Collector Art Tour
new york June 27-30!
WHAT WE WILL DO & WHERE WE WILL STAY
We will be led on a private curator lead tour at The Whitney Biennial, one of the most important showcases of up-and-coming American artists featured every other year in NYC.
The Standard Hotel is perched directly above The High Line, steps away from the Whitney Museum, host to five highly rated food spots and will be the perfect home base for our trip.
Built on a historic elevated rail line, The High Line is the world-renowned showcase of Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, and will serve as our path to the Chelsea Gallery District.
ARTISTS WE WILL VISIT
Several incredible & important artists have invited us into their private studios! A visit like this not only UNVEILS finished pieces, but also REVEALS the evolution of IDEAS, the CHAOS of creation, and the personal NARRATIVE behind every brushstroke or sculpted FORM, making these visits truly UNIQUE and ENRICHING.
SUMMER WHEAT
Summer is reclaiming art history by reintegrating the female protagonist through her own unique mythology. Creating works, literally, from the inside out, she presses paint through window screens, but how she does it, is still a mystery. We hope to gain insight on her process and see and hear what is currently inspiring Summer's latest work, as she prepares for her solo show for Zidoun Bossuyt Gallery in Luxembourg. see site
TONY OURSLER
We have been admirers of Tony's work for decades. His groundbreaking video installations in the 80s were some of the first video doll sculptures ever made. Tony continues to make an impact with his mind bending humor, that he sets up in the most unexpected ways. We get to visit the "man behind the curtain", a rare opportunity to meet and delve into the mind of a unique and visionary artist! see video
Kevin Umaña
Kevin Umaña’s work investigates the history of the Pipil people – the Indigenous group of his family ancestry native to the western and central areas of present day El Salvador. Umaña’s “hybrid paintings” combine glazed ceramics on painted canvas and fuse together conflicting styles—mess and order, biomorphic and geometric, thin and thick, matte and sheen. These abstract representations evoke specific places from his childhood, memories of nature, beaches, plants, construction materials, food and religion. visit site
CHRISTOPHER MYERS
Chris is a storyteller beyond storytellers. He started his career as a children's book illustrator and now does massive works based on stories from Shakespeare, mythology to literal life references. HIs mediums also vary and he was one of the first artist to work fearlessly with fabric on a large scale. His Brooklyn studio visit will be one of four and we are thrilled he is an artist we get to meet. visit site
PAUL ANTHONY SMITH
Originally from Jamaica, Paul's work explores duality and the isolating displacement that comes with immigration and separation. We're particularly excited to witness, firsthand, the intricate picotage technique he employs. We will also be able to get a private preview of new work he is developing for his show at the Jack Shainman Galleryin the fall! see instagram
ZOE BUCKMAN
We met up with Zoe at 21C Museum Hotel in Kansas City when she was the guest speaker at the artist exhibit and dinner gala for "The Future is Female". When we told her about our NYC collector trip and mentioned visiting her studio in Brooklyn she gave us a resounding "Yes, please come!' Zoe is an feminist artist who literally fought her way out of the ashes of violence. She has a lot to say and show and we can't wait to spend time with her.
NATE LEWIS
Nate Lewis is interested in the unseen. His work is driven by empathy, and the desire to understand nuanced points of view. By altering photographs, Nate challenges perspectives on race and history through distortion and illusion. Treating the paper like an organism itself, he sculpts patterns akin to cellular tissue and anatomical elements, allowing hidden histories and patterns to be uncovered from the photographs. see site
HANK WILLIS THOMAS
Hank tackles the complex issues of race, class and how we treat one another in a way that is not always obvious. His art cleverly provokes the mind by removing words where words once were and in other works removing images. He takes you beyond the material and into "the idea", which is what makes his art genius. "Once you see what you haven't seen, you cannot unsee it" says Toma, who is a massive “fan girl”! see site
GALLERIES WE WILL VISIT
Chelsea & Tribeca galleries James Cohan, Nicodim, Kasmin, Lehman Maupin & Jack Shainman have all confirmed with us and will be showing hand-selected art for our private viewings.
The Kasmin Gallery in Chelsea
Check out Openings in Chelsea on Thursday June 27!
The blog "Two Coats Of Paint", is one of the best resources for current shows in NYC!
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Jarrett Mellenbruch is a Kansas City-based artist (BFA, Rhode Island School of Design. MFA, Maine College of Art) and member of the faculty at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he leads student travel programs. Prior to joining KCAI, Jarrett lived for 12 years in New York City, working as an artist and running an art project space in SoHo.
Toma Wolff is a private fine art advisor and served as director of the Byron Cohen Gallery in Kansas City for 18 years. She has spent decades fostering national and international artist and gallery relationships and will be organizing our studio and gallery visits.
MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!
Email Toma so we can keep you to up-to-date on our trip itinerary, as we finalize visits with artists, galleries, and the customized tours and more.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, requests or special arrangements you need us to consider, please contact us below.