Peyton's Portraits and Pals

(NEW YORK) Elizabeth Peyton looked radiant in Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 as she entered the New Museum last night for the opening of her first major museum survey entitled Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton. The colossal bash was sponsored by Banana Republic, currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. Peyton's pals came out in droves to toast the artist's two-floor exhibition.

"She's one of my most special friends," gushed Marc Jacobs, who arrived on the arm of Lorenzo Martone. "She's a wonderful, magical spirit and I love the world that she's created through her art. She's gentle and beautiful. I have friends like Sofia [Coppola] and Elizabeth that I put in this very special category of people. They're very calm and have beautiful souls. They contribute to what's good in this world."

A portrait of the designer, Marc (2004), is included in the exhibition as a courtesy of a private collector. Rumor has it that the private collector is none other than the designer himself, who told The Daily that he has sat several times for Peyton. "I love his creativity," said Peyton of Jacobs. "He's trying to make something that's honest and good. It's inspiring."

The editorial set, including Interview's Glenn O'Brien and Details' Michael Macko, was busy mingling and imbibing glasses of Moët and exotic rum cocktails. "She's a fellow North Forker," said Amy Astley. "We live in the same village. I always see her running and biking." Astley was overheard talking to a KCD publicist about an upcoming Teen Vogue layout involving the PR powerhouse. Will the KCD kids be ditching their black uniforms for colorful swaths by Richard Chai for the pages of the teen mag? Peter Brant came with his wife and supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who just last week walked the runway for Hermès. Seymour was toting a Birkin--perhaps a post-show present from Jean Paul Gaultier?

And of course, what would an art party be without its regular cast of characters. Artists Hope Atherton, Cecily Brown, Rachel Feinstein and John Currin, Urs Fischer, Alex Katz, and Kiki Smith all turned out alongside power dealers Gavin Brown and Barbara Gladstone. "It's beautiful stuff," said Debbie Harry looking chic in a Chanel jacket. "Her portraiture has a certain truth and feeling to it."

The Studio Museum's Thelma Golden echoed the songstress' sentiments. "Elizabeth Peyton is an important visionary in terms of contemporary art right now. She's a quiet voice, but one that speaks powerfully about portraiture. She has a wonderful take on the way that we look at pictures."
ADAM P. SCHNEIDER