Karen Robinovitz co-founded the Sloomoo Institute in 2019 with the mission of embracing play. The interactive sensory experience and brand, located in New York’s Soho neighborhood, is centered entirely on the joys and stress-relieving qualities of slime, which it sells and displays in a variety of forms, including pots of slime, pink bubble bath slime, and s’more-shaped slime. Infused with color and art, Sloomoo’s loft-like environment is lined with custom wallpaper by Flavor Paper and immersive installations by Jillian Meyer, Paul Outlaw and Jen Catron.

Sloomoo is not Robinovitz’s first foray into the art world. She prides herself on building her own collection of work by contemporary female artists including Julie Curtiss, Emily Mae Smith, Gahee Park, Danielle McKinney, Donna Huanca, and many more. “I only collect what moves me emotionally. Many of the in-demand artists I acquired were found early, long before their museum rise,” Robinovitz, a 26-year veteran in the fashion and media industries, said.

We caught up with Robinovitz to hear about her favorite artists, what she’s been reading, and some of her favorite works available right now from Artnet Galleries.

Karen’s Favorite Things

Party Favor: Custom-scented slime, of course 

Restaurant: The Four Horsemen 

Artist: Impossible to name just one. Mickalene Thomas, Emily Mae Smith, Nicolas Party, James Turrell, performance by Martin Creed.

Work in your collection: Christina Quarles 

Museum: Musée d’Orsay

Designer: Loewe

TV Show: Godfather of Harlem

Book you’ve read recently: Reina’s Diary, the heartbreaking, recently published diary of my friend’s mother’s sister who did not survive the Holocaust

Food to eat for breakfast: Coconut water with cacao and plant protein smoothie 

Way to celebrate success: Family dinner

Project you’ve ever worked on: Sloomoo!

Top Gallery Picks

Jean-Michel Basquiat
50-Cent Piece (1982-83)

Courtesy of Taglialatella Gallery

Rashid Johnson
Untitled Anxious Audience (2017)

Courtesy of Hauser & Wirth

Tschabalala Self
Princess (2018)

Courtesy of Carolina Nitsch Contemporary Art

Yoshitomo Nara
Real One (2016)

Courtesy of Marcel Katz Art

Niki de Saint Phalle
Le Peril Jaune (1969)

Courtesy of Salon 94

Kehinde Wiley
Idrissa Ndiaye (2012)

Courtesy of Galerie Templon

Kiki Smith
Litter (1999)

Courtesy of Krakow Witkin Gallery

Alex Katz
Beauty Prints Portfolio (including Ulla, Ada, Sarah, Sophia) (2019)

Courtesy of Galerie Frank Fluegel