at the MoMA, 11 West 53rd Street

In what must be the museum’s most talked about exhibit of 2009, the life’s work of the darkly comic and inventive Tim Burton is on vibrant and thrilling display now through April 26th. The scope of the work, from his teenage short stories about evil doctors to his latest sketches for the yet to be released Alice in Wonderland, is impressive and truly inspiring.

The exhibit opens with a kooky black and white walkway playing some of his Stain Boy cartoons, which makes you feel like you’ve walked onto one of his sets (you’ll also feel a strong urge to re-watch Beetlejuice). Next comes the circusy black-light room with a moving carousel Burton made especially for the exhibit – all of the sculptures, including this one are fantastic (I especially love the crazed Campbell soup kids singed by fire) and be sure to look up as some are hung quite high. Many of the sculptures were created by Rick Heinrichs and Neal Scanlan Studios.

Just as cool as the huge 3-dimensional works are the simple and whimsical sketches. Among my favorite are The Teenager, Little Dead Riding Hood, and the monster drawings.  It’s also very awesome to see some of the iconic costumes and props from his films, including the Ed Wood’s angora sweater, Cat Woman’s get up, the Edward Scissorhands costume, and a crazy-in-person textured headless horseman cape.

As a fan of Burton for years, I was particularly tickled, but even coworkers who were not familiar with his work became enamored of his amazing imagination.

Click here for the rest of Tim Burton Exhibit

See more: Spend a Couple Hours Artists Galleries/Museums Midtown East

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Posted on December 26, 2009

40 Great Jones Street

As a fan of Will Cotton’s scrumptious and almost creepily saccharine paintings as well as fun things secret and rare, I was thrilled to make it to his two day only bake shop hidden inside the usually appointment only Partners and Spade space.

The epicenter of the bakery/installation was the towering stack of pastel cakes, of which I could hardly get enough of and took many photos. One of his paintings hung in the back as a team of little helpers rushed around with fresh baked birthday cakes and macaroons.

I spoke to the artist himself to say I was a fan of his work and he was totally adorably embarrassed and hoped we liked his baking as well before scimpering off to his frosting and flour.

The treats were tasty, though having just come from the New Amsterdam Market, I was stuffed almost too full to truly appreciate more than a bite (Jim chowed the rest). The entire experience left me feeling almost like one of the nymphs in his paintings, surrounded by a tempting, sugary landscape.

Click here for the rest of Will Cotton at Partners and Spade

See more: Desserts Art Artists Bakeries NoHo

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Posted on November 29, 2009

Whatever your opinion of the television series and movies that gained wider popularity and recognition than their source material, you really should take a look at the wry and darkly hilarious work of Chas Addams.

A beloved cartoonist for the New Yorker, who relished in presenting a humorously macabre image to the public (he'd have his photo taken with a collection of crossbows or wearing a suit of armor), Addams created his most famous fictional family with the help of friend Ray Bradbury.

I would leaf through my dad's collection of his cartoons and laugh and laugh as a little girl, and I still find them wonderful.

See more: Style Icons: Male Artists Halloween

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Posted on October 26, 2009

No one can have looked at a fashion magazine or had any knowledge of photography without knowing the images and name of Irving Penn. The forward thinking and classic image taker died last week at age 92. He left behind a legacy of amazing photographs and I am thrilled to read that the J Paul Getty Museum is currently showing the most extensive collection of his work. Wish I could get to LA in time to see it.

See more: Style Icons: Male Artists

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Posted on October 12, 2009

The Flemish and Dutch paintings area at The Met is one of my favorite places to stroll in the city. There's something other worldly about the quality of light and the serene portraiture that I adore.

Jan Van Eyck is perhaps the most accomplished painter of 15th Century and his masterworks: The Ghent Altarpiece and Arnolfini Portrait are spectacular. The Crucifixtion: The Last Judgment is on display at The Met.

See more: Style Icons: Male Artists Renaissance/Medieval

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Posted on September 14, 2009