Last week in New York, Residency Unlimited (RU) celebrated its 9th anniversary with a benefit holiday party at World of McIntosh Townhouse, downtown. Just through the front doors off Lafayette Street, celebrants passed through a meditative, underwater installation in the Townhouse’s beautiful indoor swimming pool by collaborative team Myriam Casanova and Jerome Stunzi with sound facilitator David Shemesh. Then up the stairs they went for food, drinks (artist designed cocktails in collaboration with Bombay Sapphire), dancing, and performances.

The gala, held on November 28th provided a chance for guests to meet RU residents and experience some of their work created specifically for the party. Benefit co-chairs, art advisor Thomas Rom and US Editor of Wallpaper Michael Reynolds brought together a diverse mix of 150 artists, curators, collectors, and patrons of RU’s important work to celebrate the young company’s mission.

“In 2018 RU hosted 75 artists and curators from 42 different countries, invited 200 guest visitors, and organized 13 exhibitions and 44 public programs. Residencies play a fundamental role in the advancement of multi-cultural understanding and the development of long lasting relationships between individuals across borders. They build platforms where art transcends cultural and national boundaries. They offer a space where artists can meditate and reflect quietly and safely on how to bring their own talents and ideas into a different context and how another space that is outside of their comfort zone can shape their artistic practice, voice and imagination,” said Executive Director Nathalie Anglès.

The event culminated with a performance by New York City based performance artists and musicians The Illustrious Blacks, a 3D-printed dessert by Cuban artist Glexis Novoa, and a photo booth installation on the way out by artists Oneika Russell and Émilie Régnier replete with “naughty Santa.” In attendance at the celebration were artists the Haas Brothers, fashion designer Ronny Kobo, actress Sela Ward, Artsy Executive Editor Alexander Forbes, NBA player Miles Plumlee, Leigh Ofer, Adi Neumann, Miasha Fisher, and Sam Ben-Avraham, among many others.

Myriam Casanova

Residency Unlimited’s Holiday Benefit Party