Installation maven Amanda Browder teamed with Diner restaurant to celebrate their upcoming twentieth anniversary. The Brooklyn neighborhood staple began looking for a potential creative collaborator and their search ended with Browder who was more than happy to join the celebration. Known for her sprawling psychedelic works, Browder is a phenomenal artist who often uses donated fabrics to create an eyecatching …
Kwesi Abbensetts presents Pepperpot.
We are huge fans of Kwesi Abbensetts here at Quiet Lunch, so you can only imagine our delight when we discovered that the artist recently debuted a charming photozine titled Pepperpot. Sharing its namesake with a popular and delicious Guyanese dish, Pepperpot is a gathering of striking images shot by Abbensetts. As a whole, the zine is a collective snapshot of Abbensetts’ …
NEW Music Video: “Sad” by XXXTentacion.
Visuals for XXXTentacion’s hit song “Sad!” was posthumously released today and the video is autobiographical and shockingly foreboding. The rapper was gunned down in Deerfield, Florida last week and the video’s death-centric theme only adds to the clairvoyant lore that surrounds the deceased emcee. Written and creatively directed by X himself, the shows him attending his own funeral–presumably a funeral …
Linden Hopwood Channels Kip Omolade: Coincidence or Plagiarism?
With the news of Donald Glover’s hit “This is America” possibly being a product of plagiarization, I coincidentally discovered the same scenario in the arts. For those who aren’t aware, Glover is being accused of ripping off a song, “American Pharoah”, by the lesser known rapper named Jase Harley. When you listen to both songs, there is an uncanny similarity …
Klavdia Balampanidou. | Hand to Mouth.
Currently based in Cyprus, Klavdia Balampanidou is yet another perfect example of a creative finding therapy in the work. Balampandiou newest series, From Hand to Mouth, draws from an autobiographical well anxiety, depression, fragility and instability. The series takes its name from a 1967 Bruce Nauman sculpture. Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, …
The Death of XXXTentacion: An Open Letter to Those Who Thinks He Got What He Deserved.
On June 18 2018, rising music star XXXTentacion, born Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was gunned down while leaving a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Two men approached X shortly before 4 p.m. After a very brief exchange one of the two men opened fire on his black BMW and then fled in what appeared to be an attempted robbery. The …
Agni Zotis Wants Us to Step Into the Light.
Painter Agni Zotis recently debuted her compelling solo exhibition, Step Into The Light, at Project 200 in Chelsea. The stirring body of work is a culmination of vivid colors and explosive composition. In 2015 on Valentine’s Day, a man jumped to his death from the roof of Zotis’ apartment building and landed directly on her patio. Traumatized, Zotis took the …
NSFW | Creative Censorship. | Tiane Doan na Champassak.
Tiane Doan na Champassak‘s Censored consists of over 4,000 erotic images that were hand censored—by decree of the Thailand government—during the ’60s and ’70s. Featuring women’s naughty bits covered by hand-painted patterns, flowers and even insects, the concept is humorously arousing and nostalgic. It also informs us on the nature of censorship and sexuality. Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A …
Mindscapes. | Regina Scully at C24 Gallery.
The true magic of art lies in its ability to interact with its audience. When you walk into C24’s latest exhibition, Mindscapes, by Regina Scully, you instantaneously feel that magic. Scully’s pieces, a multifarious ensemble performing a colorful symphony of visual jazz, “slow and fast marks” that immediately draws you in. There is a recognizable balance of purposefully precision and improvisational …
New Enamel Face Pin by Shantell Martin.
One of our favorite illustrators, Shantell Martin, just debuted a new enamel pin. Encouraging us all to not lose our head, this limited edition pin is now available for pre-order—but be sure to get yours now because Martin last sold out almost immediately. SHOP NOW! Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is …
Kyoto no Kodo. | Philippe Marinig.
Recently discovered Kyoto no Kodo, a series by French photographer, Philippe Marinig. Although brief, the series has a playful elegance and timeless appeal that makes quite memorable. Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is responsible for the curatorial direction and overall voice of Quiet Lunch. The Bronx native has read at venues such …
LiAngelo Ball Reveals UCLA Made Him Thank Trump for China Release.
A new entry in the Ball-Trump feud. During an interview with The Breakfast Club this week, former UCLA hoopster LiAngelo Ball revealed that the university made him thank President Donald Trump for helping with his release from China. Last November Ball was with teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill when they were accused of shoplifting some sunglasses and subsequently detained. …
Recess. | Brooke DiDonato.
Photographer Brooke DiDonato puts an adult spin on recess. Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is responsible for the curatorial direction and overall voice of Quiet Lunch. The Bronx native has read at venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, KGB Bar, Lovecraft and SHAG–with works published in Palabra Luminosas and LiVE …
She Did That. | Tree Toppers by Women To Look Up To.
Tired of your holiday being too basic? Well, now you can give your holiday some life with these handmade tree toppers by Women To Look Up To. Featuring popular women such as Serena Williams, Beyoncé and Hillary Clinton, these are way better than your average angel or cherub thingy. SHOP HERE Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, …
New Pin by Dadu Shin.
We’re big fans of Dadu Shin and we are absolutely pleased to find out about his new pin! A universal hand signal meant to ward off undesirables, let this pin do it for so you don’t have to. SHOP HERE Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is responsible for the curatorial direction …
The Sound of Masturbation: 5 Masturbatory Anthems.
No Nut November is coming to an end—yes, you read correctly, No Nut November. Apparently November has been deemed a month in which some collectively refrain from the vile but ecstatic act of masturbation; otherwise referred to in more brash circles as choking the chicken, jacking (or jilling) off or flicking the bean. Unlike its counterparts “No Shave November” a.k.a. …
NYFW Recap. | EgoSoleil. | Spring/Summer 2018 Collection.
oday the staff sat down and took a look back at New York Fashion Week. While a lot of big name brands put their best foot forward as usual, we decided to focus on the up and comers and we all agreed that Ego-Soleil stole the show and our hearts. Designed by Marie and Photini, Ego-Soleil unveiled their new Spring/Summer 2018 …
Why Network Television Doesn’t Deserve The Carmichael Show.
reat shows get cancelled all the time, some for a good reason and others out of nowhere. Unfortunately, The Carmichael Show seems to have a plot in both parts of that sitcom graveyard. That is ultimately the way it goes in TV Land; but the death of The Carmichael Show reeks of foul play. Well, not foul play exactly but it seems …
Why Is Teen Vogue Teaching Your Children About Anal?
et’s get straight to the point. Teen Vogue published an article titled “Anal Sex: What You Need To Know” and people are absolutely butt hurt. Pun intended. No, but really, leave it up to a modern society to prove how unmodern it actually is when faced with a test in modernity. In all honesty, when I first read the article there was …
Rooting for the Underdog or Undermining Black Girl Magic?
veryone loves an underdog—especially when it comes to sports. The 1980 US Olympic hockey team versus the Soviet Union, Patrick Ewing and the Knicks versus Michael Jordan and the Bulls… everyone wants the “little guy” to have their day in the sun. But sometimes things aren’t so simple. Sometimes there are politics involved that can add meaning to the jeers …
The Kids Are Alright. | Torrance Hall.
Today we’re having a look at the work of conceptual photographer Torrance Hall. Only 17 years-old, the young Richmond based shutterbug is producing some striking self portraits that has landed him on our radar. What intrigues us the most about Hall’s work is the vivid commentary on masculinity. Hall, with a soft but determined gaze, challenges the constructs of “manliness”—disputing …
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop. | The Story of Bad Boy Records.
an’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story, a documentary putting a long awaited spotlight on the famed Bad Boy Records, was recently released on Apple Music. Now, if you are a fan of 90s hip hop, you know what the Bad Boy movement meant to that era and Black culture —hell, culture in general. Centered around a 2016 reunion …
Unnatural Selection. | Tara de la Garza at The Lodge Gallery.
ara de la Garza recently debuted her newest solo exhibition, Unnatural Selection, at The Lodge Gallery. Inspired by Nature’s potential, the west coast artist uses her exhibition to help us envision what it would be like if that very potential went unchecked—undisturbed by human interference. The result is a whimsical world of hybrid organisms, a library of awe-inspiring holistic hodgepodges pieced …
5 Black Superhero Movies That Came Before Black Panther.
Marvel’s Black Panther is set to make history upon its release next February. With the success of the Netflix series, Luke Cage, comic fans and moviegoers have been foaming at the mouth for a Marvel major motion picture in which the lead superhero is black. Well, Marvel did one better with Black Panther, by hiring a black director, Ryan Coogler (known …
Proper Screening or Blatant Misogyny? | Female Cop’s Dominatrix Past Could Cost Her Her Job.
ops haven’t been on their best behaviour in most recent years. With a number of cases where they have open fire on unarmed civilians and accusations of brutality across the board, those who have sworn to protect and serve are under the microscope more than ever—and rightfully so. In light of these indiscretions, victim’s families, politicians, community leaders and protesters …
The One or The Many? | The Utilitarian Undertone of OITNB Season 5.
ith its fifth season having only debuted just under a week ago, everyone and their binge watching mama is raving about Orange is the New Black. The latest season picks up where the last season so teasingly left off: Dayanara (portrayed by Dascha Polanco) pointing a gun at CO Thomas Humphrey (portrayed by Michael Torpey) as a majority of the other …
The Rise of Volta.
olta has always had potential. A quiet favorite among most, the fair has maintained a steady pace that keeps fairgoers intrigued—not necessarily wowed but definitely intrigued. This year however Volta has stepped its wow factor up remarkably. The fair has an engaging amount of electricity in its air and features some amazing works that remind art lovers why they love art. …
The Death of SPRING/BREAK.
nce upon a time, a year ago to be exact, SPRING/BREAK Art Fair was the star of Armory Week, an up and coming fair that shined brightly against the dim, uninnovative background that is Armory Week itself. Formerly housed in the Moynihan Station, SPRING/BREAK had an organic, but organized, feel. The fact that they transformed the almost ghostly Moynihan Station …
Bigger and Better Things. | Amit Naamani.
orn in Tel Aviv, mixed media artist Amit Naamani produces pieces that have a graceful static. Whether it is a painting or collage, he manages to capture this harmonious chaos that captivates the eye. We spoke with the young creative who share with us his inspiration as well as his aspirations. “My work is a collage of text, colors, abstract …
A Creative Space. | Emily Miller.
n our inaugural installment of A Creative Space, we pay a visit to the studio of painter and contemporary artist Emily Miller. Based in New York City, Miller’s work is steeped in feminism and gender politics—aimed at confrontation, discourse, empathy and ultimately resolution. Upon initial inspection, Miller’s pieces seem tame and somewhat submissive but further examination can reveal an underlying torment …
A Much Needed Dinner Out. | Marcos Amaro at SCOPE Miami 2016.
his year’s trip to Art Basel Miami was a tad different from the last time we ventured down to Florida. With all that’s been going on at our headquarters in the Flatiron District, we had to cut our trip to Miami short this year but we still managed to check out some of our favorite artists and gallerists during our …
Ownership. | Pantyhoes.
eing provocative is an art; an art that is seldom understood and rarely mastered. It’s not only about being provocative, it’s about being provocative with a purpose. Pantyhose, a collective movement rooted in sharp wit and post-feminism, has purpose. We had the pleasure of meeting with the founder, Hannah Palant, who summed up Pantyhoes’ mission in one thoughtful statement. Pantyhoes …
Hung Out to Dry. | Sally Gall.
n her series of clothesline inspired photographs, artist Sally Gall transforms a menial chore into a work of art. There is already something graceful and soothing about shirts, blouses, table clothes and bedsheets billowing gently in the wind. Utilizing angles, Gall heighten this allure, creating images that resemble abstract paintings. The series also has a devilish appeal, as some of the …
The Most Important Cover of 2016. | Kadir Nelson for The New Yorker.
s a child, it didn’t feel like summer unless the streets were wet with water from illegally opened hydrants and the familiar jingle of the nearest Mr. Softee truck wafted through the air. Now, as an adult, it doesn’t feel like summer unless the streets run red with the blood of the unarmed poor and the cry of a grief-stricken …
Psychic Compound at C24 Gallery. | Nick Gentry.
ondon based artist Nick Gentry debuted his solo exhibition, Psychic Compound, this week at C24 Gallery. I am absolutely in love with their new space and couldn’t wait to attend an opening reception. My affinity for their new headquarters withstanding, there was a little skepticism at first because Gentry’s work didn’t really speak me when I first laid eyes upon it. I soon …
A Brief But Honest Look at Art Southampton 2016.
rt Southampton, one of the season’s most talked about fairs and the only reason why I would sit in a car for two and a half hours—with traffic—on a muggy summer day. This was my first time attending Art Southampton. I’ve heard so much about it from my friends and peers over the years and I finally got the chance …
Socially Relevant Film Festival Holds Press Day at Bocca East.
Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is responsible for the curatorial direction and overall voice of Quiet Lunch. The Bronx native has read at venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, KGB Bar, Lovecraft and SHAG–with works published in Palabra Luminosas and LiVE MAG13. He has also curated solo and group exhibitions …
Gus Powell. | The Lonely Ones at Sasha Wolf Gallery.
f you are in the Lower East Side today, we suggest that you stop by Sasha Wolf Gallery to see Gus Powell’s The Lonely Ones. The solo exhibition is inspired by cartoonist William Steig’s 1942 classic, The Lonely Ones. Powell made his own version, keeping the clever caption aspect, but opting for color photographs of people, animals and inanimate objects instead …
Pieces of the Puzzle. | Puzzleman Leung.
uirky and stoically offbeat, Leong Chong Lao—who also goes by the moniker Puzzleman Leung—is a modern day treasure who has yet to be found. Buried deep beneath the hills of his own contemporary surrealism, Puzzleman is cultivating a powerful aesthetic that is both powerful and unassuming. Puzzleman isn’t just some enigmatic weirdo with a camera. There are layers to his madness—pieces that …
Art Basel 2015. | A Look Back.
View PostThe Non-Creative. | Steve Kim.
don’t like to create,” says artist Steve Kim, cushioning his statement with an ironic chuckle. But oddly enough, Kim’s reluctance to create is what fuels his unique aesthetic. For Kim, the act of creating—or at least the overwrought version of creating—is a burden. After all, plenty of artists want to be free. Free to make, free to erase, free to …
(NSFW) Moore or Less. | Neil Moore.
ust when you think you have Neil Moore figured out, he somehow finds a way to wriggle out of that straitjacket of a label that you felt sure enough to put him in. Moore’s work seems obvious but not as obvious as one may think. Themes that present themselves as apparent are often not. Actually, they often don’t mean anything …
Words from Your Local Preacher. | Слава Семенюта.
xalting a glaring gospel of rich color and retina rupturing neon, Слава Семенюта plunges his audience into a lush limbo of futurism. His creative drug of choice is color. He huffs hues and conjures up images with an aesthetic that is best described as “hallucinatory realism.” Семенюта’s inspiration comes from the universe—above and below. He is enamored with underwater and the …
Judy Rifka |x| Jay Milder at The Yard presented by Amstel Gallery and Curator Gregory de la Haba.
he Judy Rifka Project and The Jay Milder Catalog Raisonné Project recently joined forces at The Yard, presenting a storied dialogue between the two artists’ works. The inaugural brunch, produced by Amstel Gallery and curator Gregory de la Haba, also featured legendary jazzman Bob Mover. Mover’s sweet notes wafted through The Yard as attendees treated themselves bagels & cream cheese and chilled Brooklyn …
“As Seen on Kickstarter” Pop Up. | BiteMyApple. |x| wallplay Shop.
f you’re looking for somewhere special to shop this holiday season, the “As Seen on Kickstarter” Pop Up is definitely a desired destination. A brainchild of BiteMyApple, the pop up only features Apple-based products that were once successful projects on Kickstarter. Founder Chris Johnson was kind of shed some light on the pop up’s concept: We started about 4 years …