Something New and Something Borrowed: The New Museum Gala Aimed Big

12 April 2012
by Art Rubynstein

New Museum changed up venues for its 35th Anniversary Gala, moving on up to the Cipriani Wall Street address this year. The event’s best ever crowd came out for the bellinis, special performance by spectacularly named The Pimps of Joytime from Brooklyn, and face time with more A-list artists than we could count. 560 patrons occupied tables on Wall Street and $1.6 million was raised. Here are the highlights:

Hosts: Lisa Phillips, Toby Devan Lewis, and Saul Dennison

Big artist alert: honoree Paul McCarthy, George Condo, Elizabeth Peyton, Roni Horn, Marilyn Minter, Dasha Shiskin, Chuck Close, Jeff Koons, Aaron Young, Tom Sachs, Rob Pruitt, Lisa Yuskavage and Matvey Levenstein, Lorna Simpson, Hanna Liden, Dustin Yellin, Cecily Brown, Wangechi Mutu, Tony Oursler, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Will Cotton, Sue Williams, and many more.

SAG members in attendance: Honorary co-chair Chloe Sevigny and Leelee Sobieski

CFDA members in attendance: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Adam Kimmel, and jean loving Francisco Costa.

Most popular designer of the night: Costa’s work for Calvin Klein. Nora Zehetner, Amanda Brooks, Anh Duong, Yvonne Force Villareal, Minter, Olympia Scarry, and Piper Marshall all wore his designs to the dinner.

Most fascinating accessory: Massimiliano Gioni’s Mickey Mouse like gloves.

Runner-up: Sue Hostetler’s Barbara Kruger blessed column.

Best possible parting gift: Carsten Höller’s mini-version of Giant Triple Mushroom sculpture made especially for the gala. $5K was the minimum bid for the piece.

Best auction item: A George Condo portrait commission, a first of its kind for the artist.

Will Cotton On Candy, Crowns, and Katy!

05 November 2011
by Art Rubynstein

When the Great Depression hit America in 1930’s, sweeping, gorgeous MGM films reigned at the box office. With current rising unemployment rates, Occupy Wall Street movement in full swing, and uncertain presidential race, Will Cotton’s escapist, and lush work is arguably needed now more that ever. The artist just released his anticipated book from Rizzoli called Will Cotton: Paintings & Works on Paper and it’s filled with two of most optimistic things in life: gorgeous pin-ups and probably the most mouth-watering depictions of sweets in art history. His goddesses (buddy and collector Katy Perry among them) are given as much love in the book as his ice-cream landscapes and candy cane trees.

Your work is sort of a thrilling combination of both Reubens and Willy Wonka. When did you recognize what made you happy in the studio?
When I look at images from art history, I tend to believe what I’m seeing, (even if it’s a Tiepolo painting of people sitting around in the clouds). I think this is a function of great story telling. The first time I ever felt like I was really in control of the fictional narrative within my painting was when I started baking in my studio. I found that I could literally make an environment from scratch that contained all the symbolic elements I wanted to see in the finished painting.

Do you really think that heaven is filled with cotton candy and soft-serve?
I think everyone’s heaven is of their own making, so yes! Absolutely, mine’s full of those things.

How do you get your sugar fix?
I’ve been interested in chocolate lately, which is relatively new for me. I actually do like sweets, but I have a feeling that I’d still use them in my work even if I didn’t.

What’s the single greatest dessert experience that you remember?
I’ve noticed that there are a lot of people in the art world who like to bake sweets, so last year I hosted a dessert bake-off in my studio. I invited fifteen friends to make their best dessert and bring it over for judging. Everyone went to such lengths to make something delicious and beautiful. As I was awarding the prize, I got to taste all of them!

If you’d live in one of your sweet architectural wonders, what would it look like?
There’s a gingerbread chalet on page 90 of the book that I painted with that thought in mind. If I ever build a house it’ll look something like that.

You work with so many private clients as well. How do your collaborations normally work?
They’re only collaborative in the sense that the model’s character tends to come through in the portrait. Beyond that they have to be willing to find themselves in whatever situation I think would be most exciting. Recently this has meant posing in some elaborate crowns made of everything from cream puffs to ribbon candy.

Katy Perry was an exception for you in terms of being a celebrity subject. How different was she to paint as opposed to your other goddesses?
Any time I make a painting I’m thinking of a whole array of symbolic points of reference. In the cotton candy cloud paintings these are things like Cabanel’s Birth of Venus, and American Pin-up painting. But with a well-known model there is a whole other set of associations to be aware of. In Katy’s case, what she brought to the picture happened to be exactly what I wanted to paint about.

California Gurls garnered a crazy amount of views on YouTube. How does that feel for your art to have so much exposure?
To be honest, I suspect that most of those viewers have no idea what they’re seeing in the video is all based on my work. Nevertheless, I’m thrilled that my conversation with pop iconography is now more of a two way street.

All images courtesy of Will Cotton

The Chanel and RxArt Host a Clinic!

24 September 2011
by Art Rubynstein

The lazy days of summer are officially over. Art dinners are in full swing, galleries are now virtually all open, and RxArt with its and founder Diane Brown, hosted a nice little gathering this week along with Chanel Beauté at Highline Stages to raise money for charity and to serve a cocktail or two. The space was vast, the open bars weren’t competitive in terms of crowding, and plenty of good art was up for bid. Here are the highlights.

Artist cameos: Will Cotton, Rafael de Cardenas, Aaron Young, KAWS and Julia Chiang, Marco Brambilla, David Levinthal, Bill Powers, Jose Parla, among many others.

Missing in Action: Rob Pruitt, who designed the cover artwork for the RxArt’s 3rd annual coloring book. That illustration was the base for a very interactive marker wall at the bash.

Best new art supply: Chanel markers

Most excited bidder: Rag & Bone’s David Neville who bid on Levinthal’s Yankee homage during the early minutes of the party. “Let’s just hope they win the World Series this time!” exclaimed the die-hard Yankee fan.

Most popular artwork: Aurel Schmidt’s cigarette stained piece which inspired a serious bidding war.

Most exciting current fashion/ art collab: Jason Wu x KAWS. “And yet, I missed the fashion show because of my LA opening,” grinned the artist.

Most exciting upcoming fashion/ art collab: Aurel Schmidt’s current work with a big, French based brand. Watch this space for updates.

Best jock cameo: Rangers’ fashion and art loving Sean Avery

All Photos are courtesy of BFAnyc.com

When Artists Do Albums: Best Efforts Ever!

09 July 2011
by Art Rubynstein

This week, The Red Hot Chili Peppers unveiled cover art for their tenth studio album “I’m With You”. “Damien Hirst did it for us and we’re happy to get this out to ya,” the band announced in a statement. It’s always nice to have Mr. Hirst on your side when it comes to design pre-production, but the British big is hardly the first to join this record industry derby. These are some of previous favorite collaborations.

The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1966)
By Andy Warhol

Warhol wasn’t just the band’s art director; he was also its manager. He helped get them a major deal with MGM, suggested than Nico join the group as the primary collaborator and the banana logo on the band’s first LP cover become iconic instantly.

The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers (1971)
By Andy Warhol

Andy began his career as an illustrator at Columbia Records so he had a well of experience to rely on before designing Stones’ legendary LP cover during the height of their fame. The cover which is basically a gritty black and white image of tight jeans and suggestive bulge, instantly helped emphasize and celebrate Rolling Stones’ sex drugs and rock ‘n’ roll aura.

Dirty Vegas – Dirty Vegas (2002)
By Richard Phillips

The premise was simple enough. The sleeves of the first Dirty Vegas album would before portraits by Richard Phillips, who in turn took collaboration to different heights by creating series of large format paintings that eventually translated to international series of mural and billboards. A Grammy nomination for the duo followed suit.

Katy Perry – A Teenage Dream (2010)
By Will Cotton

“Before I even discovered Will, I was into all things cute and girly and beautiful and edible,” said Katy Perry of the art collaborator behind her most successful album. The duo worked perfectly together: the candy loving artist created a frothy, Vargas inspired image for the cover and then art directed the eye-popping California Gurls video.

Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
By George Condo

George Condo had a big 2010 that consisted of a New Museum retrospective and collaboration with Kanye West. West discovered Condo’s painting a year prior to the release of his latest album and the duo eventually decided on not one, but five cover concepts including a banned sphinx induced intercourse. But it was the ballerina image that became the most enduring. “Hey man, I’d like to have a great ballerina painting,” Condo recalled when recollecting early conversations with Kanye. “And I thought of a ballerina toasting. You know, ‘let’s toast to the scumbags.’’

The Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You (2011)
By Damien Hirst

Sure, Hirst does everything these days, even announcing skateboard collaboration this week. But he does them well, and this The Red Hot Chili Peppers design emphasizes that he’s still utterly brilliant thanks to a composition consisting of a fly and a multifaceted pill.

Wait…There’s More Whitney!

26 May 2011
by Art Rubynstein

Yes, kids- the Whitney parade isn’t over just yet. This week’s festivities for the museum included a groundbreaking ceremony, an awards dinner, and last night’s annual Art Party hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries at the Highline Stages. The attendance was healthy, the bidding was heated, and honorary co-chair Amar’e Stoudemire was very, very tall.

Notable artists in the crowd: Pink loving Will Cotton, Josephine Meckseper, Max Snow, Emily Roysdon, Slater Bradley, William Burton Binnie, and Amit Greenberg were just few of familiars in the room.

Biggest power move: Amar’e Stoudemire’s personal roped off VIP section complete with security guards. “I loved all the art, but getting to the bidding tables might be challenging,” he smiled. No kidding. Just leave the guards behind next time, Mr. Knick. Art people don’t know there sports, anyway.

Most notable date duo: Jason Wu and Shala Monroque, whom the designer dressed. “I definitely needed a mental break before resort collection,” said the designer. “And this art evening is doing that for me.”

Best dressed: Model Joan Smalls in Hakaan, who came with boyfriend Bernard Smith and also gave friend and designer Monique Pean a makeover. “We’re hunting for desserts tonight,” smiled Smalls as trays of sweet stuff were seldom to find.

Fashion notables in the crowd: Tanned and happy Brian Wolk and Claude Morais, Prabal Gurung, Max Osterweis, Michelle Harper, Johan Lindeberg, Max Vallot, and Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs.

Art notables: China Chow who just wrapped season two of Work of Art, Adam D. Weinberg, Bettina Prentice, and Lisa De Kooning.

Photos: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com

David & Goliaths

08 May 2011
by Art Rubynstein

It was a Saturday unlike any other this year in the city. Between the trolleys to Connecticut for the Peter Brant foundation festivities to the high powered David Salle opening at Mary Boone (and the joint dinner with Clifford Ross at Matsuri that followed) this was no sleepy weekend. Near perfect temperatures inspired a flourishing artist A-list attendance to support Salle’s tremendous show and everyone seemed to be in the good mood. Here’s the recap.

Mary Boone Salle supporters: Jeff Koons, Francesco and Alba Clemente, Richard Phillips and Josephine Meckseper, Kim Heirston Evans, Fran Lebowitz, Alex Katz, Cecily Brown, among many others.
Most refreshing Oscar winner cameo: Christopher Walken
Most excited: Mary Boone, who received plenty of great feedback for Salle’s work. “It’s his first new show in three years,” she beamed.
Familiar faces at Matsuri: Will Cotton, Rachel Feinstein and John Currin, Anh Duong, Ross Bleckner, Dana Schutz, Sante D’Orazio, Salman Rushdie, Vito Schnabel, Liz Swig, and Peggy Siegal.
Most curious accessory: Anne McNally’s blue fur collar in the early heat of May
Who needs champers? Koons and Salle went for beer with their sashimi.