Artist Simone Shubuck spends most of her days in her studio, getting messy and dressing, as she puts it, “like a farmer.” T Magazine once described her work as “filigree doodles of deceptively innocent-seeming flora and fauna.” It relies on graphite and colorful mediums like acrylic — hence the need for clothes that can get dirty.
Shubuck’s art been displayed in the Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1, as well as in solo exhibitions at galleries in Zurich, Chicago, and Los Angeles. These days, she’s often working with Janine Foeller on Wifey, an eatery/gallery/performance-art-space hybrid that pops up around the city, most recently at Café Altro Paradisio. It’s a place where you can enjoy the fruits of many creative people’s labor, from sticky buns to one-of-a-kind ceramic mugs to Shubuck’s art.
The life of an artist in New York isn’t just about making art in a studio, but also schmoozing with other players in the art world. But Shubuck isn’t worried about dressing to impress. “I’ve lived in NYC for 25 years this year and I have made a point to have never rolled too deep in the art world,” she said of getting dressed for industry events. “But when in doubt, A Détacher (RIP)” We spoke with her about where to source vintage overalls and what to wear when you’re making art.
On her everyday shoes: I definitely need to have grubby and comfortable shoes in the studio. I have a pile of old Vans and Birkenstocks there, so I often change shoes when I arrive. It’s hard enough to drop into flow space creatively when you’re comfortable, let alone worrying about messing up nice shoes.
On dressing up: I have a pretty split personality sartorially. I look like a farmer during the day, somewhat less so by evening. I will usually stop at home and do some mom stuff for a bit before going out which gives me a chance to clean up and put on makeup. I put on a taxi shoe (a.k.a. heels), usually a wedge by Jane Mayle or kelly green Gucci Jordaan loafers. Before our son was born and our biggest problem was where do we want to dine, my husband was at GQ, and he’d often have a suit or something office-y on. He’d come home and put on a worn-in T shirt and I’d come home from being covered in paint and change into something dressier.
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