Wallpaper* and the New York art world toast a dual creative feat by Laurie Simmons

New York art world toast a dual creative feat by Laurie Simmons
New York's art world descended on the Schwartz Gallery Met to support artist and Wallpaper* guest editor Laurie Simmons at the opening reception of her exhibition 'Two Boys', co-hosted by Wallpaper.Artist and designer Kevin Walz and composer Nico Muhly, whose 'Two Boys' opera inspired Simmons' show
(Image credit: TBC)

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

Artists Marilyn Minter and Cindy Sherman

(Image credit: TBC)

Fashion designer Wes Gordon and partner Paul Arnhold

Fashion designer Wes Gordon and partner Paul Arnhold; Artists Carl D'Alvia and Jackie Saccoccio, and actress Garland Hunter

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Artspace curatorial advisor Nessia Pope and artist Matthew Weinstein

Artspace curatorial advisor Nessia Pope and artist Matthew Weinstein

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Simmons, with her sisters, Susan and Bonnie

Simmons, with her sisters, Susan (left) and Bonnie (right)

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Architect Seth Howe and Newel gallery

Architect Seth Howe and Newel gallery director Nicole Kapit; Photographer Andrea Blanch and Marilyn Minter's husband Bill Miller

(Image credit: TBC)

Simmons' trademark dolls and dummies have evolved from angelic women into young men

In 'Two Boys', Simmons' trademark dolls and dummies have evolved from angelic women into young men. Pictured, 'Boy I/Floor', 2013

(Image credit: TBC)

A dummy of boy looking at computer

'Boy II/Silver Desk/Profile', 2013

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Later that evening, we hosted a dinner with the help of friends

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

(Image credit: TBC)

Gallery Met director Dodie Kazanjian, Simmons and Muhly

Gallery Met director Dodie Kazanjian, Simmons and Muhly

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect David Bers and art director Eric Hoffman

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

(Image credit: TBC)

Guests were served up an Asian-inspired menu

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

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People are discussing in the restaurant

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)

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Chief Tony Chambers and Simmons

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

(Image credit: TBC)

A spread from Simmons' section in the issue, featuring

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

(Image credit: TBC)

'Dorothy Simmons' Shoes,Limited Edition Watermelon Oreos

'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)

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

The Schwartz Gallery Met
Lincoln Center Plaza
New York
NY 10023

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Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.