I just had a verified Peter Tunney experience in New York City.
It all started on 5th Avenue in the Village, and ended in his studio in TriBeCa.
Here’s what happened.
10:10am
I leave my apartment to go get some decaf coffee at Joe Coffee on East 13th St, near 5th Avenue.
I’m talking to my mother while I walk.
10:15am
“Hey, Nick!” Someone yells from an Uber-looking VIP SUV on 5th Avenue and West 12th Street.
It is Peter Tunney in the car.
He is driving.
I met Peter Tunney in Miami a few years ago at a BREAKOUT event… Peter Tunney is an enigma. I have a lot of respect for him.
I say hello, and I invite myself to ride with him downtown.
Because it is Peter Tunney. And he seems like he’d be OK with that.
He says yes, I hop in, and we go racing down Fifth Avenue.
10:25am
Peter pulls the car over on the side of the road to show me pictures of his 2-year-old son running naked through a farm upstate. My favorite was one in a kayak on a crystal clear river.
10:35am
We arrive at Peter’s giant semi-secret Polaroid studio in TriBeCa. Andy Warhol stories, special space, etc. Hard to describe but very cool.
10:40am
Peter Tunney gets a parking ticket.
I text my friend Ari Meisel asking about the commercial license “hack” for gallery owners.
Peter Tunney tells me, “Quit that right now. I had commercial plates before you were born.”
10:45am
Chuck Close arrives to use the studio. I am in awe, more so than before.
I got to shake his hand!
10:50am
We go to Peter Tunney’s main studio, The Peter Tunney Experience.
The Peter Tunney Experience is three floors of his studio located at 83 Leonard St in New York City.
I spend the next 90 minutes exploring, watching Peter make art, looking at some favorites, rifling through drawers, and finally – handling the art and carrying some large paintings around.
He also has a big gallery space at the Wynwood Walls in Miami, Florida
12:20pm
I leave.
Peter gives me the gift of a screen print.
The end.
I went home, reminded of the magic random moments that living in a large city filled with dynamic people. Thank you Peter Tunney for the energy that you bring and the art empire you’ve built.
Want to join me for a tour of his studio? I think I can get back in, and we can explore and I’ll share some of the stories I heard. Email me!
