Refinery 29 has "29 Rooms." New York's MonaLiza Studios, a production house, prop rental facility, and all-around art space, has its own Instagram-friendly play zone, albeit with a slant that's more queer, more gritty, and arguably more fashionable. Every few weeks, MonaLiza--which has a speakeasy-type space in SoHo and a warehouse-style venue in East Williamsburg--opens its Brooklyn location to models, artists, performers, and dozens of photographers for "Editorial Night," an immersive photo event where talent of all stripes can feel themselves in a wide spectrum of built-in sets.
Related | Gallery: MonaLiza Studios' 'Editorial Night' Highlights Queer Beauty, Gender Fluidity
"We get our inspiration from what we are surrounded by," says MonaLiza producer Samira Hermenau, who, along with her partner Kyra Ross, oversees the furniture-laden warehouse that can contain everything from a Warhol-esque factory room to a baroque lounge area. "Within our set design we tend to lean forward, mixing ideas of beauty and gender-fluid sexuality with themes and references to popular culture and fashion."
Model @florentcadieu Photographed by @anka_nyc
MonaLiza's last Editorial Night, held on April 20, attracted photographers eager to build their portfolios, models looking to spice up their books, and daring look queens primed to make their IG feeds pop. It was highlighted by a centerpiece performance from rising queer soul-rock artist Baby Yors, who amped up the crowd with an eight-song set that complemented the punk-glam vibe of the night. This Friday, Editorial Night returns with a special collaboration with fashion and costume design legend Patricia Field, whose Art Fashion collective is co-sponsoring the event. As a longtime vanguard of her industry, Field seems an ideal fit for MonaLiza's mission.
"For us, visual content production goes beyond high cheekbones and industry-shaped expectations," Hermenau says. "We strive to celebrate and support artists promoting body positivity, feminist movements, and LGBT content, and are proud to be building a community of creatives and makers pushing our vision forward."
Video by Jaclyn White
To learn more, and to purchase tickets for Editorial Night, visit www.MonaLiza.studio.
"Editorial Night is made possible through partnership with Zirkova One+Together Vodka and Glassbook Magazine."
Styling by Guvanch Agajumayev and Kevin Breen. Designers: Tableux Vivants and Adam Krueger. Art: German Zamana.
