Cappuccino Thoughts 118: On the 7 best NYC art exhibits to see this spring
And what I'd wear to them
Cappuccino Thoughts is a weekly newsletter about culture and creativity in New York.
Is it just me or does culture feel ALIVE right now?
Maybe it’s that we’ve had our first 80 degree days in 6 months. The sun is shining. The flowers are blooming. Seasonal allergies are out in full force.
Or maybe this spring is a cultural moment. There is so much good art around right now! Here’s what I have on my agenda this spring (and as a fun bonus, what I would wear to each event!).
1. The art fair circuit (price varies)
You can catch the tail end of Frieze, NADA, and Future Fair this week. I particularly like Future Fair because, although I’m still not quite at the stage of life where I’m purchasing fine art, you can see up-and-coming artists selling work at relatively more affordable prices. It’s fun to imagine decorating my apartment walls with some of these gorgeous pieces.
What I would wear: Try to blend in with the cool kids. The most comfortable jeans I’ve ever owned, dying for them in red.These are also a good option.
2. Summer tour of the Noguchi Museum ($16)
The Noguchi Museum in Astoria, Queens is open year-round, but it is especially beautiful in nice weather when you can walk around Isamu Noguchi’s sculpture garden. You can take a ferry directly to Astoria for a fun day trip.
What I would wear: A beautiful summer dress that you can dress up or down—the white will match the shade of many of Noguchi’s sculptures. And a dainty vintage watch, lots of options on eBay.
3. Sargent and Paris exhibit at the Met (pay as you wish for NY residents)
The Met just opened a wonderful exhibition featuring many of John Singer Sargent’s most famous works, including the notorious Madame X. I was most taken with this portrait of Madame Amalia Subercaseaux.
What I would wear: Take inspo from the dramatic sleeve and red details of Amalia with this dress. Pair with red shoes: I have these flats in lollipop red and wear them at least twice a week all spring.
4. Superfine: Tailoring Black Style at the Met (pay as you wish for New York residents)
The costume exhibit that accompanies the Met Gala just opened. I’m excited to see all the dandy styles and how tailoring and menswear has changed over time. In recent years, the costume exhibits have attracted massive crowds, so I’m going to try to figure out how to go on a weekday, which I highly recommend you do as well.
What I would wear: I would embrace the menswear theme and wear anything from Me + Em. These pants are so cool. I have a similar version and the elastic waistband makes them so comfortable. And then add a dash of femininity with a bright lipstick. I like Ilia’s all-natural formulations.
5. Reopening of the Frick Museum ($30)
The Frick just reopened after a 5-year, $220 million renovation. I hate to tell you that it looks largely the same, albeit with a second floor now open to the public. However, the art collection remains one of the best in the world and it was so fun to revisit old friends, like Turner and Fragonard. I highly recommend you buy tickets ahead of time!! When I went, the wait without a ticket was an hour-long, even in pouring rain.
What I would wear: I would definitely embrace the Rococo style and wear something from Reformation, like this dress, and keep my natural flush with just a light skin tint, like this one and maybe add a mauve gloss.
6. The Fierman Gallery (free)
Dietmar Busse’s exhibit The Lives of Birds just opened at this Lower East Side gallery. It’s a small show, but I fell in love with these photos of the artist covering himself in paint and flowers. Do you think I could try it at home?
What I would wear: Embrace springtime with bright yellow and florals. This dress would be great for a summer wedding, and this top is begging to be worn to a Central Park picnic under the trees.
7. The Easton Foundation (free, must reserve in advance)
The Easton Foundation is the non-profit that artist Louise Bourgeois set up before her death to act as an archive and research center for her work. It’s housed in the Chelsea townhouse she lived and worked in for more than four decades. After three years of emailing them, I finally got a chance to visit recently and, even though I’m not a massive fan of her work, I love seeing how artists set up their studios. My tip: see if you can find an academic group to bring you. The Foundation is very open to people visiting for any kind of research purpose.
What I would wear: Louise Bourgeois had this exact lipstick in her office. I would go to a vintage store and look for a chore coat and head down to City Hats for a newsboy cap. There is a coat available now on Thredup for $62 that resembles the one she wore in her most famous portrait—the Foundation has a replica of it.
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A reminder that I’ll be joining Veronica Ferrari on Friday at 10am EST for a conversation about culture and creativity. Zoom link here.
I just dropped my signature pencil case in new colors!
I am looking for a product photographer if anyone knows anybody based in NYC! A photography student would be perfect.
I thought this mom and daughter were so cute in their matching styles. They both have lovely free-flowing hair, spring bags (a basket bag for mom and awesome navy sequin bag for daughter), midi skirts, and accent shoes. I like how the mom has tied the sweater around her skirt in a way that gives the silhouette more dimension. I also think it’s very sweet that their styles are similar but with slight variations—a collared shirt for the mom, kooky socks for the daughter—that make them appropriate for their respective ages.
This week, I devoured A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson. It is the “companion book,” in the author’s words, to Life After Life, which I reviewed here. I absolutely loved that book, so I was eager to read this one. While Life After Life focused on Ursula and her experience of the London Blitz during World War II, A God in Ruins centers on her brother Teddy and his experience as a Halifax bomber during the campaign against Germany. People seem to be evenly split about which book is better. I ultimately preferred Life After Life. I thought the author’s manipulation of time was better done, while the narrative in this book jumped around more in a slightly confusing way. Nevertheless, the book features an engaging cast of characters in whose world you want to spend more time. I also liked the balance of vivid, historically accurate descriptions of the war with Teddy’s life afterwards during peace-time, and how the war impacted the rest of his life. Give it a read if you want to immerse yourself fully in an imagined world.
This week, I am celebrating American craftsmanship at Closely Crafted’s Annual Gala - join me, tickets are still available.
All my best,
