Society / Featured Parties

Rock Star Artist Tells Off Houston’s Most Famous Billionaire in Hilarious Encounter: Ashley Longshore Keeps Power Players on Edge in Wild Pop-Up

BY // 10.08.18
photography Dave Rossman

Replete with sequins, F-bombs and irreverent pop art creations, rad artist Ashley Longshore‘s pop-up gallery and cocktail party was not for the faint of heart. But it was definitely for those who savor a walk on the wild side.

A colorful (sequins rule!) coterie of more than 300 hipsters, collectors, fans and the curious circled through the raw space on the ninth floor of the Post Oak Hotel, where Richard Flowers and The Events Company created a pulsating gallery that aptly reflected the artist’s self-proclaimed “elegant yet rebellious” style. Pink carpet, pink and red chandeliers, disco balls and pink and red lighting set the stage for Longshore’s bash that featured more than 100 paintings, sculptures and furniture pieces.

“I do these pop-ups all over the world,” Longshore told PaperCity. “I can control everything. I don’t do galleries.”

The New Orleans-based artist, clad in pink brocade and over-sized rhinestone-embellished sunglasses, enjoyed rock star attention as guests lined up to meet, greet and grab a selfie. There were friends in the group like Ceron and Todd Fiscus, who went home with one of the playful works titled “Fuck the Garden Club” and newcomer to the world of Longshore Diane Lokey Farb, who signed up for one of the whimsical Frida Khalo’s.

Longtime collectors Terri and John Havens, natives of New Orleans, purchased one of the works which they liked so much that they are adopting it as the label for their Cal-A-Vie rosé wine. Also among Longshore collectors was Carrie Colbert   with her toddler, Elle, in tow. Colbert commissioned a Longshore painting in honor of the baby’s birth.

Host of the party Tilman Fertitta met up with Longshore before the throng arrived. It was their first meeting. The artist mischievously greeted the billionaire with, “Hello, motherfucker.” That story ran rampant throughout the night as did Longshore’s colorful F bombs.

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The Veuve Cliquot flowed. DJ Lil filled the space with hip beats. And there was plenty of shopping, not just for works of art. In a side room, guests perused the Longshore collection of bejeweled handbags, done in partnership with Judith Leiber; acrylic trays; and copies of Longshore’s lifestyle book, You don’t look fat. You look crazy.

Earlier in the day, Dancie Ware hosted a media lunch for Longshore in her spanking new Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations offices, designed by Mayfield and Ragni Studio (MaRS), in the Post Oak. Lucky guests not only had the first taste in Houston of the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2008 vintage, not available publicly until November, but also departed with bottles of Veuve Clicquot signed by Longshore.

Scenesters: Lynn Wyatt, Linsay and Jeremy Radcliffe,  Karen Pulaski, Annie Amante, Mary Smith, Brian Teichman and Andy Cordes, Vivian Wise, Francine Ballard, Tatiana and Craig Massey, David Bamford, Ting Bresnahan, Marita Fairbanks, Lisa Oren, Heather and Jeff Kilgore, Brenda and Brad Jones, and Minnette and Clay Jackson.

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