ART & FASHION SALON: Hanging With The Beastie Boys, Warhol & Basquiat at ARTNOW NY Gallery: The Art of Ryan Keeley & Ricky Powell!

Legendary photographer Ricky Powell says it like it is. A true New Yorker, he minces no words when describing his work or the people around him. If he doesn't like you, you'll know it, and I love that. Luckily, he liked me and I got to take these shots of him below. Since 1996, Powell has been responsible for many iconic photographs that you have seen over the years especially if you are a Beastie Boys fan, Run D.M.C., or artists like Warhol, Haring and Basquiat. He rose to fame with his photos of the Beasties right as they became famous and since has been featured in the New York Times, The New York Post, Village Voice, Time, Newsweek, Interview, Rolling Stone, the Source and more and most recently the June 2013 of Juxtapoz magazine , "tribute to the Beastie Boys," if you can find it anywhere. (He would not give me his copy, sadly.) Powell went on tour with the Boys during the "Licensed to Ill" tour in 1987 and gained notoriety as becoming the unofficial "fourth Beastie Boy." He also toured with Def Jam records acts where he also snapped many amazing, iconic shots.

Now Powell is more apt to photograph strangers in his Greenwich Village neighborhood and the true New Yorker rather than the rappers and celebs around town. And, I love that as well. Now, bring on artist Ryan Keeley who has taken the legendary photos and transformed them into another dimensional work of art. He has mixed, color induced and manipulated the photos for a new look...and here they are below. The shows titled "Chopped X Shrewed;" a classic remix by Ryan Keeley featured Powell's & Craig Wetherby was held at Joseph Gross's Art NowNY Gallery in Chelsea and I attended the closing party last week. Yes, the show is down but you can still see the images here or visit the sites below for more information. Have a look, you'll remember seeing these in the past...