That Was The Week That Was – 23rd February 2025

Back in New York to attend the Augmented Intelligence opening night at Christie's where my latest work – Altarpiece – will be on show and up for auction.

This was a quick trip – just two nights so I wanted to make the most of my time there. On arriving on the Wednesday about 5pm, and after getting through the hour long queue at immigration, I met up with my friend Jessica Marinaro – formerly at Makersplace – for drinks at The Campbell, one of my favourite bars in the city. As we chatted and I sipped on my beautifully made Gibson in the 1930's surroundings of this former apartment, a stranger approached and shook my hand, telling me how I looked like Woody Allen – which I don't. After further complimenting me on my glasses (a recent purchase), he said his goodbyes and wobbled back to the bar.

The next day I had some time to kill before needing to get to Christie's later that evening, so I meandered around midtown, eventually finding myself at the New York Public Library on Fifth avenue. Asking one of the staff where the reading room was he told me if I went in now "I would be king", as the tours were not starting for another 45 minutes. "Let the knowledge seep into you", he said as I headed for the stairs to visit one of my fave places in the world. It had been a few years since I'd been here and walking in was like meeting an old friend you hadn't seen for a while. The huge thick heavy desks, the might brass lamps, with the chandeliers hanging above, watching over the people sat in silence just feels so special.

Meandering back to the hotel I got changed into my vintage 1965 suit with fabulous wide lapels and met Pegah from Gazelli Art House in reception to then walk up to Christie's at the Rockefeller Center. Before we made our way to see the works on display there was a great discussion panel about the role of AI in art. The show itself was beautifully put together, showing the full gamut of AI – or more accurately Machine Learning – being used in an artistic practice. For my own part I had a new physical work, a religious inspired triptych, a meditation on our ongoing relationship with algorithms and machines.

One of the hi-lights of the night was talking to Caroline Csuri, daughter of computer art pioneer Charles Csuri - known as The Father of Digital Art and Computer Animation, who said some wonderful things about my work. It meant a lot coming from Caroline.

After the show closed we jumped on the subway and headed for drinks at Jac's on Bond in Noho then eventually on from there to some club or other. I felt old. It was loud. I stayed for about twenty minutes and made my exit.

The following day, after a trip to MoMA and before I headed to the airport, myself and Pegah went for something to eat at the legendary Westway Diner in Hell's Kitchen. This is the place where it's rumoured that Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David wrote the pilot for Seinfeld. I've been here a few times before and it's the real deal. After browsing the huge menu we both opted for the short-rib sandwich, and my god it was good. A great way to end the trip before making my way to JFK.