On March 30, the Salon Upstairs at DTR Modern Galleries transformed into a haven of elegance and rebellion for Rebels, Icons, Visionaries – A Privé Tea Salon—a curated gathering of art, conversation, and feminine force hosted by Avalon Ashley Bellos, executive director of media and communications and The Villager contributor.
With a guest list as refined as the setting itself, the room buzzed with creative vitality and intellectual voltage. Notables in attendance included DTR Modern Galleries’ owner Theodore Vassilev, art world descendant Carly Guggenheim, and Jonn Nubian, Editor-in-Chief of YRB Magazine, along with a hand-selected group of collectors, culture makers, designers, and emerging voices in finance, media, and art.
Guests were welcomed by the ethereal strains of classical violist Lisa Dondakian, whose live performance set the tone for what would become a salon in the truest sense: refined, radical, and unforgettable.
At 4 p.m., the gallery fell into a charged hush as moderator Bellos opened the panel with a toast to unapologetic femininity, cultural defiance, and the sacred role of art in shaping the narrative. What followed was a rare and powerful conversation between four women shaping the cultural landscape in real-time:
– Friday Jones, legendary tattooist, breast cancer advocate, and visual artist
– Padina Bondar, sustainability visionary bridging fashion and fine art
– Mackenzie Maisel, a 23-year-old painter reimagining sacred iconography with pop surrealist intensity
– Anzhelika Steen Olsen, founder of SHER, speaking to the power of emotional infrastructure and narrative as empowerment
The discussion left the room visibly moved—guests describing the experience as “uplifting, empowering, and an intellectual arsenal” for anyone ready to step into their own role as a rebel, icon, or visionary.
Champagne flowed throughout the afternoon, courtesy of event sponsor The Rugby Champagne, created by Karolyn and Pierre Landrieux of The Landrieux Wineries. Their woman-led label was a perfect fit for the salon—bold, elegant, and entirely independent in spirit. The sweet and savory bites, crafted by Jennifer Huron of Bushwick Baked, added warmth and delicious texture to the day—proving that every detail, like every word spoken, was intentional.
Beyond the chic salon atmosphere, there was a deeper undercurrent: a call to collect—not just admire art but acquire it.
The salon emphasized that investing in women artists is not charity—it’s strategy. As underrepresented voices continue to gain cultural traction, the market is responding in kind. Collecting emerging and mid-career women artists today is both an act of support and a savvy economic decision.
To collect is to cast a vote for the future of the canon. It is to participate in shaping what stories are preserved, what aesthetics are elevated, and what legacies endure. And as women redefine value across industries, their art is proving to be one of the most powerful—and under-leveraged—assets in the creative economy.
The exhibition, featuring works by Jill Cunniff, Clara Hallencruetz, Jane Manus, Taylor Smith, Padina Bondar, Mackenzie Maisel, and Friday Jones, will remain on display through April 20 in The Salon Upstairs at DTR Modern Galleries. Private gallery tours and collector appointments are available by request.
This was not simply an event. It was a moment. A movement sealed in silk gloves and champagne coupes—and one that reminds us: the future belongs to those who have the vision to collect it.
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