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DUBAI: Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad has had a busy week in Hollywood, dressing three stars for their red carpet turns.

Portuguese model and actress Sara Sampaio, US actress Jessica Alba and pop icon Jennifer Lopez all opted for looks by Zuhair Murad at various events.

Both Alba and Sampaio showed off Resort 2025 looks at the Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles.

While model Sampaio’s look was an all-black, floor-grazing number with a thigh-high slit, “Trigger Warning” actress Alba hit the red carpet in a diaphanous gown with sequins embroidered across the length of the dress.

Oscar winning actress, producer and philanthropist Charlize Theron received the Giving Tree Award at the organization’s annual glitzy fundraiser. According to Baby2Baby, the honor is given to a public figure “who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the lives of children in need.”

Theron joined previous recipients including Salma Hayek Pinault, Kim Kardashian, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Amy Adams, Drew Barrymore, Chrissy Teigen and Vanessa Bryant.

Over to the premiere of “Wicked” in Los Angeles on Saturday night and Lopez walked the red carpet in a gown from Zuhair Murad’s Spring/Summer 2024 Couture line. She accessorized with jewelry by luxury Indian label Sabyasachi.

The Ras Baalbek-born couturier and the singer-actress have a long-standing relationship, with Lopez wearing the designer’s creations to countless events and award ceremonies.

She previously opened up about her affinity for Murad’s designs, describing the couturier as “probably her favorite designer” in a past interview with Venture Lifestyle.

Lopez attended the Hollywood premiere of Jon M. Chu’s much anticipated, star-studded musical epic “Wicked.”

Also in attendance were Part 1‘s main cast, including powerhouse duo Ariana Grande (who portrays Glinda the Good Witch) and Cynthia Erivo (playing Elphaba), as well as Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Ethan Slater.

DUBAI: Mexican multi-disciplinary artist Sami Hayek brought his work to the UAE for the first time as part of the selling exhibition, “Frequency,” which will be displayed at Christie’s in Dubai until Nov. 14.

More than 20 pieces are on show, with one bespoke creation designed for the exhibition — the “Dubai Credenza.”

Inspired by the hummingbird, Hayek told Arab News he sees similarities between Dubai and the vibrant, colorful bird whose wings move at an extraordinary frequency — qualities the artist equates with the region.

“I felt an analogy between the region and a hummingbird. A hummingbird because it is small and powerful, things happen very fast, the wings of a hummingbird are the fastest there are and there is a lot of diversity. There are about 360 different hummingbirds,” he said.

Created to be a modular piece of furniture for a living or dining space, it is made from anodized aluminum, with solid walnut interiors, volcanic rock feet and glass beads hand-laid by artisans in a small Mexican community.

The collection consists of interactive artworks designed to be touched and spun by viewers, encouraging visitors to engage with the works — for example, the “Mini Wing” side tables feature a 360-degree rotating top and a secret compartment.

“I believe that objects absorb intention and that they can emanate intention. Space is powerful. If you are in a healthy space, it enhances the way you think and behave,” Hayek explained of the motivation behind creating his artistic furniture.

“Your surroundings dictate the way you think, the way you feel, your health and your behavior. I wanted to do some exercises and some practice into how much intention I can invest into an object and how much of it can the object emanate to whomever engages it,” he said.

The premise seems to have come to fruition with his series of interactive works, including the aptly named Collector’s Table that can be customized according to each person’s interests. The table features a glass cover that allows for displaying a collection of items.

The design was a collaboration between Hayek, whose sister happens to be Hollywood actress Salma Hayek, and his fine jewelry designer wife Daniela Villegas, who collects beetles and sought alternatives to framing her collection.

“Whenever you go into space, you have a reaction or an emotion. I want these pieces to provoke an emotion of self-reflection and inspiration so they are charged intentionally with this. Hopefully they do that for some people,” Hayek said.