There are hundreds of things to do in NYC this summer! A few weeks ago, I had a pleasure of photographing a styled dinner event held at Onishi Gallery in Chelsea. Over the years, the gallery has featured contemporary Japanese artists who work in a range of media, including ceramics, glass, metalwork, and calligraphy. Many Onishi Gallery artists are represented today in the permanent collections of major museums.

Onishi Garrely is also open to hosting intimate events, such as food and wine tastings and various art showcases. The event that I was a part of, featured dinner and salad plates from Jeff Koons’ Banality Series by Bernardaud.

Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_01Jeff Koons’ Banality collection is anything but banal. The plates have quite original ornaments and are from a limited edition of 4,500. Besides his peculiar Monument to the King Of Pop, Jeff Koons decided to go even further by incorporating Michael Jackson and his monkey pet Bubbles into his signature tableware collection.

Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_02Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_03Among other guests, I spotted Aviva Drescher and LuAnn de Lesseps from the Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York reality show and James Kipton Cronkhite, Creative Director and Curator at KiptonArt.

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The floral design was Art de Fête ‘s collaboration with the talented Blooming Bears.

Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_08Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_05Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_06My favorite design of Jeff Koons’ plates collection was this abstract floral design:

Onishi_Gallery_Event_by_Bernardaud_07Photo below: Chef Matthew Knoll prepares his delicious shaved asparagus salad with morel mushrooms.

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