Forget the ultra, super duper VIP preview at the Basel. Nothing gets more exclusive than a Thomas Keller catered party at Jeff Koons‘ West 29th street studio. The mega Chelsea star hosted the event to celebrate his collaboration with BMW, making him the 17th artist to join the illustrious list of Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, Alexander Calder, and the latest creative mind to receive a big check: Olafur Eliasson. Sure, Keller’s glittered macaroons were exquisite and this collaboration thing is nice and all but we were just happy to get a sneak peak at Koons’ exciting factory. Art Box and other recognizable faces like Klaus Biesenbach, Yvonne Force Villareal, Ingrid Sichy and Sandy Brant got to see plenty of Bettie Pages and Popeyes, all meticulously organized with color palettes for some of dozens of Koons land assistants. The most colorful and striking image of Miss Page was almost ready to be shipped to a private buyer (perhaps one of the Russian collectors circling the room like an eagle) and the rest are due at Jeff’s next big show that may well be more than sixteen months away. Until then, clear your walls. These canvases are not for amateurs.
© BILLY FARRELL/PatrickMcMullan.com
4
