A few months back, I found myself in Staten Island for an art show and decided to squeeze in a little window shopping on my way back to the ferry. That’s when I wandered into a gift shop so heavily decorated for Pride that I thought I’d stepped into a rainbow vortex — in the best possible way. Front and center was what I can only describe as a Pride-themed Christmas Tree, and honestly, it might be one of the most joyful things I’ve ever seen. Continue reading Pride-Themed Holiday Tree and Ornaments→
If you happened to strolled along the High Line sometime between March 11th and May 31st, you may have noticed something striking floating above 10th Avenue at 18th Street: a familiar, fuchsia feline lounging with purpose. Soft Power was the latest billboard installation by acclaimed contemporary artist Alex Da Corte, and it turned heads for all the right reasons.
Argentine-born Luis Frangella landed in New York City in 1976 and soon became a recognized figure of the East Village art scene. As a painter, he moved beyond traditional canvases, producing murals throughout the city at unexpected sites like nightclubs and construction zones. His work evokes downtown New York’s artist and queer communities, who congregated and created in public spaces in resistance to the city’s deindustrialization. Continue reading Modern Art Monday Presents: David Wojnarowicz, NYC (Triangle Head) By Luis Frangella→
Jarvis Boyland’s sensitive paintings conjure feelings of intimacy and leisure. In Pop Out (2019) — the title being a Chicago-based expression for hanging out — the artist depicts himself standing alongside an artist friend, both dressed in lustrous outfits and meeting the viewer’s gaze. The stand in a lived-in space with arms interlocked, exuding a familiarity that confirms their comfort in each other’s presence. It is as much a portrait of their relationship as it is of them as individuals, echoing Borland’s broader portrayals of queer Black people in domestic settings.
Photographed in the Brooklyn Museum as Part of the Exhibit Giants: Art From The Dean Collection.
