Ruby/Dakota

The thing about anything, is that it’s so much better with friends. This post is about Emily Saltman (Em Saltman), a person who entered my life via the doors of Ruby/Dakota and hasn’t left yet, for which I am very grateful. Emily, thanks for welcoming me into your place of work for ‘How to Escape a Whirlpool,’ (which comes down after today), and being such an amazing collaborator and friend. It’s been a true privilege to obsess with you.

Also, next up in my millennials-of-a-very-certain-age pop culture lessons for ya is this song by Animal Collective, a band I’m still convinced everyone was pretending to like (altho I do slightly f with Peacebone). The title of course is most important: My Girls!!!

As always, swipe for something poetic.

‘How to Escape a Whirlpool’ closes today, July 17.
The gallery is open until 5 PM.

Thank you to the artists: Noel W Anderson Claudia Bitrán Jackson Daughety Katherine Sepúlveda Aaron Michael Skolnick ⓐⓃna Laura Collins Orli Swergold

Xoxoxoxo
🌪️❤️🖼️

Laura Collins (Laura Collins) (b. Elmwood, IL) works in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, and collage. She is interested in the mass circulation of both printed and digital imagery. Her work opens a discourse on vulnerability, perceived confidence, and the objectification of women. Through the work, she strives to humanize celebrities and create empathy through an exploration of fame, identity, societal expectations and an exploitation of candid faltering. Her practice challenges the idea of perfection in pop culture and is an invitation to consider the absurdity of pageantry, a celebration of societal idolatry, and a beacon for popular culture fanatics. 💖

Dorinda, Tamra, and Porsha are here to say that TODAY, Thursday July 16 marks the penultimate day to view these works in person. In the great words of fellow Housewife Kim Zolciak, DON’T be tardy for the party!

‘How to Escape a Whirlpool’ was curated by Ruby/Dakota and Emily Saltman Em Saltman and hosted at Kravets Wehby Gallery Kravets Wehby Gallery

The show, which presents an outlet for obsession to gather, features works by Noel W. Anderson, Claudia Bitrán, Laura Collins, Jackson Daughety, Anna Pederson, Aaron Michael Skolnick, Katherine Sepúlveda, Orli Swergold

1. Laura Collins
Dorinda Medley Pointing at Herself, 2017
Acrylic on wood panel
11 x 14”

2. Laura Collins
Tamra Judge Pointing at Vicki, 2019
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20”

3. Laura Collins
Porsha Williams Pointing at Cynthia on a Boat, 2019
Acrylic on wood panel
16 x 20”

And than you to THNK1994 Museum for being a longtime champion of Laura’s work!

Andy Cohen Dorinda Medley Tamra Judge Porsha Williams

Photos courtesy of Kravets Wehby Gallery

Noel W Anderson Noel W Anderson (b. 1981, Louisville, KY) received an MFA from Yale University in 2010, an MFA from Indiana University in 2007, and a BFA from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2003. He has participated in artist residencies at institutions including EFA Studio Program, New York; and Dieu Donné, New York. Most recently, Anderson’s work has been the subject of solo presentations at Harper’s Chelsea (2026), the State University of New York, Albany (2025); Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery, Paris, Dubai, and Luxembourg (2023, 2022, and 2017); Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg (2023); KMAC Contemporary Art Museum, Louisville (2022); Sotheby’s, Paris (2022); Fondazione Mudima, Milan (2021); and Telfair Museums, Savannah (2021). His work has been included in group exhibitions, most recently at Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts, Kalamazoo, MI (2025); the 15th Gwangju Biennial, Gwangju (2024); International Objects, Brooklyn (2024); Harper’s, East Hampton (2024); Frac-Sud Cité de l’art contemporain, Marseille (2024); The Hole, New York (2023); Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2022); Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery, Dubai (2022); and Speed Art Museum, Louisville (2021). Anderson’s work has been acquired by numerous collections, including Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; International Center of Photography, New York; University of Chicago, IL; AC Hudgens Collection, New York; Frac-Sud Cité de l’art contemporain, Marseille; and MUDAM, Luxembourg. He lives and works in New York City.

Noel’s two incredible works are on view for three more days in ‘How to Escape a Whirlpool’ at Kravets Wehby Gallery Kravets Wehby Gallery, curated with Emily Saltman Em Saltman

This weekend, Saturday July 18, there will be an opening reception for Noel’s solo exhibition “Black Excellence” at Zuccaire Gallery Zuccaire Gallery Stony Brook University

Thank you to Noel for being a part of this exhibition ✨

1. Noel W Anderson
Another Magician Deep in Thought, 2022-2025
Picked and stretched cotton tapestry
20 x 16”

3. Noel W Anderson
Fan-Addict 5, 2023
Photo-objects collaged into a distressed and stretched cotton
24 x 20”

Photos courtesy of Kravets Wehby Gallery

Katherine Sepúlveda is a multidisciplinary Colombian - American artist based in Queens, New York. Through scenes depicting the rich visual culture of femme, Latine identity, her work explores themes of class consciousness, heritage, generational cycles, q***rness, and hyperfemininity. Through maximalist painting and installation, her work examines the manner in which the consumption patterns of working class migrant communities are subject to scrutiny. Drawing inspiration from both the ornate pageantry of q***r art forms, as well as the flamboyant stylings of Latine culture, her work strives for hyper-visibility and excess.

Sepúlveda has participated in group exhibitions throughout New York City, New England, and Baltimore. She has been an artist in residence at Jentel Artist Residency, Rondo Residency, Kino Saito, Wave
Hill’s Sunroom Project Space, and the Vermont Studio Center. In 2024, her solo exhibition at Wave Hill, Halloween House, was featured in Hyperallergic’s list of “15 Art Shows to See in New York City.”

In 2025, she had a solo exhibition at Ruby/Dakota called Culona Politics. Sepúlveda received her BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2021.

Katherine’s two magnetizing works are currently on view Kravets Wehby Gallery in “How to Escape a Whirlpool” through July 17, curated with Em Saltman

1-2:
Katherine Sepúlveda
Service Entrance, 2026
Oil, acrylic, magazine clippings, and glitter on canvas
48 x 36”

4-6:
Katherine Sepulveda
Soft Girls, 2025
Oil, acrylic, glitter, and spray paint on canvas
40 x 30”

Images courtesy of Kravets Wehby Gallery 💕

“How to Escape a Whirlpool” has been perceived by the Press! Thank you TUSSLE for publishing and Maria (Mer) Mora for writing this thorough and thoughtful review.

CLOSING Friday, July 17th - this is your last and final week to see the show!

I (Hannah) will be at the gallery for the final few days, if you care to come say hello.

Kravets Wehby Gallery
Em Saltman

ⓐⓃna Noel W Anderson Claudia Bitrán Aaron Michael Skolnick Jackson Daughety Katherine Sepúlveda Orli Swergold Laura Collins

MrBeast Britney Spears Liza Minnelli Porsha Williams Dorinda Medley Tamra Judge

The gallery will be open today, Sunday July 12, from 4 to 7 PM. No appointment necessary.

A wonderful summer-Sunday-opportunity to catch “IT’S MORE THE WAY IT IS NOW THAN IT’S EVER BEEN” (a show my dog is calling “the best in Brooklyn”) featuring work by Austin Li Chang David Fix Jr Erica “Ricky Ruth” Newton & curated with Tamara

📍214 40th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232 STUDIO 10 (2nd Floor)

1-4:
Austin Li Chang Austin Li Chang
suspension, 2024
Acrylic and oil on linen
40 × 50 in. (101.6 × 127 cm)

5:
“I Asked My Cat For Life Advice, He Knocked Over a Cup”
Artist Unknown, seen in McGolrick Park

Hope to see ya today!

THANK UuuuUuuuUuu for coming to the opening of “It’s More the Way it is Now Than it’s Ever Been” — we had so much fun! Here are the receipts.

Thank you to the artists Erica “Ricky Ruth” Newton Austin Li Chang David Fix Jr, to Tamara for curating with me, and to Art Cake for this generous use of space ❤️

The show is up through July 29 by appointment.

**Tamara and I will be sitting the show TODAY, Saturday, July 11th from 1 to 6 PM (no appointment necessary).

Does that make sense? Amazing.

Please swipe for a site specific installation made by one of y’all

Opening Tomorrow 🪞Friday July 10th, 6-9 PM Art Cake (2nd Floor)

It’s More the Way it is Now Than it’s Ever Been, featuring new works by Austin Li Chang, David Fix Jr., and Erica Newton. Co-organized with Tamara Pasternak.

We are so proud of this show. Please, join us in celebrating this exceptional work!

Austin Li Chang
David Fix Jr
Erica “Ricky Ruth” Newton
Tamara

It’s with great whimsy and sincerity RUBY/DAKOTA and Tamara announce the opening of “ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ” featuring new works by Austin Li Chang, David Fix, Jr., and Erica Newton!

Opening reception:
Friday, July 10
6-9 PM
Art Cake

The show title is a phrase we saw on a bumper sticker, right after our first studio visit with Austin. It means everything and nothing. It’s a butchered Dwight D Eisenhower quote, from a novel neither of us have read, called Pattern Recognition, where a woman references it when she’s trying to make meaning of an experience. Inspired by The Stories We Tell (2012) and the stories we tell…this one is tender, and fun, and funky and fresh. We believe in this work so much. You will, too. Come check it out ✨

I TRUST we will see you all in BROOKLYN

Thank you so so so much to Cordy Ryman Studio and all the guys at Art Cake for making this one possibie