Noah Becker at the Inaugural Opening of "Not For Them Gallery", Williamsburg, Brooklyn

 Installation view, 2022, Not For Them, curated by Mark Carson (inaugural show), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, photo by Noah Becker

By NOAH BECKER October, 2022

Artist Mark Carson, (founder of Not For Them, a NY based fashion and art label) - has just opened an exhibition space. Now located by appointment in Williamsburg NYC, Not For Them Art House offers painting, sculpture and a limited number of his fashion accessories.

Full disclosure, Mark has become a good friend of mine over the years and I delight in following his ongoing projects. Mark and I have collaborated for several years on parties with Whitehot Magazine and exhibitions around New York City - some of which you may remember… The New York City art world needs a Mark Carson and Not For Them at this point in history, as he effortlessly unites the worlds of fashion, art and nightlife. 

Mixed media work by Catherine Walsh at the gallery entrance

Mark Carson on the gallery roof

Mark Carson’s New York "Arthouse" interests my esoteric obsession with how, when and why art scenes exist. And also how we might logically move culture forward from a post-pandemic post-1980’s Warhol/Basquiat-centric New York art world. I’ve seen this kind of cultural action plant the seeds for major art actions later on - it's the best way.

I’m referring to the obsession with market value and the way society is sort of moving away from culture as a breeding ground for new spaces and ideas. It feels like Not For Them has a lot of unyielding aspects of a present-tense New York and of exciting and untested art interactions...

Noah Becker on the gallery roof

I first met Mark at “Paul’s Casablanca” - the notorious west side bar run by NY socialite/artist/nightlife impresario Paul Sevigny. Mark suggested we collaborate on a party he was already hosting at the Jane Hotel.

Whitehot’s collaboration with Mark’s Jane Hotel party gave birth to the “Whitehot Magazine X Not For Them Art Party at the Jane Hotel,  a weekly event that happened pre-pandemic on Tuesday nights in NYC’s West Village.  

You can connect with Not For Them to set up an appointed and view the gallery. WM
 

Paintings by Grant McGrath

 Independent curator Anthony Cash with collectors Sophie Park and Uni So

Ruthie the art dog viewing the exhibition
 

The gallery skylight featuring Not For Them logo
 

Installation by Mark Carson
 

Work by Mark Carson and a Carson/Gregory Siff collaborative work on the right
 

Not For Them fashions on a rack at the gallery
 

Install view of the main entrance