Best of CH 2008: Top Five Art Shows
by Ariston Anderson
The year brought a wealth of art shows that transcended the average gallery night of wine, cheese and browsing into full-on events. Below our top five faves that made the Cool Hunting cut by consistently inviting the spectator to become a participant in the work.
Bansky: The Village Pet Store
With rat murals across the city and animatronic fast food pets, Bansky’s Village Pet Store swept New York by storm, creating a whole new fan base to his mysterious set of work. Notcot’s video (above) is almost as good as having attended the show.
Swoon: Swimming Cities of Switchback Seas
After travelling the rocky Hudson waters, Swoon launched her seven-piece flotilla into the Long Island City bay, complete with a live marching band and dance party.
KAWS
KAWS' cover art collaboration with Kayne West helped defined the "Love Lockdown" anthem of the year with his cartoonish heartbreak graphics. The dozens of self-portrait head-casts at his midtown solo show helped us delve further into the depth of his work.
Terrence Koh: Flowers for Baudelaire
Visitors to Terrence Koh's initimate Upper East Side show walked away with more than they bargained for, as the opening night resulted in the sugary sweet paintings dusting off all over the patrons.
Kehinde Wiley: Down
The breath and scale of Kehinde Wiley's massive portraits took us into another time and space at Deitch's downtown warehouse gallery. He took his vision of Brooklyn and reinvented history.
