AO Art Observed™

David Zwirner and Tony Huang’s hospitality via Art Observed

“Who’s Afraid of Jasper Johns?”, a show conceived by Urs Fischer & Gavin Brown, opened Friday night at Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York. An outpouring of support from the community poured into the Chelsea gallery. Heavy rain could not keep Mr. Shafrazi’s friends, clients, and fans from flooding to fete his latest feat.

Tony Shafrazi Gallery [Tony Shafrazi]
Gavin Brown [Gavin Brown]
Urs Fischer [Gavin Brown]
Rob Pruitt [ArtNet]
Celebrating at Mr. Chow’s [NYMag]
Roberta Smith Review [NYTimes]

Benjamin Godsill & Annie Burns via Art Observed

Rod Pruitt’s “Viagra Falls”, greeted patrons as they climbed the sloping staircase to the gallery. Inside, Gallery Assistants and Security Guards alike have had their likeness emblazoned upon the gallery’s white walls as a whimsical accompaniment to the striking canvases and sculpture on display.

Lou Reed and Lisa Phillips via Art Observed

Fellow gallery owners, artists, thespians, athletes, collectors, musicians and socialites shared in friendly rainy evening banter and a suspicious-looking potage that was set up picnic-style on the otherwise pristine floors. Tony Shafrazi, Gavin Brown, Rod Pruitt and other affiliated artists were in attendance to socialize with well-wishers and greet a pleasing variety of guests. A black and white photo of Shafrazi in handcuffs following his arrest at MoMA in 1974 served as the opening’s invitation and poster-sized takeaway. The current exhibition features work by Keith Haring, Rirkrit Tiravanija (photo below), and photographs by Urs Fischer, superimposed on the new pieces on display. The overwhelming theme of the show was a celebration of thoughtful juxtapositions as they play out in history. Shafrazi’s spray-painting of the words “KILL LIES ALL” onto Picasso’s Guernica provided both a shining example and curatorial inspiration.

Gilberto Maldonado via Art Observed

Tara Subkoff “observes” via Art Observed

Vivo Nevo and Zhang Ziyi via Art Observed

Peter Brandt via Art Observed

Paul Jacobsen and Christian Wassman via Art Observed

Richard Belzer looking dapper via Art Observed

Slava & Brian of SUPERM via Art Observed

Laurence Graff sparkles via Art Observed

Rikrit and Leigh get friendly via Art Observed

Melissa Bent and Emma Reeves looking lovely, via Art Observed

The handsome John and Kevin McEnroe via Art Observed

Todd Eberle via Art Observed

David Sardari, Mosalemy, Kevin Bright and Ignacio Corral via Art Observed

Matthew Steinberg and Nancy Smith via Art Observed

Photo via Art Observed

This entry was posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 5:53 pm and is filed under Art News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.