We are often searching for the sublime, the beautiful, the unique, the exceptional moment when we are encountering something exquisite that changes the way we think, the way we look, the way we live.

Just an orange

I was living in Alexandria (Egypt) when I had this dream: I was eating an orange, and its taste was so sublime as if I’ve never had an orange before. When I woke up, I told my mother about the dream. She smiled and pointed to me a plate full of oranges sitting in the kitchen. I peeled and tasted one after the other, in pursuit of the sublime one of my dream. For days after, as soon as I passed an orange stand (and there are a lot of fruit stands in Egypt), I was stopping by, buying some, and praying that the orange of my dream would exist. I’ve never found it. My obsession faded after a few days, but still today, each time I eat an orange, I remember this particular one.

It is the same with art. Visiting hundreds of galleries, viewing thousands of artworks, with the dream of finding the sublime one. Each artwork you see - whether or not you like it, this is not the point - will lead you to the sublime, the one you are about to discover and love.

With this quest, I started the Art Week. What am I going to find? And if I don’t?
It’s ok, the first pleasure is the cruising.

Esther II

First stop today was at Esther II, the second edition of the fair, presented at the historic Estonian House , on East 34th street. Warmly welcomed by free fresh coffee and pastries in the cafeteria (which I did not try), the wander starts. Artworks are displayed everywhere as if you were in a real house. It’s quite pleasant.

A long stop at Leena Similu’s ceramics. According to a 2022 NYTimes article, Similu was working in the fashion industry, leading women’s wear high end brands until she quit and, inspired by her African roots, started to create artworks in ceramics.

On the next wall, an intriguing sculpture by Estonian artist, Eike Eplik

There is also Jeremy Deprez’s painting of a sock - a very large one. On Deprez’s website, I found this text. I don’t know if he wrote it, he might have. (this is an excerpt, the full text is here)

A reflection of how we move through the world.
Some moments and things are fleeting.
Others are consistent and routine.
Some paintings are singular, one offs.
Others employ motifs that regularly repeat themselves.
Always different, always the same.
A figure walks.

Remember, in my previous letter, I was talking about the hunger after an art orgy. It’s time for lunch. Stephen, my art date today, is the best at finding THE good restaurant near you. “Look at the name of this one” he tells me: “Thai Food Near Me”. We laughed, so smart right? And absolutely delicious. A curry and a pad see-ew later, we are en route to our next stop. While waiting for the bus, I cannot help but stare at the spectacular Corinthian, designed by Der Scutt and Michael Schimenti and completed in … 1988.

Spring Break Art Show

This year, Ambre and Andrew promise us Paradise Lost + Found. Their L.A. edition was unfortunately canceled because of the fires, and it’s a joy to have the fair back in May in NYC.

First hug to the dear artist and friend Brian Andrew Whiteley. Everyone remembers the “dirty and naughty” parties he used to host at 51 Bergen street. Flame, paintings, his famous clowns in ceramics and his outfit wins the prize!

This year Stuart Lantry (left) puts his quotes on mirrors, a reflection on meaning, language, and contradiction and we cannot help but smile while reading them. Always curated by Shona McAndrew

L'enfer, c'est les autres (Hell is other people) from Jean Paul Sartre has grandly influenced Mia Ntenta’s site-specific installation (right). A special project by The Opening Gallery

The crush of the day is for the artwork by R.J. Calabrese (Gallery Rosebud Contemporary). Strange, weird, erotic, surrealist … so enjoyable.

On the way back to Brooklyn, a look at another iconic piece of art, the Jenga Tower at 56 Leonard Street, designed by Herzog & de Meuron with a monumental sculpture by Anish Kapoor at its base.

Voilà—enough art fair for today. Until tomorrow. Today, NYC was sublime.

Yours, Lucien

PS. Please share your crush, your sublime, your discovery.