At age 3, Sophie Neale wrote “Baby’s First Blog” (“blob,” she called it then) for much-missed Cookie magazine. Her efforts caught the eye of Time’s James Poniewozik, who proposed she be signed to a book deal to write about growing up in public. While not yet ready to pen her memoirs, Sophie (now 8 years old) takes us on a tour of lower Manhattan art galleries as only a child can.
The Bruce High Quality Foundation
159 Bleecker Street
Sophie explored literally hundreds of alternative and outlandish pieces at this art collective’s Brucennial exhibition, timed to coincide with the Whitney Biennial. This year’s show, curated by Vito Schnabel, encompasses over 300 works by Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring — along with up-and-coming talents. Sophie found plenty of art to trigger her imagination.
711 Washington Street
Don’t be fooled by Z Behl’s fantastical, life-sized sculptures rendered in oil paint and day-glow in her show “Battle for Lagniappe.” What appears to be a dreamland adventure has plenty of adult humor peppered throughout. The artist, known for her work on music videos and set designs, has filled the newly opened 7Eleven Gallery with an underwater world that completely transforms the gallery. Sophie was in her element exploring the comical flying creatures, a besieged pirate ship, mer-creatures and seas monsters.
23 Second Avenue (by appointment; see website)
Artist Brad Fisher recently moved to new studio space just off of the Bowery. His figurative and ironic multi-media paintings have earned the artist many well-known fans including Renée Zellweger, NBC’s Ben Silverman, Drew Barrymore and Marc Jacobs. Sophie got a unique opportunity to tour BradFisherTown and create her first acrylic on canvass: a sure masterpiece! Fisher officially debuted his new atelier on March 23.
Photos by Christian Pielow
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