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It’s already been a big year for women’s fashion. Besuited style bloggers are all the rage this season, and Vogue maintains that leopard print is back, whether you like it or not, sweetie darling.
The art world is also mercurial, and those in the know seem to be up with the latest trends in both realms. From emerging artists to established movers and shakers, see who made artnet News’s list of best-dressed women in art this year below.
Casey Fremont, Doreen Remen, Yvonne Force Villareal. Courtesy of Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan.
1. The trio: Yvonne Force Villareal, Doreen Remen, and Casey Fremont
The sociable #squad behind the Art Production Fund—which has worked with everyone from Lena Dunham to Elmgreen & Dragset—are always dressed to the nines, invoking the creative spirit of the artists they champion. Their annual gala was a hit, per usual, and the eye-popping gowns the trio donned perfectly encapsulate their fun, carefree approach to fashion.
Jia Jia Fei and friend at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum on March 17, 2016.
Photo: Courtesy of Sylvain Gaboury/PMC. ©Patrick McMullan.
2. JiaJia Fei
Often sighted with art critic Antwaun Sargent, the Jewish Museum’s digital director has been a premiere fixture in the art world. Her 57,000+ Instagram followers are fans of her white-on-white summer looks, and she has been known to even strike a pose at artnet’s New York office.
Jasmine Wahi, Victor Davson, and Rebecca Jampol. Courtesy of Facebook.
3. The duo: Jasmine Wahi and Rebecca Jampol
You know what they say: You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey out of the girl. The fierce co-directors at the Gateway Project Newark have been everywhere lately, and we’ve been admiring their style game, which is always on point.Â
Kara Finnerty and Helen Toomer at Public Art Fund’ Spring Benefit on April 19, 2016.
Image: Jared Siskin/PMC. ©Patrick McMullan.
4. Helen Toomer
Since assuming her position at the helm of Pulse Contemporary Art Fair, Helen Toomer has helped breathe life into the once-lagging satellite fair— and with a bleach-blonde pixie cut, Buddy Holly glasses, and an unapologetically hip aesthetic, Toomer very much looks the part. While in New York, she keeps it clean and simple in black tops and leather jackets, but she’s also been known to bust out a patterned sundress or two while in Miami, and that makes us like her even more.
Rujeko Hockley, Christopher Leacock, Siovan Hope at the Public Art Fund Spring Benefit on April 19, 2016. Courtesy of Jared Siskin/PMC. ©Patrick McMullan.
5. Rujeko Hockley
Hockley is an assistant curator of contemporary art at the Brooklyn Museum, and since coming on in 2012, she’s had a hand in a number of shows serving the wider public, including “Crossing Brooklyn,” which featured the work of 35 local artists. She is also not afraid to rock a Peter Pan collar, which is always a plus.
Pari Ehsan.
Photo: Instagram/@paridust.
6. Pari Ehsan
Pari Ehsan has made a career of mixing art with fashion. Her blog Paridust, which started as a hobby, sees the modelesque Ehsan posing in designer duds against arty backdrops, creating a kind of visual tapestry that’s as interesting as anything you’d find in a fashion glossy. As plugged into the gallery scene (she frequents spots like Koenig & Clinton and 303 Gallery) as she is into the fashion world (she’s usually wearing plucked-from-the-runway pieces), the blogger has become something of an art world mini-celeb.
Yayoi Kusama. Photo: © Yayoi Kusama; Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo /Singapore; Victoria Miro, London; David Zwirner, New York; KUSAMA Enterprise.
7. Yayoi Kusama
If the octogenarian artist is known for one thing besides her massive installations and love of all things spotted, it’s her signature red bob. Paired with a polka-dotted wardrobe and that wide-eyed, deadpan stare, Yayoi Kusama’s person is almost as fascinating as her art. In 2012, the artist even lent her psychedelic aesthetic to Louis Vuitton, creating a line of covet-worthy accessories that helped bring her work to the masses. All 80-somethings should hope to be so hip.
Kimberly Drew. Courtesy of Ryan McGinley via Facebook.
8. Kimberly Drew
As the founder of Black Contemporary Art and as the Associate Online Community Producer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Drew has also been making a name for herself as MuseumMammy on Instagram, where she shares her art-filled trips around town with her 99,000 followers. The twentysomething social media maven is never without her bright-pink, blue, or green lipstick. Catch her “taking #selfies in the elevator of the New Museum.”
Jeanne Greenberg-Rohatyn. Courtesy of Nicholas Hunt/Patrick McMullan.
9. Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn
Gallerist Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn—who also starred in the Bravo reality show “Work of Art” and moonlights as an art adviser to ultra high-profile collectors like Jay Z and Alex Rodriguez—has the kind of chic-yet-offbeat wardrobe you can easily imagine the Hollywood ideal of an art dealer sporting. Her choppy haircut and pixie-ish good looks enhance the overall effect of hyper-coolness. Don’t even bother pretending not to be intimidated.
Noreen Ahmad at The School of American Ballet’s Winter Ball on March 14, 2016.
Photo: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan.
10. Noreen Ahmad
Whether it’s intricately embroidered or basic black, Sutton PR director and Guggenheim Young Collector’s Committee chair Noreen Ahmad rocks a ballgown like no one else in the art world. While on duty, she opts for an equally chic wardrobe of structured satchels and neutral hues.
Ashley Gail Harris
Photo: Owen Hoffmann/ Patrick McMullan.
11. Ashley Gail Harris
Art adviser Ashley Gail Harris works a mostly neutral palette of grey, cream, the requisite art world all-black with an occasional pop of color while on duty at international art fairs and parties in New York.
Juliana Huxtable. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan.
12. Juliana Huxtable
That DJ and artist Juliana Huxtable knows how to throw a party is no art world secret, and neither is her fashion sense. It’s no wonder, then, that she’s a model for the upcoming Kenzo collaboration with H&M. She always takes risks with prints, and it is paying off.
Elisabeth Sussman, Thelma Golden, Connie Wolf at the Inaugural Whitney Collection Award on April 5, 2016. Courtesy of Patrick McMullan/PMC.©Patrick McMullan.
13. Thelma Golden
Studio Museum in Harlem director Thelma Golden never met a bold print she didn’t like, and she pulls them off with aplomb thanks to minimalist accessorizing and an ever-present swipe of red lipstick.
Tali Lennox
Photo: Ilir Bajraktari/Patrick McMullan.
14. Tali Lennox
Tali Lennox, the painter daughter of pop star Annie Lennox, is a former model who dropped out of the fashion world to pursue a career in visual art. But the 23-year-old beauty, who had her first solo show last year at Catherine Ahnell Gallery, has maintained her runway-worthy sense of style, which includes bold prints, ’70s-style suiting, and attention-grabbing headpieces.
Angela Goding. Courtesy of Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan.
15. Angela Goding
MoMA PS1 development director Angela Goding is a sight to behold; with her easy elegance, side-shaven ponytail, and drapey ensembles, its easy to see why. Having been with the museum in various capacities for over ten years, she’s a fixture on the New York art scene, and whether its an uptown gala or a downtown opening, she always looks right at home.
Rachel Feinstein
Photo: Nicholas Hunt/Patrick McMullan.
16. Rachel Feinstein
Artist Rachel Feinstein’s porcelain skin and auburn curls have had a well-documented influence on the paintings of her husband, John Currin, but the fashion world remains just as gaga over the stylish sculptor, whose wardrobe includes printed gowns, flowy silhouettes, and an ever-present pop of colorful lipstick. Features in Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times style section, and The Cut don’t lie.
April Hunt at Tribeca Soundwall Gallery on May 13, 2015. Image: Sylvain Gaboury/PatrickMcmullan.com. ©Patrick McMullan.
17. April Hunt
The always-chic founder of Sparkplug PR and former head of communications at MoMA PS1 is also a killer DJ. She’s spun for young collectors at the Guggenheim, at Pulse’s afterparty this year, and is a regular at art world hot spot Beverly’s in the Lower East Side. Hunt is not afraid to wear a crop top, sport bright-pink lipstick, or pile on the jewelry, so this makes her an instant style icon in our book.
Meriem Bennani.Courtesy of the artist; photo by Sunny Shokrae.
18. Meriem Bennani
Bennani finally got a spot this summer at MoMA PS1, which marks her first solo museum exhibition. The Moroccan-born artist and Instagram addict is always upending expectations in her work and in her wardrobe, which ranges from surfer chic to daring street styles. She describes her latest video project, FLY, as “part documentary travelogue, part soap opera, and part juicy gossip session.”
Yvette Mutumba, Julia Drosce at The Armory Party Hosted by The Museum of Modern Art on March 2, 2016. Courtesy of Aurora Rose/Patrick McMullan.
19. The duo: Yvette Mutumba and Julia Grosse
The co-editors-in-chief of C And magazine, which explores “contemporary art practice from diverse African perspectives,” are always a stunning pair, no matter the location. The Berlin-based duo curated the Armory’s Focus section in New York this year, where their colorful monochromatic looks turned heads.
Amy Cappellazzo, Scott Rothkopf, and Thelma Goldin on March 12, 2014. Courtesy of J Grassi/Patrickmcmullan.com.
20. Amy Cappellazzo
Remember the women-in-suits trend? Cappellazzo was there first. The founder and principal of Art Agency, Partners in New York has over a decade of experience dressing for the auction world, and the bespoke results are impressive. The former Christie’s executive recently nabbed a spot at rival Sotheby’s. As Gallerist and friend Gavin Brown described her to Vogue: “She’s an anarchist. She doesn’t hold much sacred, which I appreciate.” The key is always having fun.
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