LRC proudly presents:

Kaleigh Balken

'take off your mask'

Nov 8 - Dec 18, 2023

Opening reception November 8, 6-8PM

LRCHQEV 140-142 Second Avenue, Suite 306, New York NY

LRC is excited to present artist Kaleigh Balken’s solo show ‘take off your mask’ exploring the realms of the unconscious. The exhibition features an array of works oscillating between painting, drawing, and sculpture, exploring the kingdoms of the uncanny.

A graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY, with honors in sculpture, Kaleigh’s multi-disciplinary work explores the fragile equilibrium of existence in visceral confrontations that simultaneously shock and inspire. In stark juxtaposition with her naturally cheerful disposition, her introspective work echoes the Japanese concept of the third face. In Japanese culture, the third face is concealed from the world and is profoundly private. The art allows for an intimate glimpse into this hidden space, prompting viewers to reconsider the masks they wear in their own lives and explore the depths of the human experience. 

Kaleigh's art is a fierce testament to her unique perception of the world and the vivid emotional landscapes simmering under the surface. A purely visual communicator, she infuses her imagery with enigmatic narratives, reflecting the unknown and creating a common undercurrent of the uncanny. Embracing the unfamiliar and unstable, Kaleigh finds comfort in the strange and wonders with childlike curiosity. Her art challenges conventional perceptions, revealing the beauty, absurd, and sometimes comical hidden within the unexplored facets of our existence. The artistic process of creation propels her explorations and leads to discovery.

Kaleigh's artistic journey draws inspiration from the Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark series by Alvin Schwartz and the work of illustrator Stephen Gammell. Similarly, Kaleigh's art seeks to provoke, inspire, and explore the unsettling aspects of human nature, creating a delicate balance between shock and beauty.

Kaleigh's work invites her to traverse the unfamiliar landscapes she creates, delving into dark territories that stir memories and redefine the everyday. Her art bridges the realms of the digital age and the natural world, forging connections between unmatched realities. Rooted in her deep appreciation of nature, she moves effortlessly between the digital and the biological, inspired by organic, wild-grown mushrooms and the concept of ecdysis, which symbolizes shedding the old to embrace the new, breathing life into her art.

"LRC is proud to feature Kaleigh Balken’s captivating exploration of the uncanny,” says Lydia Rodrigues. “She invites her audience to redefine and uncover the beauty within the unsettling.”

**𝑺𝑨𝑳𝑶𝑵 𝑵𝑶 16 𝑶𝒄𝒕 12-26** WED TO SUN 2-8PM AND BY APPT, LRCHQEV 140-142 2nd Avenue, Suite 306

look book images here, by Matin Zad

LRC is excited to present SALON NO 16 ‘Potential’, a showcase of sartorial inquiries and possibilities. The future-forward show features the works of 20 talented fashion designers, makers, artists and collectives, each challenging conventions and celebrating the limitless possibilities of self-expression through fashion.

We’re proud to continue to work with a range of LRC fixtures and excited to introduce some newcomers to our eclectic family. N0b0dy Collective (NYC) is a dynamic new line emerging from the creative genius of a Pratt teacher who mentored two of our very own LRC designers, Sophie Andes Gascon from SC103 and Margaret Burton (this season she takes a well-deserved break to nurture her newborn, Casimer). N0b0dy Collective's collection ‘handle with care’ was marked by a collaboration with artist Helen Bullock during a residency in the UK. Each piece is meticulously crafted to fit Dean, whose size is about large in men's, a testament to our commitment to body diversity.

Randi Mates, currently living in Mexico, the brilliant mind behind AESA jewelry, has crafted a remarkable series of phallic necklace pendants, the fascinating and bewitching promise of love and vitality, a testament to the fusion of narrative creativity and wearable artistry.

"Potential" also includes more pieces from Fabio Quaranta's URANIA collection, drawing from his fashion archive in Milan. This fusion of contemporary and archival pieces encompasses captivating style evolution and timeless ease.

Camilla Carper, whose innovative creations left an indelible mark on the Inside Out Closet, returns to SALON NO 16 with a collection of backless tops fashioned from their merch tees featured during the show earlier this year and MORE.

Notably, SALON NO 16 introduces a special tee by WILLIENORRISWORKSHOP (NYC), ingeniously designed to ensure that the front side is always in view when taking selfies, forging a deeper connection with social media audiences and exploring its vast potential as a platform for individual expression.

"I couldn’t be happier to celebrate these diverse voices at SALON NO 16,” says Lydia Rodrigues of LRC. “The notion of Potential is at the heart of New York’s vibrant downtown art scene. This showcase is a testament to the endless possibilities of self-expression.”

LRC PROUDLY PRESENTS TUNJI DADA ‘PHON(E)Y SELECTIONS’ 2023

LRCHQEV Sept 6 – Sept 25, 2023 Open Sunday and Mondays 12PM - 6PM and by appointment Opening Reception Sept 6, 6 - 8PM

140-142 Second Avenue, Suite 306, New York, NY 10003

LRC is thrilled to announce designer Tunji Dada’s groundbreaking fashion showcase Phon(e)y Selections. In the show Dada subverts concepts of authenticity, appropriation, and sustainability in playful experimentation. Eschewing the suicidal lifecycle of seasonal fashion, Dada follows his own creative rhythm, and this anticipated event marks the first time he is showing a comprehensive collection since 2011. 

At the heart of Phon(e)y Selections lies Dada's latest Fake Jeans collection. Dada's collection offers thematic narratives that defy categorization. "Tunji Dada is not a brand, I make clothes," asserts the energetic designer. Meticulously crafted, these clever illusion pieces redefine classic Americana, transforming Vietnam War tent fabric into distressed denim through intricate painting and washing techniques. The green canvas material, discovered serendipitously through a trusted art-world client, instantly resonated with Dada's creative subconscious. The result is a whimsical trompe l'oeil that simultaneously subverts and reinforces rugged American masculinity, rendering staple pieces such as tees, jeans, and trench coats into playful and thought-provoking conversation pieces.

Born in Nigeria to a seamstress mother, fashion was ingrained early, and sewing machines became Dada’s matchbox cars. He relocated to the US in his 20s, and embarked on a journey of discovery, scouring dollar stores and vintage markets, deconstructing and reconstructing the anatomy of fashion. A Massachusetts College of Art graduate, Dada serendipitously accepted an invitation to contribute to a SoHo art show that led him to New York. He instantly found belonging and opened his iconic store on 2 Bond Street where he displayed the sartorial experiments from his laboratory atelier. Once, he seamlessly molded latex couture onto a body without a single stitch, proving that his vision holds more power than the laws of physics. 

Unsurprisingly, Dada's designs resonated deeply in Japan, captivating audiences with his unique spin on wabi-sabi principles. Celebrating imperfection and impermanence became a cornerstone of Dada's creative lexicon and he fused them with pillars of American fashion: freedom of expression, comfort, and functionality–with a twist of Dada.

“We are inviting people to view and shop from the collection. We’re thrilled to showcase Tunji Dada,” says LRC’s Lydia Rodrigues. “Having known him since 2011, his audacious approach consistently surprises with timely concepts challenging the very essence of fashion.”

F1RST T1ME X LRC AT NADA FLEA AUG 12+13, 2023 2nd floor at 311 East Broadway in the Lower East Side 12-6PM

F1RST T1ME WAS ON NEWS 12 THE BRONX FOR A VERY SPECIAL REASON ON FRIDAY JULY 21ST, SEE IT ALL HERE

CAMILLA CARPER ‘INSIDE OUT CLOSET’ 2023 MAY 20 - JULY 24, 2023 OPEN SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS 12-6 OR BY APPT

FABIO QUARANTA ‘WHITE LABEL NYC EDITION’ APRIL 19 - MAY 15, 2023

SALON NO 15 MARCH 16-APRIL 2, 2023 WKENDS 11-5PM WKDAYS BY APPT 140 SECOND AVE, SUITE 306

SALON NO 14 NOV 10-27, 2022 THURS-SUN 12-8PM OR BY APPT 47 CANAL

SALON NO 14 SOUND TRACK BY BRITTANY TAYLOR

in September, LRC went to Paris Fashion Week. We saw BLESS, EXTREME CASHMERE, ANTON BELINSKIY, STEPHANIE SCHNEIDER, CAMILLE SERRA, CHRISTIAN WIJNANTS and brought back some great pieces for you to see at SALON NO 14

written by Nkoli Okoye, intern at LRC: My first fashion week whilst working at LRC has been incredible to say the least. I’ve been introduced to so many talented designers, artists and overall creatives to whom I’ve looked at their work for inspiration. The SC103 show last Friday was definitely my favourite. From the prints to the movement of the garments, the pieces looked otherworldly. I particularly loved the sneakers styled with all of the outfits. The contrast between the lightness and flowiness of the clothes to the chunkiness of the sneakers made me want to wear every single outfit I saw. For the show, I wore a dress designed by Tunji Dada, a New York based designer featured at LRC. The dress is made from a beautiful cream knit material. It’s soft, light and airy- perfect for the New York weather. It felt amazing to support LRC designers through my attendance of the show but also through the clothes I was actually wearing.

BLESS is celebrating their 25 years in business this year at the KW Institute of Contemporary Art in Berlin, if you are there make sure to pop in and see the incredible installation, we personally love the steam room in the car <3. https://www.kw-berlin.de/en/a-year-with-bless/ We will have a selection of pieces at SALON NO 14 in October for you, and always remember you can order from their furniture collection via LRC, just dm or email us for the catalog. HAPPY 25 YEARS BLESS!

new pieces just went online for summer today JUNE 21, 2022. ROOM shoes are a wonderful brand from Brazil, who make beautiful leather sandals which hug your feet and style beautifully with some new DPA also added to the site, along with a great mesh bag for your market shopping by BIELO in yellow or navy, or get both to carry it all in style. HAPPY SUMMER TIME LRC PEOPLE!

LRC friend and model BRIGID MOORE will be in a group show opening June 21st 6-9PM at Leila Greiche 211 Madison Street New York NY 10002 June 21-July 30.

in mid May 2022 Athena Kokoronis of DOMESTIC PERFORMANCE AGENCY invited LRC to join her in a shop she created for the weekend at 411 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. We had a great weekend, and a lovely turnout of DPA fans! LRC made sure to have stock that styled with DPA perfectly, we love creating a great fit! You too can grab a fit, we just put online, here is a great one https://www.lrcnyc.online/shopping/p/dpa-fit