Earlier this month, storied downtown hangout The Mudd Club hosted a reunion and rummage sale, where attendees could nab a slice of New York nightlife courtesy of Kim Gordon and Debbie Harry. But if you missed the chance to time travel through Lou Reed’s trash and treasures, Beyond the Limelight — a new exhibition chronicling nocturnal NYC in the 80s and 90s — will transport you back to an era before bathroom selfies.
Opening today at Miami’s Museum of Fashion, the exhibition pairs photographer Tina Paul’s rarely-seen images of Amanda Lepore and vogueing legend Willi Ninja after dark with some of museum founder Keni Valenti’s favorite club-ready looks. “I have volumes and volumes of photos, but Keni narrowed it down to what inspired him and what designers he wanted to feature,” Paul told the Miami New Times. Valenti included colorful creations by Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana and more.
If you’re in Miami, you can check out all 50 of Paul’s nightlife photos — which also feature Keith Haring, Grace Jones, and a young Betsey Johnson spinning on the DJ decks — until December 12. More information here.
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Images courtesy Tina Paul and Third Dream Media