair, Los Angeles, and the cross-pollination between art and fashion. Marked by its inventive approach in transforming the typical trade show atmosphere, this year’s Felix Art Fair is even more adventurous in its experimental feel. As visitors traverse the hotel’s famed halls, they encounter a broad range of creations rooted in the unmatched power of collaboration.

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Felix Art Fair runs through March 3, 2024 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles at 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles 90028.