All posts filed under: Only in New York

Before Fierce: Remembering Fashion Illustrator Tony Viramontes

Published by Fernando Lahoz

An Amazonian woman draped in exotic materials stands before him trying to change her pose as rapidly as the young artist finishes another drawing. His vibrant eyes move over the model capturing more than the newest fashion in which she is adorned; he is able to put on the page a bold and palpable as well. When Viramontes worked, he did so in a fervor. Frank Anthony Viramontes was born in Santa Monica, California to first generation Mexican parents. Having an artistic inclination at a young age, Tony drew everything from cheerleaders to matadors, finding himself enamored by their bright garments. His supportive parents would bring young Tony along to bullfights in nearby Tijuana where he developed an intense appreciation for elegant yet brash masculinity. The way in which Tony would work in fashion illustration throughout his career was reminiscent of the toreador’s movements that he studied as a boy. Seizing the aggressive and energetic styles of the 1980’s came naturally to him. With the slashing stroke of his charcoal pencil, he was able to …

stephen-sprouse-1983-fashion-show

Meant for Beautiful People, Stephen Sprouse Collections

Published by Fernando Lahoz

Mauricio and Roger Padilha of MAO PR are the co-authors of the best-selling “The Stephen Sprouse Book” by Rizzoli, 2009. Their affair with Stephen Sprouse started as a teenage love and continued through the decades. The two brothers are the owners of the largest collection outside of Stephen Sprouse’s personal archive. Mauricio and Roger Padilha of MAO PR are the co-authors of the best-selling “The Stephen Sprouse Book” by Rizzoli, 2009. Their affair with Stephen Sprouse started as a teenage love and continued through the decades. The two brothers are the owners of the largest collection outside of Stephen Sprouse’s personal archive. –Interview by Natalie Kates Natalie Kates: How did you start collecting Stephen Sprouse? Roger Padilha: We grew up on Long Island and didn’t really have access to a lot of fashion. When I was 13 years old and Mauricio was 16, we were watching some TV News Channel and they showed a fashion show on Stephen Sprouse. We stole our parent’s credit card and went to Bloomingdale’s in Manhattan where we charged up …

Time Square - Emilio

Artist Emilio Pérez Takes Times Square on a Visual Trip

Published by VAGA Editor

NY based artist Emilio Pérez creates is taking over Times Square with a unique visual vocabulary of sinuous and spontaneous shapes in his precise drawings. They are infused with his fascination for classical paintings, music and nature. Style Curator, Natalie Kates sits with the artist to learn about his latest project “Dream Season” part of Midnight Moment, a Times Square Arts initiative in which the artist will take the public on an abstract, visual road trip from 11:57 p.m. to midnight every night in November. Natalie Kates: When did you realize you wanted to be an artist? Emilio Pérez: I’m pretty sure that I was an artist all along. It just took time for me to understand what that meant and how I would apply it to my life and pursuits. Your paintings have been described as abstract, organic, fluid forms and otherworldly. To achieve this you paint layers of pigment and carve out the layers with an X-Acto knife to create the artworks. How did you come to use the X-Acto knife in your paintings? I …

An interview with Taylor Mead—last Andy Warhol’s superstar

Published by Fernando Lahoz

The artist died at the age of 88 on May 8, 2013, after being on the stage for over 70 years. The spunky, wry and sometimes irreverent actor, performer, playwright, poet, and painter was still performing every week.  Only disrupted last April when, after a long battle with the landlords, he agreed to leave his tenement apartment in LES. The following interview was originally published in our 3rd issue in March 2012. New York, December 2011 –Born into and hated by a stuffy, affluent family, Taylor Mead, whose self- described dramatic debut went down at Grosse Point High School in 1930s Michigan, went on to work and party with such greats as Andy Warhol, Frank O’Hara, Dennis Hopper, and Jim Jarmusch. His roles in such films as Lonesome Cowboys (1968), The Queen of Sheba meets the Atom Man (1968), and Tarzan and Jane Regained…Sort Of (1964) were key contributions to a dynamic era of film in the ‘60s led by Andy Warhol, his collaborators, and his contemporaries. Sheet 8 from “Fairy Tale Poem,” Taylor Mead, 2012 …

LADYFAG, NEW YORK’S NOCTURNAL GODDESS

Published by Juliana B

The statuesque gender-bending Madame of the New York night scene, Ladyfag, arrived eight years ago, first selling vintage wares and later becoming mesmerized by the allure of the city after dark. Photographed by Anna Bloda, Make up Azra Red. The statuesque gender-bending Madame of the New York night scene arrived eight years ago, first selling vintage wares and later becoming mesmerized by the allure of the city after dark. In the beginning, Ladyfag ventured out solo, enrobed in a myriad of her own looks from Transylvanian embroidered robes to Ricardo Tisci’s Givenchy later on. She danced with arms flung in the air, her shaggy armpits laid bare. The night became her playground as she headed out to iconic venues like Hiro, APT and Happy Valley. It was on one of those fateful nights that NYC nightlife and legendary club kid, Kenny Kenny found her at the center of the dance floor. He hired her on the spot to dance for him at Happy Valley (thrown by him and Susanne Bartsch.) “Both of us are self-created …

Down in the LES, Rachel Hilbert fashion editorial

Published by Fernando Lahoz

Down in the LES – Model Rachel Hilbert @ IMG Models. Photographed by Russ Neipp. Art Direction and Styling by Juliana Bojorquez. Makeup by Christina Lee Adams at NARS. Previous page: blouse REFORMATION, shades THE ROW. This Page: jacket REFORMATION, underwear & thigh-highs CALVIN KLEIN, shoes REISS. Previous page: cardigan PRADA, bra CALVIN KLEIN, jeans RAG & BONE, creepers SANDRO. This page: Crop top REFORMATION, jeans RAG & BONE This page: leather pants J BRAND. Next page: blouse THE KOOPLES, skirt Alice & OLIVIA, creepers SANDRO, jacket REFORMATION.

BAST-ARDIZED – An interview with Brooklyn street artist Bäst

Published by Fernando Lahoz

Brooklyn-based street artist Bast has been an intricate part of the street art scene for the past 10 years, with his wheat-pasted images prominently featured across New York and Europe’s urban landscape. Long before street art became a part of the mainstream, Bast was setting the tone and raising the bar with his iconic collaged imagery. He has established himself as one of the most respected street artists of our generation. As fellow artist Banksy says, “The work isn’t so much a ‘melting pot’ of culture as a food blender set on max and left until the motor burns out.” In this editorial, portraits by photographer Walker Brockington are BASTardized (deriving from more than one source or style) by the elusive artist. –Words and interview by Natalie Kates. Natalie Kates: I’ve seen your street art pieces signed both Bast and Basto? Which do you prefer, and where does the name come from? Bast: I prefer Basto. It’s a long story but basically R.B. (Repulsive Bastard), a heavy metal graffiti guy from Brooklyn’s South Shore High School …