Partying with Suzy Clue and getting shot by the Cobrasnake. Scheming about the latest ghostwriting scandal while playing pool. Falling in love with the guy that cast you in the play and dressing up as a princess for both recreation and pay. These are just a few things that photographer Matthew Weinberger considers peak-NYC behaviour, taken from the flyers for his new exhibition NEW YORK IS, each closing with the line “(and I love it so much)”.
An avid member of New York’s eclectic club scene, its moments such as these that Weinberger celebrates in this exhibition. From intimate pre-party shots of the city’s socialites applying makeup in front of the mirror, right through to frantic blurs of movement and light on the dancefloor, NEW YORK IS is a love letter to the chic cultural milieu of the city that never sleeps.
“What makes New York so special is all the people coming in from all over the world. We get this huge talent draw which is super exciting,” Weinberger told Dazed earlier this year. Born and bred in the Upper East Side, Weinberger spent time at university in Maddison, Wisconsin, before being drawn back to his home city by a desire to capture its flourishing art scene.
“I am a person who is at the party, who happens to be taking photos. If there’s a mosh happening, I’m getting in there”, Weinberger continues, “As I’m bumping into people, I’m flashing, having the best time ever. You have got to make the world you want to see, so I like to always bring the energy.”
Indeed, Weinberger’s portraits arrive hard and fast, casting Julia Fox, Gabbriette and an anonymous baby in a onesie against the dark yet vibrant backgrounds of the club. Looks are diverse, as are the people, but the images are all rooted in Weinberger’s own experiences of New York’s febrile nightlife, providing viewers with an exhilarating tour through the city’s seediest underground parties and most exclusive gatherings.
NEW YORK is at Sitting Room Gallery in Manhattan’s iconic Lower East Side runs until the July 16, 2024. Visit the gallery above for a closer look.