> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Best Costumes From Hyperallergic’s Halloween Party - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/the-best-costumes-from-hyperallergic-halloween-party-2025/ - Published: 2025-10-30T22:05:18.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:11:24.000Z - Description: The Louvre jewel thieves, Zohran Mamdani, and Bob Ross walk into a bar. - Author: Lisa Yin Zhang - Tags: Community, Featured, Halloween, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-large, #Import 2025-11-24 09:41 (2025) What do you call it when Zohran Mamdani, relational aesthetics, and Bob Ross walk into a bar? We call it Hyperallergic Halloween. At Francis Kite Club on the Lower East Side last night, Wednesday, October 29, we had everything from superstars, such as a super-tall Andy Warhol quoting himself liberally, to scandal in the form of Madame X herself, shoulder strap faithfully slipping off one shoulder.And as you know, we're always topical — case in point (or perhaps, casing the joint?), the [Louvre thieves](https://hyperallergic.com/tag/louvre/) paid a visit fresh off their heist, baguette in tow. (A couple of bites of it were missing by the end of the night — call that karma.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5695.jpg) Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian was blown away by John Singer Sargent's "Portrait of Madame X" (1884). (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) That's right, we're a bunch of "Comedians" here. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/xrsgf.jpg) Publisher Veken Gueyikian as a Piet Mondrian painting (left); Associate Marketing Director Alexandra Bowditch as a Louvre thief (top center); Marketing Coordinator Shari Flores as the moon (bottom center); and Marketing Coordinator Teji Vijayakumar as Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" (2019) at Hyperallergic HQ (photo Hrag Vartanian/*Hyperallergic*) Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian — who's now free for such hijinks since stepping down as Editor-in-Chief earlier this month — played emcee for the night. Dressed as what was at that point a blank canvas, he started off by introducing our new Editor-in-Chief, Hakim Bishara (dressed as an editor-in-chief for Halloween). And then, of course, we kicked off the main event: our costume contest! Without further ado, the awards go to ... **Best Overall: René** **Magritte's "The Lovers" (1928)** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/lovers-pt-2.jpg) You *love* to see it. (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) If the applause was any indication, the stars of the show were definitely René Magritte's "The Lovers" (1928). Finding love in New York City? In this day and age? You're already a winner. **Craftiest Costume: Joan of Arc (Before She Burned)** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5753.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5750.jpg) Joan of Arc, really heating it up (photo Lakshmi River Amin/Hyperallergic) That last parenthetical is quite crucial here — how else could we fully appreciate every last deranged detail of this costume? The bleeding heart? The sun emblem on the aluminum-foil sword and shield with which she defended France? Check out that shin armor, for god's sake — just \*chef's kiss.\* **Most Conceptual: Kazimir Malevich's** **"White on White" (1918) and "Black Square" (1918)** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5520_vsco-1.jpg) Carol Ockman (left) and Peggy Waller (right) as Kazimir Malevich's "White on White" (1918) and "Black Square" (1915) (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) Who else besidesan art history professor could be behind this one? That's [Carol Ockman](https://hyperallergic.com/author/carol-ockman-2/) (thesis advisor to yours truly), and her partner, Peggy Waller, as Kazimir Malevich's "White on White" (1918) and "Black Square" (1915). Fun art history fact (maybe): Malevich famously first exhibited the latter work in the corner of the room, the same spot a Russian Orthodox religious icon would normally be placed. I see two icons here. **Most Confusing: Relational Aesthetics** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5823.jpg) Noah Fischer as a Grimace-esque "Relational Aesthetics" (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) That's our very own writer and comic artist, [Noah Fischer](https://hyperallergic.com/author/noah-fischer-2/), whom I'm told snipped off some extra fabric from his daughter's Taro Boba costume (*adorable*) to transform into ... relational aesthetics? That's a deep cut (no pun intended), even for us. Well, most of us — it delighted News Editor Valentina Di Liscia, resident theory-head, who had this to say by way of "explanation": ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/image-2.png) The explanation only confused me more ... (screenshot Lisa Yin Zhang/*Hyperallergic*) Now, onto some honorable mentions! **People's Choice Award** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/zohran.jpg) Will Chan as Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) I mean, need I say more? The people have literally spoken, and we want Zohran. Speaking of which, it's not just spooky season but also election season — gallerist Will Chan wants *you* to [get out and vote](https://www.nycvotes.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com). **Most Creative Way to Get Here Award** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5742.jpg) The little Citibike that could? (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) Environmentally friendly, safety-conscious, creative — what more could you ask for? **Locked-In Award** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/lock.jpg) Staff Writer Isa Farfan as Frida Kahlo's "Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair" (1940) and her friend Juliana as Johannes Vermeer's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" (1665) (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) Athletes sacrifice their bodies for their art. Staff Writer Isa Farfan sacrificed a lock of hair for hers. **Stole-the-Show (and Other Stuff) Award** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/heist.jpg) Alexandra Bowditch, Benno Orlinsky, and Diba Mohtasham as the Louvre heist crew (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) Here's Associate Marketing Director Alex Bowditch, who brought her Louvre heist crew along, probably to gloat. But who are the *real* thieves? Writer [Erin Thompson](https://hyperallergic.com/author/erin-l-thompson/), intrepid art crime professor, showed up with a very on-brand costume: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/erin-thompson.jpg) Erin Thompson as the British Museum Exhibit Team, along with some other looted jewels (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes," Andy Warhol told us last night. Start the clock now, because everyone's a winner here, whether or not you took home a prize. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/warhol.jpg) Will Lach as a (very tall) Andy Warhol, complete with a recitation of his quotes (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) We got crafty — see, for instance, the redheaded paper doll who pulled up in a blue dress and a Gucci bag. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5766.jpg) Madalyn Davidson as a paper doll shows off her luxury wares (photo Lakshmi Rivera Amin/*Hyperallergic*) I just love a costume perfectly tailored (ha!) to the writer. Here's [Julie Schneider](https://hyperallergic.com/author/julie-smith-schneider/), who writes so beautifully on textiles, flouncing about in a Matisse-inspired gown she sewed herself: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/img_5654.jpg) Julie Schneider as Henri Matisse's "Icarus (Icare)" (1947) And here's our own hyper-talented (I'll stop ...) Shari Flores with a very Dada-esque ensemble: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/fullsizerender_vsco-6.jpg) Our (very talented) Marketing Coordinator Shari Flores as the moon! (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) Haven't you heard? Surrealism is *back*, y'all. Here's Yayoi Kusama and her masterpiece (aka Di Liscia, who spent her lunch break gluing furniture pads onto this dress), with another Kusama for good measure. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/kusamas.jpg) There are Yayoi Kusamas everywhere for those with eyes to see (photo courtesy Valentina Di Liscia) Plus, more Magritte: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/magritte.jpg) The apple of my eye? René Magritte, "The Son of Man" (1964) (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) ... and some other characters to round out the night. (Personally, I prefer bizarro world Jerry Saltz.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/saltz.jpg) Cody Delistraty as Jerry Saltz, Big Gulp in tow (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) Barbara Kruger showed up, with an interactive take on her "Untitled (It's a small world but not if you have to clean it)" (1990): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/small-world.jpg) Barbara Kruger's "Untitled (It's a small world but not if you have to clean it)" (1990) ... and oh. We do actually have someone to clean it? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/halloween7-1.jpg) A janitor brandishing electrolytes and Fabuloso (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) Plus, some old friends, like the incomparable Bob Ross: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/bob-ross.jpg) The painter of happy little trees himself — ladies and gentlemen, Bob Ross! (photo Valentina Di Liscia/*Hyperallergic*) And some new ones? The Louvre thief acquainted herself with Phyllis Kao, Sotheby's auctioneer extraordinaire, as well as Munch and Matisse: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/us.jpg) Quite a motley crew — Li-Ming Hu as Edvard Munch's "The Scream" (1893), Danielle Wu as Sotheby's auctioneer Phyllis Kao, Alexandra Bowditch as a Louvre thief, and Lisa Yin Zhang as Henri Matisse's "Woman With a Hat" (1905) (photo Li-Ming Hu/*Hyperallergic*) And we got that Piet Mondrian x Yayoi Kusama crossover episode we've all been waiting for: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/edcqs.jpg) Publisher Veken Gueyikian as a painting by Mondrian (or "Bond-rian," as Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian lovingly put it, given the duct tape holding his fit together), alongside News Editor Valentina Di Liscia as a Yayoi Kusama pumpkin (photo courtesy Veken Gueyikian) What a night. Thank you all for coming, for reading, for being part of our community. See you at the next one? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/dsc08273.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/10/dsc08303.jpg) Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian as a blank and then not-so-blank canvas — what a difference a night makes! (photos Hrag Vartanian/Hyperallergic)