Culture Watch: What to See and Where to Go in September

JW Anderson is ushering in a new era, one defined by slow design and intentionally selected fine objects. In keeping with that ethos, the designer just celebrated the reopening of his Soho boutique in London with a special collaboration: Wedgwood, JWA, and the estate of the beloved British potter Lucie Rie have teamed up to release a limited-edition collection of Rie’s previously unproduced designs. The partnership is the first of its kind for the fashion designer, although he intends to build upon his brand’s curated object offerings.

Opening on September 17 in New York, London, and Shanghai, Apple’s new exhibition, “Joy in 3 Parts,” showcases original iPhone photography by Inez and Vinoodh, Mickalene Thomas, and Trunk Xu. For the project, Apple gave each artist early access to the new iPhone 17, allowing them to explore and highlight the camera’s artistic capabilities. The exhibition will be open to the public in New York and Shanghai, while the London showing is invite-only.

Beginning in 2027, Chanel will undertake renovations on all four sites of the Paris Opera: Palais Garnier, Opéra Bastille, the Dance School in Nanterre, and the Ateliers Berthier. The program is part of the house’s longstanding commitment to the Parisian arts, which began with its founder Gabrielle Chanel.

Happy 80th, Balmain! The French luxury brand celebrated its birthday with an exhibition at Printemps in New York City. The installation touches on all major aspects of the house’s DNA, including Monsieur Pierre Balmain’s inaugural 1945 collection, the signature logo first introduced in 1970, and the brand’s long history of dressing pop culture icons. The event was commemorated on September 4 with a cocktail party inside the FiDi department store.

From the critically acclaimed director of Beau Travail, Claire Denis, comes her newest project, The Fence. Co-produced with Anthony Vaccarello and Saint Laurent Productions, the film examines a single night following a death on the construction site of a public works project in West Africa. The Fence is selected for the main slate of the 2025 New York Film Festival, which takes place from September 26 to October 16.

Initially teased at Milan Design Week earlier this year, The Color of Copper (TCOC) rug series by Kwangho Lee is on full display at Collectible NYC 2025 from September 4 to September 7. The handmade collection is on view as a part of cc-tapis, a Milan-based contemporary rug maker and showroom.