Unruly crowds packed the opening of the New Museum’s “The Ungovernables” triennial last night, padded by the sheer number of artists participating in the show. A good portion of the 50-plus participants made appearances over the course of the evening, lending an atmosphere of well-heeled international hipsterdom to the human crush of the lobby and gallery floors.
The event was an artist’s art opening, with appearances from Kara Walker, Alex Katz, and Emily Roysdon, as well as museum-opening stalwart Klaus Biesenbach, New Museum director Lisa Dennison, and Studio Museum director Thelma Golden. Adroit triennial curator Eungie Joo was seen attending to her flock of artists, chatting with the Brazilian conceptualist Jonathas de Andrade, trans artist Wu Tsang (in a striking off-the-shoulder number), and American Julia Dault, whose reflective skirt matched the sheen of her sculptures on the third floor.
When festivities ceased promptly at 10, a few lucky visitors braved the coat check line and headed to an after party under the glittering gold ceiling of the Standard Hotel’s aerie-like Top of the Standard party room. (And stragglers who hung around after the New Museum’s booking ended were met with a surprise appearance by burlesque wonder Dita Von Teese, proving that New York night life truly is ungovernable, or at least unpredictable.)
Click on the slide show for a selection of photos from "The Ungovernables" opening.