I’m Robin, Editor of Misstropolis.
I hope this site brings you some joy and some knowledge (or at least a nice distraction) during this surreal, enlightening and historic time.
I like to write about art, style and purpose. If you have ideas for stories or would like to contribute, I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for reading!
Misstropolis
Spirit & Style, Inside & Out
All in STYLE
Sam Fields uses commonplace, feminine and domestic-coded materials to make art which arbitrary hierarchies of taste. Aesthetic distinctions impact class distinctions, gender identity and social power dynamics. Her art begs the question, “Who gets to decide what is good taste and bad?”
Sneha Shrestha, who goes by the artist name Imagine, blends graffiti, geometric abstraction and traditional Himalayan design to create work that examines the sacrifice, longing and hope of the Nepali diaspora. In her paintings and soaring public murals, her audacious colors and balletic lettering speak to the resiliency and power of the human spirit.
Jennifer Rochlin’s show “Paintings on Clay” at Hauser + Wirth brings materiality, color and frank storytelling to sculptural pottery. A show full of impulse, humor and poignancy, “Paintings on Clay” catapults the artist to new heights of significance at a time when writings on the body, about the body and empowering the body are of the most urgent significance to women.
From up-cycled and repurposed textiles, artifacts, and salvaged treasures, Brooklyn based sculptor and mixed media artist Tau Lewis creates otherworldy figures who populate a mystical imaginary realm. Using labor-intesive, time-consuming practices including hand-sewing, dyeing, carving, quilting and weaving, Lewis evokes ancient mythologies from the African diaspora to create a bold and hopeful future out of carefully collected remnants of the past.
Artist Gio Swaby uses age old materials to bring new life to portraiture. With thread and fabric, she sews, stitches and patterns empowered representations of the women and girls from her Bahamian community. Her solo show “Fresh Up” is on view at the Peabody Essex Museum until the end of November. Don’t miss your chance to see the work of this rising art world darling. Misstropolis talked with the artist about the importance of connection, her love for her home country and why she finds textile art enduringly exciting.
With more and more companies announcing permanent work from home options for employees, what will this mean for American personal style? Will sweatpants bring the end of dignity or the beginning of acceptance and empathy?
Jay Calderin, second in our new Visionary Series, founded Boston Fashion Week 26 years ago to champion the local community of diverse, creative talent. This year, BFW will be entirely virtual, and will celebrate the next generation of fashion visionaries.
More than one of the world’s best tennis players, more than the world’s highest paid female athlete, Naomi Osaka is a force for social justice and a quiet style icon on the rise.
A little style inspiration for Mother’s Day 2020 (possibly the weirdest Mother’s Day yet). Alisa Neely shows us how to dress for the day like the Queen you are.
The daughter of two creative legends in very different fields, jewelry and accessories designer Jessica Kagan Cushman comes by her artistic talent naturally. Friend and author Lenore Shannon poses four questions from a safe distance of at least six to find out what the artist has been up to during lockdown. Just in time for Mother’s Day.
Boston’s top stylist Alisa Neely of Style Scout shares a ninja closet cleaning strategy to make the most of your home time. Turn off Tiger King for a few hours and assess if you really need all that animal print in your life.
Back Bay’s most in-demand interior designer, Annsley McLeer of Annsley Interiors, shares her picks for the best home office chairs to keep you productive while working from home.
