NIGHTLIFE
AT THE MUSEUM
PAUL MATHIESEN AND THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO ’ S STUDIO 54 : NIGHT MAGIC ILLUMINATE THE LEGACY OF HISTORY ’ S MOST NOTORIOUS NIGHTCLUB
BY ANDREW LEYENHORST
Quality over quantity , the old adage says . While Manhattan ’ s Studio 54 only had its doors open from 1977 to 1980 , the club reached a degree of notoriety that hadn ’ t been seen before , and hasn ’ t been seen since . A sundown haven for the elite and the bold , Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager ’ s destination for disco was known for its celebrity attendees and staunch exclusivity ; admittance was earned through either status , or , to put it simply , being subjectively cooler than the next guy .
While it proved no easy feat to get past the gate , the goings-on inside the venue would make plain the type of place that Studio 54 was : the place where everyone wanted to be , where freedom of expression reigned , and where the world ’ s brightest personalities could shine without shade .
A near-perfect summation of an era that redefined pop culture and furthered progressive cultural values against the anxious backdrop of the Cold War , Studio 54 was a sanctum for some of the sweatiest , sexiest , most unabashedly outrageous evenings of all time . And while it was exclusive , it was ultimately a sanctuary of inclusion as one of the most popular queer-friendly nightclubs in the world ; you could find people of a variety of races , gender identities , sexual orientations , and creeds taking part in the raucous festivities .
However , the venue ’ s star , as bright as it burned , would indeed burn quickly . In 1980 , Rubell and Schrager would be thrown the book for tax evasion , and this , the most famed iteration of the club , would close . It would enjoy a re-opening under new ownership until 1986 before closing permanently , and the space repurposed . Today , the lot is home to the Roundabout Theatre Company , housing a near- 1,000-seat performance hall .
THE AGO ’ S PAUL MATHIESEN
DIFFUSED LED STRIPS CREATE A COMPELLING LOOK
INSTALLATION VIEW , STUDIO 54 : NIGHT MAGIC , ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO / PHOTO : AGO
22 | Spring 2021