Few artists manage to merge the realms of fashion, art and popular culture as well as Laurie Simmons. The filmmaker-cum-photographer - who guest-edited our October issue - was the toast of the town last month at the Schwartz Gallery Met launch of ’Two Boys’, an exhibition of her photographs inspired by Nico Muhly’s opera of the same name.
Some of the New York art world’s most exciting characters, including Marilyn Minter and Cindy Sherman, turned out to support Simmons’ work at the opening reception - co-hosted by Wallpaper* - where her trademark dolls and dummies had evolved from angelic women into young men. ’I was drawn to the story of Two Boys, which involves the vastness, seduction and perils of the online world—something I think about often,’ Simmons explained.
Wallpaper*, of course, had twice the reason to celebrate that evening. So we continued the party with an intimate dinner to mark her other triumph: the 20 pages she co-opted in our October issue. Her guest-edited section is the artist at her best: a pastiche of wide-ranging references whose fusion is disarmingly natural. A true Simmons speciality.
A select crowd from the Schwartz Gallery Met opening, including Simmons, her collaborators, colleagues, family and friends, congregated at the Dream Downtown hotel, where - with the help of Cherry restaurant - we toasted her talents over plates of sushi (a hit with Marilyn Minter) and sake that flowed freely into the night.
Artists Marilyn Minter and Cindy Sherman
Fashion designer Wes Gordon and partner Paul Arnhold; Artists Carl D'Alvia and Jackie Saccoccio, and actress Garland Hunter
Artspace curatorial advisor Nessia Pope and artist Matthew Weinstein
Simmons, with her sisters, Susan (left) and Bonnie (right)
Architect Seth Howe and Newel gallery director Nicole Kapit; Photographer Andrea Blanch and Marilyn Minter's husband Bill Miller
In 'Two Boys', Simmons' trademark dolls and dummies have evolved from angelic women into young men. Pictured, 'Boy I/Floor', 2013
'Boy II/Silver Desk/Profile', 2013
Later that evening, we hosted a dinner with the help of our friends at Cherry restaurant for the artist and her collaborators, colleagues, family and friends at the Dream Downtown hotel
Gallery Met director Dodie Kazanjian, Simmons and Muhly
Architect David Bers and art director Eric Hoffman; Art curator and director of The Jewish Museum in New York City Claudia Gould and painter Carroll Dunham
Guests were served up an Asian-inspired menu that included black sea bass carpaccio with fennel oil, as well as a selection of fresh sashimi and makimono
21C Media Group cofounder Glenn Petry (centre), with Wallpaper* New York editor Pei-Ru Keh (left) and Salon 94 director and partner Alissa Friedman (right)
Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief Tony Chambers and Simmons; The artist guest edited 20 pages of our October issue, mixing and matching her own work with that of friends, collaborators and contemporaries to create compelling visual rhythms
A spread from Simmons' section in the issue, featuring: 'Peter Jensen 'Laurie' Collaboration', 2009 (left) and 'Peter Jensen Rabbit Stamp Digital Print Blouse and Capri Pants on Love Doll', 2013 (right), both by Laurie Simmons
'Dorothy Simmons' Shoes, 1962 (My Mother), with Limited Edition Watermelon Oreos', by Laurie Simmons, 2013 (left); 'Tabitha Simmons' Shoes, Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection', by Laurie Simmons, 2013 (above right) and 'Not In These Shoes', by Marilyn Minter, 2013 (below right)
ADDRESS
The Schwartz Gallery Met
Lincoln Center Plaza
New York
NY 10023
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