Gabriel Rico Designs Whimsical Windows for Hermès Madison Avenue

Three days ago in New York City, the Mexican artist Gabriel Rico revealed his commissioned window designs for Hermès. Attended by artists, fashion patrons, and Hermès VIPs alike, the latest Vitrine D’Artiste debut began from outside the Hermès Madison Avenue. With a first look at the whimsical objects beyond the glass, special guests peered onto Rico’s multimedia installation, “The Emerald Table,” which draws upon multiple concepts to make one reality.

Here, the body was the starting point, functioning as a vessel fit for the art of interpretation. Made up of metal outlines, a human-like figure wore a collection of Hermès Twilly scarves—inspired by waterproof garments indigenous Mexican communities wear. In each hand, the figure held a soccer ball, and above its torso, a series of rotating faces turned by a chain hung from above.

Moving into the store, and into augmented reality, visitors were encouraged to experience the installation further through the Gabriel Rico Studio App, scannable by QR code on the display. By phone, guests entered the immersion to encounter new virtual elements not seen in the installation, like stones, symbols, and rising smoke. 

Through the combination of material elements, digital tools, and digitized realities, the Guadalajara-based artist created an overall experience through two mediums—both of which enter the maison’s permanent collection. After exploring the physical and metaverse spaces once more, the evening concluded with a special conversation between the artist and the multi-hyphenate creator Felix Burrichter.