Jane Holzer Gets a Homecoming at the Schnabels'
The cabin-like ground floor of Palazzo Chupi, the Schnabel’s West Village home stretching five unapologetically pink stories high, is so cavernous that some of its depths have spotty phone service. But it was still packed to the brim on Wednesday night for the irreverent Bruce High Quality Foundation’s annual benefit dinner and auction, this year honoring former Warhol favorite Jane Holzer. Though Vito Schnabel hosted from afar (the shores of Cannes, specifically), Julian and Stella held court for the family affair. “I mean, this is my friends' house. I didn't even realize [the event] was here," said Jemima Kirke, quite at home with dozens of other art-world New Yorkers. "I grew up coming to this house," echoed co-host Zac Posen. "Vito, Lola, and Stella – the whole family is like my second family," he added. The designer's known the Bruce founders since the beginning, too, watching their journey from Cooper Union students throwing performances of Cats in Brooklyn to “this incredible art collective and initiative,” he said, before heading off to chat with another friend, Bernadette Peters. Other fashion faces hung around, too: Anna Sui mingled, while the model Jamie Bochert barely suppressed a yawn as the bidding started on works by supporting artists like Francesco Clemente and Rita Ackermann – that is, until the ebullient auctioneer started wielding an axe. While only a few snagged custom portraits by BHQFU – including, somehow, Julian, the evening’s white whale – everyone got a “F— BRUCE”-emblazoned tote bag, a fitting souvenir for the announcement of the group’s new MFU program, an MFA-like program for five artists that’s free of charge, with an emphasis on the FU. “They’ve got a bit of a juvenile streak to them,” Phil Aarons, one of last year’s honorees, explained to a friend – something they both agreed they quite liked.
Jane Holzer with her Bruce portrait at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Jemima Kirke and Zac Posen at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Anna Sui, Christopher Niquet, and Duncan Hannah at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Jamie Bochert and Sofia Malamute at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Zac Posen, Rhys Gaetano, and Stella Schnabel at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Shelley Fox Aarons, Jane Holzer, and Phil Aarons at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Inside Palazzo Chupi at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Bob Colacello and Francesco Clemente at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Bernadette Peters and Zac Posen at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Jemima Kirke, Zoë Buckman, Jane Holzer and Yvonne Force Villareal at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Lyor Cohen at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Syv de Blare at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Gautam Balasundar, Tenzin Wild, Sebastien Perrin and Tao Okamoto at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Stephanie LaCava and Sabine Heller at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.
Yvonne Force Villareal and Peter McGough at BHQFU’s Annual Benefit Dinner and Art Auction. Photo by Max Lakner, BFA.