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 …
When Now is Night. | Martin Boyce.
cottish artist Martin Boyce recently released his new book, When Now is Night, a brilliant monograph that provides a visual overview of the artist’s illustrious career. Written by Dominic Molon, with contributions by Russell Ferguson, John Stezaker and even Boyce himself, When Now is Night doesn’t read like your typical art book. While the book is bolstered by some well-tailored academia, …
Far From Board. | Teresa Aversa.
eresa Aversa is somewhat of a romantic. The way that she sees things, especially the quotidian objects that we often come into contact with on a daily basis and hardly take notice of despite frequent usage, is similar to most thoughtful creatives. But unlike most creatives, Aversa has taken root in a brilliant aesthetic that is ripe with a delicate …
Iconophilia at The Lodge Gallery. | Peter Daverington.
ainter Peter Daverington masterfully merges new school and old school aesthetic in his latest solo exhibition, Iconophilia. Placing graffiti characters beside noblemen and cherubs under one tattered and worn motif, Daverington creates a destructive dichotomy that speaks to art history, art development and art preservation. We visited The Lodge Gallery just an hour before the opening reception and Daverington, humbly dressed …
3 Shots. | Hollis Brown.
[su_dropcap style=”flat” size=”4″]H[/su_dropcap]ailing from Queens, Hollis Brown‘s sound is best describe as Mumford & Sons meets Tracy Chapman meets Johnny Cash meets REM meets Hall & Oates meets Everything but the Girl. That is a lot of intermingling but when you listen to the new album, 3 Shots, you quickly understand how it all comes together. 3 Shots kicks off …
NEW Music! | El Yunque. | Youceff Kabal.
[su_dropcap style=”flat” size=”4″]Y[/su_dropcap]ouceff Kabal‘s newest album, El Yunque, could not have come at a better time. Not only does the “feelgoodness” of the record go perfectly with the oncoming warm weather, it is literally a well produced chill pill made to combat all of the current ills of the world. War, politics, classism, racism, GMOs and genocide all seem to take …
FLUX Fair Debuts in Harlem.
View Post(Penn)sive Positivity. | Jeremy Penn.
View PostBe Nice. | Agni Zotis.
e Nice. It sounds like a simple suggestion but the root of the concept runs far deeper than you would expect. Agni Zotis, a Queens native of Greek descent, has cultivated an enrapturing balance within her work; it is truly free from boundaries. The pieces featured in her latest solo exhibition evince the restless interminglings of life’s extremes, marrying those …
God of the Grove. | Hedi Xandt.
edi Xandt‘s God of the Grove has an aggressive aesthetic that holds you by the throat. Maintaining a firm grip, it leans in and snarls with an ominous pulchritude that leaves you shaken. Xandt, a self taught conceptual artist from Germany, possesses a style that is most aptly described as effortless. Works such as Blood is the Vessel of Love , The Longer …
The Misunderstanding of Lauryn Hill: You Used To Love Her? You Never Did.
Many of us taint love with expectations. It may seem daunting—or even outright foolish—but to love someone is to expect NOTHING in return. That’s right. You give your love and expect nothing in return. Why am I blathering about love? Last week I read an article on Medium by Stefan Schumacher titled, “It’s Finally Time to Stop Caring About Lauryn …
Tangina Stone Live at La Petite Mort.
a Petite Mort gave summer one last goodbye hug this past weekend. The vintage boutique invited singer Tangina Stone to celebrate the official release of her EP titled, THE FALL. The celebration also included a groovy sidewalk performance which attracted a throng of passersby. Stone was in true form, serenading the Lower East Side and having friendly interactions with the crowd in …
Frodo Mikkelsen. | A Love Story at Munch Gallery.
rodo Mikkelsen recently debuted A Love Story at Munch Gallery. It is Mikkelsen’s second solo show at the Lower East Side space and looks to be just as strong–if not stronger–than his last show at Munch, Ghost Yard. Dividing his time between Gotham and Copenhagen, Mikkelsen is a mixed media artist who is capable of providing a brilliant, effortless narrative. For this …
Bare Minimum. | Ed Hodgkinson.
d Hodgkinson‘s illustrations are delicately intimate and simple. His minimal linework is comforting and still manages to successfully convey an image while flaunting a palpable amount of mystery. Hodgkinson lives and works in London and has exhibited in New York, LA, Tokyo, Capetown, Stockholm and Rejkjavik. Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he …
Chilean Activist Burns $500m Worth of Student Loans Papers.
lazing the trail in mass financial liberation, a Chilean activist named Francisco “Papa Fritas” Tapia recently burned documents representing $500 million (£300 million) worth of student debt. Coinciding with a protest at Universidad del Mar, Tapia’s act has gained worldwide interest with a mixed reaction of support and disapproval. “It’s over, it’s finished… You don’t have to pay another peso [of your student …
Watch It Melt.
inston Chmielinski‘s work lies unconscious on the shore of a familiar reality, washing back into a surreal sea while melting into the already saturated sands of time. Chmielinksi paints visual murmurs that are ironically concise. Although the figures in his pieces are faintly recognizable, they are still easy to identify with. Paintings like Relearning How to Breathe , The Inner Glow of …
Escape from New York City.
Young photographer Megan Tatem captures loneliness in a densely populated city in her latest series, Being and Nothingness. Blanketed in a coat of jaded youth, Being and Nothingness is an autobiographical body of work that quietly resonates within a generational paradigm. “Being and Nothingness is a series of fragmented photographs depicting the void, melancholy, and loneliness of living a life in New York City …
Cornerstones of Existence.
Gemma Danielle Bayly‘s ongoing free project, Reiki Stones, is based on the concept of transcendence and self actualization. Possessing a ritualistic allure and a spiritual purpose, Reiki Stones are hand-painted stones charged with Reiki energy. Reiki, a combination of the Japanese words Rei (God’s Wisdow or the Higher Power) and Ki (Life Force Energy), is a healing technique that involves a metaphysical approach …
IFAC | Family Affairs.
The duo at IFAC (International Fine Arts Consortium) put on quite a show during Armory Week. The opening reception for their latest exhibition, Family Affairs, was filled to rafters with creators and spectators. Described as an “incestuous avant-garde survey of art,” Family Affairs features a vast, but harmonious, array of artists that include Brian Leo, Noah Becker, Casper Brindle, BTA, Pierre …
The Man in the Curved Hus.
Located on the Swedish West coast, the Hus-1 is a brilliant creation designed by Torsten Ottesjö. Measured at 25 sqm (270 sqft) and made only from wood, the curved structure includes a kitchen, sleeping quarters, dinner table, hallway and welcoming area for invited guest. The Hus-1 looks small but that is only because we are victims of our own veracious appetite for ample structure. In fact, …
Time is Illmatic to Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2014.
Along with Wu-Tang’s Enter the 36 Chambers and The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die, Illmatic is considered to be one of the essential works that marked a second renaissance in east coast rap. While bullets were whizzing through courtyards and hand-to-hands were being covertly executed, a chip toothed younger by the name of Nasir Jones (a.k.a. Nasty Nas) stared out his window …
Carly Sioux. | Broken Angel.
Making her film directing debut, Sioux presents us with Broken Angel, an avant-noir film that is deliciously disorienting and ingeniously off its rocker. It’s a pleasure to watch an artist grow. We’ve followed Carly Sioux‘s career for some time now and when we heard that she was working on her first film, the anticipation was unbearable. The Brooklyn photographer’s photographic work possesses a …
The Art of Emotion.
KwangHo Shin captures the complexity of human emotion with his latest series of abstract portraiture. Sacrificing detail for substance, KwangHo Shin purposefully obscures the facial features of the subject in order to convey the intricacy of human emotion. The clashes of paints are an ideal metaphor for the human psyche. Akeem K. Duncan.Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and …
The Many Portraits of Ventiko.
Ventiko is a prime example of a quintessential artist. Her thoughts are unfiltered, her affection is untamed, and her wiles are unrestricted. Ventiko is an offbeat dynamo, a mercurial visionary, a whirlwind of goddessery. But through it all the photographer manages to keep a coherently artistic lid on her cauldron of inspirational quirk. Ventiko’s work is somewhat of a far …
A Cold Warmth.
Monica Lek possesses a nonchalant style that is only undermined by her flawless execution. In other words, her work feeds off of happenstance; but the manner in which the moment is captured reeks of precision and perfection. Lek’s series, Light Arousal, features sensual, and somewhat distant, portraits of sunlight. In the series, the Barcelona based photographer finds beauty in the quotidian while …