LADY GAGA'S ARTRAVE

I had the pleasure of attending Lady Gaga + Jeff Koons' ARTRAVE last night, the launch party for Gaga's new album, Artpop.  I have mixed feelings about Koons' work -- on the one hand, I can appreciate its accessibility and its Warholian kitsch, but it doesn't really appeal to me aesthetically.  I feel similarly about Gaga's music; I acknowledge her importance as a popular culture and fashion icon, but I wasn't exactly counting down the days until her album's release.  ARTRAVE, however, was a true spectacle in every sense of the word, appealing to all five senses at once, and the excitement of all the "little monsters"at the Brooklyn Navy Yard was palpable.  But the real highlight for me was enjoying the concert alongside some of the industry's most revered (and notorious) players, such as Tony Bennett, Terry Richardson, Christian Siriano, and my most revered performance artist, Marina Abramovic, who was the perfect addition to our group of friends.

INSPIRATION: A Tribute to Rothko.

I love these beautifully simplified photographs by Eddy de Azevedo.

As a tribute to Mark Rothko, photographer Azevedo has captured everyday Color Field occurrences, and I've found these stacks of clothing particularly compelling.

See more images here.

View my Rothko post here.

ART HISTORICAL HALLOWEEN

For Halloween this year, my friend (and faithful art lover) Kathy and I decided to go all out art historical.  She was Picasso's Woman in a Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse from 1962 and I was Warhol's Turquoise Marilyn from 1964.

I even ran into an Andy at a party that night, and couldn't help being reminded of the quote by the man himself: 

"My idea of a good picture is one that's in focus and of a famous person."

I'd love to hear what you're going to be for Halloween!

Dress and Wig: Amazon.com (search "Marilyn dress" and "Marilyn wig"--easy!)

Body paint and makeup: Ricky's NYC

Picasso and Warhol images from about.com

5 POINTZ

5 Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Inc. (also known as the Institute of Higher Burnin') is a converted warehouse space in Long Island City in Queens, which is completely covered with graffiti.  It originated as a safe place for graffiti artists to write, in order to discourage vandalism.  Writers from all over the world have tagged the city-block-sized abandoned warehouse, and it's been the site of some of the most compelling street art in the five boroughs--hence the name 5 Pointz.  This year, a $400 million residential project was approved, which will require demolition of the site.  In my protest, I hit 5 Pointz in a blank canvas dress, in search of writers who wanted to make their mark.

Tags by Kid Lew, Kazu, Shiro Japan!, and others.

Dress: H&M

Tagged with aerosol spray paint & Sharpies

Boots: Franco Sarto

Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Photos by Kathy Paciello and myself.

NOW WEARING: Clive Van Den Berg.

CLive Van Den Berg, The Land Throws Up A Ghost II, 2013

I'm finally embracing the season, inspired by the work of Clive Van Den Berg.  An "artist, curator, designer, writer, teacher, and activist", Van Den Berg produces work across media that deal with various themes from desire, to the human body, to landscape, and more.  Imbued with a sense of his identity as a South African, Van Den Berg's works are colorful representations of memory.

Jacket: Desigual

Jeans: Gap

Boots: L.L.Bean

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Photo by Hannah Kauffman, Van Den Berg image and info via Artsy.net.

NOW WEARING: Barry McGee.

Barry McGee (b. 1966) is a San Francisco-based artist who originally came on the scene as a street artist in the early 1990s.

Known by many different aliases, including Ray Fong, Lydia Fong, Bernon Vernon, Twist, and others, McGee's work was included in the 2001 Venice Biennale, which paved the way for his blue chip status in the art world today.

McGee's boldly graphic work deals with the overwhelming nature of advertising, and the plight of individuals existing the urban landscape.  His current exhibition at Cheim & Read features notorious geometric patchwork pieces in addition to pottery and a ballooned wall piece, which combines his surface design with sculpture.

Barry McGee is on view at Cheim & Read in Chelsea through October 26th.

Geo Shift by Pim + Larkin via Piperlime

Silk Blouse: H&M

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Boots: Franco Sarto

Photos by Kathy Paciello.

NOW WEARING: Leaves, Flowers.

Florence Derive, Leaves, Flowers in the River, 2011, acrylic on canvas.

I'm slowly moving past my "denial of fall" phase, and embracing the season.  Though my color palette doesn't change very much with the arrival of autumn, I'm currently feeling inspired by flora that is just on the verge of changing color.

Jumpsuit: Vintage

Platforms: Buffalo Exchange (I last wore them here.)

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bracelet: J. Crew

Photo by Kathy Paciello; Image via Artsy.