While in residence at the Ace Hotel New York, Lauren Cohen has developed 2-3 characters from her Gallerina project. Cohen has created ceramic objects, completed her fifth graphic novel, made paintings, photographs and a film of the artist as the “Gallerina” in her Chelsea Gallery.

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Continuing her series of graphic novels, Cohen draws a naked version of herself navigating her artistic life in New York City. Full of existential inquiry, she attempts to peek behind the curtain of the art world, landing a part-time job working at a prestigious art gallery which the artist calls: Someone's Name Gallery. Her unresolved traumas and anxieties make progressing in her career a challenge. In assuming the role of gallery assistant, aka “Gallerina,” the artist uncovers her different masks, power struggles, and deepest insecurities as an artist fully immersed in one of the most competitive industries in the world. 

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Rather than succumbing to cynicism and her own crippling self-doubt, she changes her perspective and begins to see herself within each character she comes across. Through her artwork, she takes on the identity of these archetypes in her environment. By applying humor, she pokes fun at her own shortcomings, and learns to process and cope with confusing human interactions and interpersonal faux pas. 

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The dilemma of this insular universe that she has built poses an obvious problem: extreme loneliness and isolation. Creating community, accepting help, and respecting people’s individualism, despite the possible layers of flawed behavior, becomes the only way forward.   

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Portraying the roles of the alpha male gallerist, a take-no-prisoners go-getter gallery director, and a shy, wall-flower gallerina, Cohen does the obvious, and sets up a one-person art fair in her hotel room at the Ace. On view will be documented videos of this and other actions around the hotel from the basis of the exhibition, with the addition of other works made. In the end, Cohen likens the art world to an over-sized game of chess, and twice-weekly she will be in attendance at the gallery, inviting hotel guests and the general public to play the game with one of her invented characters.

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The exhibition opens to the public on Thursday, September 26th and remains on view through November 21st 2024.