Art Enthusiasts Gather for Annual Halloween Costume Party in Brooklyn

Nearly 200 art enthusiasts, including members, readers, artists, and supporters, gathered at Oberon in Brooklyn on October 28 for the annual Hyperallergic Halloween costume party. The event celebrated art history through creative costumes, ranging from well-known icons to obscure references.

Winners were announced in several categories, including 'Best in Show,' 'Most Esoteric,' 'Most Likely to Get Censored in Florida,' and 'Most Likely to Get Acquired by a Museum Unironically.' The 'Best in Show' award went to Emilio Rojas and Chico Raro, who dressed as Pedro Lemebel and Francisco Casa Silva of Las Yeguas del Apocalipsis' 'Las Dos Fridas' (1989).

The 'Most Esoteric' award was given to Zoë Lescaze and Michael Rossi, who crafted their costumes from scratch to represent lesser-known characters from Francisco Goya's 'Los caprichos' (1797–98) series. The 'Most Likely to Get Censored in Florida' category was won by a costume inspired by Richard Prince's 'Wayward Nurse' (2005), a piece critiquing the sexualization of nurses on pulp-fiction book covers. The 'Most Likely to Get Acquired by a Museum Unironically' award went to curators and staff from the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York, who recreated a painting from their own collection by George Grosz.

Other notable costumes included interpretations of a Dutch still life, 'Beast Jesus,' and multiple references to Marina Abramović/Ulay performances. The event also featured costumes inspired by Roy Lichtenstein's 'Drowning Girl' and Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' as well as an Eva Hesse rope sculpture.

Photographer Zac Thompson captured the event, providing lasting memories for attendees and setting the stage for next year's celebration.