MONDAY, OCTOBER 20
Party: The 2014 National Art Awards
This annual gala once again takes over Cipriani 42nd Street, with its sky-high ceilings and ample bellinis. Richard Serra will accept the lifetime achievement award this year. Mazel!—Nate Freeman
Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 E. 42nd Street, New York, 6:30. Ticketed.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
Opening: “Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute
Death is in the air. It is getting closer to Halloween after all, but the Met is celebrating a little early with this exhibition of funerary attire at the Costume Institute. Expect a whole lot of black garb, the gothic styles all the more dramatic because they’re set against bright, white backdrops.—Alanna Martinez
The Anna Wintour Costume Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Avenue, New York
Opening: “Fierce Creativity” at Pace Gallery
Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winner, former Scientologist and man about town, also has a non-profit called Artists for Peace and Justice. And so there’s a benefit exhibition called “Fierce Creativity” for the non-profit that’s curated by Chuck Close, to be held at Pace Gallery uptown, and it features work by Damien Hirst, David Salle, Alex Katz, Joan Jonas, and Mr. Close himself. Go and buy art, if that’s your sort of thing! It’s for charity for God’s sake.—N.F.
Pace Gallery, 32 E. 57th Street, New York, 6:30 p.m., invitation only.
Party: The Open Road Aperture Benefit
Because it’s gala season, The Aperture Foundation is having its big time benefit, which honors Robert Frank, who’s a photography giant and one of my personal heroes because he made “Cocksucker Blues” the greatest and raciest of the Rolling Stone documentaries. There’s a performance by The Kills, who aren’t exactly the Stones, but a decent enough rock bank for one of these things. Incidentally, Kate Moss’s husband is the guitarist. I saw them in L.A. once, they’re pretty cool.—N.F.
Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th Street, New York, 6:00 p.m., Ticketed.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
Party: Celebration for the new issue of “Visionaire 64 Art: John Baldessari”
In conjunction with the launch of Visionaire 64 Art John Baldessari, the publication’s special collaborative three edition issue, there will be a week-long site-specific art installation by the artist in the Chrysler Building’s lobby. Large-scale versions of Mr. Baldessari’s color shapes will be placed throughout the space for visitors to take selfies with. The interactive work mirrors the contributions in the new issue, by selfie enthusiasts Marina Abramovic, Ed Ruscha, Gisele Bundachen, Maurizio Cattelan, Drake, Psy, James Franco, Kaws, and so many more. Just look at that list! — A.M.
Invitation Only
Opening: “John Baldessari: Movie Scripts/Art” at Marian Goodman Gallery
Even more John Baldessari! On the same night, the artist opens an exhibition of new work at Marian Goodman’s 57th Street gallery, featuring art historical image fragments paired with text from movie scripts.—A.M.
Marian Goodman Gallery, 24 West 57th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
Opening: “Please Enter” curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody
“I decided to curate this exhibition because in all of my years of collecting art, I have seen many artists’ works that feature doors.” And that’s just about the jist of this Beth Rudin DeWoody-curated show of “door-themed works” she feels are “amongst the strongest to date.” Expect pieces by Do Ho Suh, Rachel Whiteread, Richard Artschwager, Ry Rocklen, and Gavin Turk, among others.—A.M.
Franklin Parrasch Gallery, 53 East 64th Street, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: “Marina Abramovic: Generator” at Sean Kelly
“Abramović will create what she has previously described as ‘full emptiness,’ a term derived from Tibetan teachings of oneness. Dealing with both the meditative and the communal, Generator will be a unique environment for visitors to push the boundaries of their self-awareness and inner-consciousness, as they are confronted with nothing but themselves and the palpable energy in the room.” Word.—N.F.
Sean Kelly, 475 Tenth Avenue, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: “Moby: Innocents” at Emmanuel Fremin Gallery
Remember when Moby wrote a long whiny essay for a British newspaper about why New York is over, only assholes live here, L.A. is awesome, wah wah wah? Well for some reason Moby has decided to give this city that he hates an art show that it didn’t ask for. It’s called Innocents, which is the same name as a Moby album I never bothered to listen to. Maybe he’ll come back to his former home to bask in the glory of the art world’s adulation that probably won’t actually arrive. But if Moby does grace New York with his hair-free presence, how will Moby be able to schmooze at the gallery if he’s holding his nose the whole time? Look, I’m not trying to start an Eminem-style beef with you, Moby, that song you did with Gwen Stefani banged when it came out, like, decades ago, but all I’m saying is the city hasn’t like burned down or anything since you left so maybe just keep on chillin on the West Coast or whatever. —N.F.
Emmanuel Fremin Gallery, 547 W. 27th Street #510, New York, 6-8 p.m.
Opening: “Ursula von Rydingsvard: Permeated Shield” at Galerie Lelong
New works in cedar and brand new sculpture in bronze by the New York-based artist will be shown for the first time at Galerie Lelong. The bronze piece Bent Lace, in the style of her iconic public sculpture outside the Barclays Center, will anchor the show, standing 9-and-a-half-feet tall. — A.M.
Galerie Lelong, 528 West 26th Street, New York, 6-8 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25
Opening: “Disturbing Innocence” curated by Eric Fischl
Think you’ve had enough of Gober? Find more of his provocative work next to contemporaries who similarly utilize inanimate versions of the human form such as dolls, toys, mannequins, and robots in their work. Curated by artist Eric Fischl, the show is “inspired by Fischl’s own childhood in suburban Long Island, NY, and his early career as an artist working in New York City in the 1980’s.” Work by Vanessa Beecroft, Will Cotton, Henry Darger, Carroll Dunham, Paul McCarthy, Mike Kelley, Laurie Simmons, Sarah Lucas, and a whole lot more join this “disturbed” crew. — A.M.
Flag Art Foundation, 545 West 25th Street, 9th Floor, New York, 6-8 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
Opening: “Bob and Roberta Smith: Art Amnesty” at MoMA PS1
Have you been trying your hand at making art for a while, but it’s not quite working out? If so, you are a bad artist and you should throw away your art. Bob and Roberta Smith are here to help—well, really, Bob and Roberta Smith is here to help, because Bob and Roberta Smith is one person, Patrick Brill. He asked failed artists to come throw out their art at PS1, and the result of the destruction will be on view this Sunday.—N.F.
MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Queens, 12-6 p.m.
Out of Town: Prospect.3 in New Orleans
If you can get to the Big Easy this Thursday, you’ll catch the opening of Prospect.3, a major biennial taking place in 18 different locations throughout New Orleans. Not that you ever need an excuse to jet off to New Orleans. The martinis at Commander’s Palace constitute enough of an excuse for me. But with the slew of galas, receptions, performances and openings happening surrounding the biennial, this would be the time to go.—N.F.
Locations throughout New Orleans, Louisiana, VIP Opening Thursday, invitation only.