It’s already been a big year for men’s fashion. For one, “anoraks are back,” as GQ proclaims, and the suit jacket is officially “in crisis”.
The art world is also mercurial, and those in the know seem to be up with the latest trends in both realms. From emerging collectors to established movers and shakers, see who made artnet News’s list of best-dressed men in art below.
Kehinde Wiley attends MoCADA 2nd Annual Masquerade Ball at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Courtesy Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for MoCADA.
1. Kehinde Wiley
Between the sublime combinations of colors and the mesmerizing patterns they fill, artist Kehinde Wiley’s suits are aesthetic extensions of his paintings.
Swizz Beatz. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
2. Swizz Beatz
A hybrid of finesse and edge best describe Swizz Beatz’s fashion sense. The game-changing collector, who’s become a mainstay in the art world, can be seen at the many openings and events he attends sporting sharp, contrasting elements of floral prints and geometric lines.
Simon de Pury
Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Patrick McMullan.
3. Simon de Pury
Jet-setting auctioneer Simon de Pury is perhaps the pinnacle of high-end men’s fashion. Whether he’s sporting an impeccably-tailored tux or a crisp white shirt and jeans, he always knows how to infuse classics with a dash of edge. From a charismatic power-player who has single-handedly sold billions in artwork over the years, we wouldn’t expect anything less.
Ryan McGinley. Courtesy of Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan.
4. Ryan McGinley
Whether he’s posing with Chloe Sevigny at a gala or posted up in a booth at a hip fair, photographer Ryan McGinley personifies casual downtown cool thanks to a never-ending series of leather jackets, scuffed-up sneakers, and vintage t-shirts.
Antwaun Sargent
Photo: Clint Spaulding/Patrick McMullan.
5. Antwaun Sargent
Wherever you spot Antwaun Sargent, whether it’s at the front row of a fashion show or spending a lazy afternoon at the Brant Foundation, the art critic and Instagram star always delivers.
He sports an intelligent mix of athleisure-wear, slogan tees, and signature wide-brim hats, and as his nearly 50k-strong Instagram following already knows, his sights are just as stunning.
Harry Brant, Peter Brant Jr.
Photo: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick Mcmullan.
6. Harry Brant and Peter Brant, Jr.
The lavish, seemingly responsibility-free lifestyles of the Brant brothers are often the object of (almost entirely well-deserved) criticism, but there’s no denying that the boys know how to dress.
Their opulent ensembles—think embroidered suits, skinny-leg pants, and even the occasional fur stole—are a consistent reminder of their mother Stephanie Seymour’s supermodel status. And we assume that’s pretty much the point.
Glenn O’Brien. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
7. Glenn O’Brien
Writer Glenn O’Brien, a one-time Factory fixture who has chronicled New York’s social and cultures spheres for decades, mixes dapper touches like a patterned pocket square with modern twists like a suit-and-sneakers combo. With his quick smile, O’Brien is easy to spot at openings and events.
Anja Rubik & Waris Ahluwalia at the Creative Time 2016 Spring Gala Presented by Bombay Sapphire Gin. Courtesy Bombay Sapphire Gin.
8. Waris Ahluwalia
Actor, designer, and art lover Waris Ahluwalia sticks to classic looks with a muted palette of blue and black, highlighted by a splash of color. Whether he’s wearing a denim button-down shirt or going on a bescarfed midnight stroll with actress and style icon Tilda Swinton, he’s always looking his best.
Chuck Close. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
9. Chuck Close
Chuck Close isn’t afraid of color. In fact, the artist often flaunts the wonders of a radiant suit, where striped and floral patterns come in an assortment of dreamy hues. But when the occasion calls for a muter palette, he’s apt to remind us that a sensible ensemble falls to blacks and grays.
Michael Xufu Huang. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
10. Michael Xufu Huang
Michael Xufu Huang knows the importance of looking the part. The collector, who started his own private art museum in Beijing, M WOODS, is as comfortable wearing sharp, tailor-made two-piece suits as he is rocking a bomber jacket on a lazy afternoon in Greenwich Village.
Job Piston. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
11. Job Piston
Fashion matters to artist and Performa special projects manager Job Piston. As he told Foundations Magazine last year: “For one, fashion is not just a hamburger! What I mean is that it is not just about consumption, but a garment is also fascinating for its exceptional design, architecture and gendered expectations or subversions.”
Jeffrey Deitch
Photo: Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan.
12. Jeffrey Deitch
Art dealer and one-time MOCA Los Angeles director Jeffrey Deitch has an undeniable eye for artistic talent—he’s helped shepherd artists like Kehinde Wiley, Vanessa Beecroft, and Dan Colen to mainstream success—so its no surprise he’s also cultivated a unique aesthetic for himself that includes bowties, eye-catching suits, and round-frame specs.
Jacolby Satterwhite
Photo: J. Grassi/Patrick McMullan.
13. Jacolby T. Satterwhite
Whether they admit it or not, people want artists to look as cool and interesting as the work they produce, and no one nails that better than Jacolby Satterwhite. The multimedia artist shifts between optically-engaging suits and head-to-toe black with all the ease of a true style chameleon.
CK Swett.
Photo: Clint Spaulding/Patrick McMullan.
14. CK Swett
CK Swett is changing what it means to be an auctioneer, and that applies to fashion as well as business. With his long hair, candy-colored eye wear, and hipster duds, Swett is clearly a far cry from his posh predecessors, and that’s exactly why we like him.
Jeff Koons
Photo: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan.
15. Jeff Koons
Say what you will about the art world’s most ubiquitous market darling, but Jeff Koons can wear a suit (and don’t even get us started on tuxedos). His smart, well-tailored ensembles often look more businessman than artist, which makes sense, considering he dabbled in commodities before finding success as a pop artist.