Photographs by Gesi Schilling

In a quiet section of Little River the second outpost of New York Vanity Projects is bringing together nail art and video art in an airy industrial space just off of 72nd street. Founded by former independent curator Rita de Alencar Pinto, Vanity Projects specializes in melding art and culture by offering luxury manicures from highly talented nail artists alongside unique videos from artists chosen by Pinto or submitted by international curators.

The video art is shown in continuous loop serving as a type of art backdrop to the space that rotates every 6 to 8 weeks. The last video, titled Girls, Girls Girls was a compilation by 10 artists exploring the female psyche through a provocative range of emotions. Some were funny, others disturbing, creating a possibility for a fraught experience but since the videos are silent, they can be both compelling and non-intrusive. In this way, engagement is left to the viewer though the videos are a focal point in the salon.

The current video is by David Ellis. Entitled Droplets, it’s a series of stop motion paint gradations moving from one color into another. Although Pinto says that the video art doesn’t always translate to nail art, this one may be the start.

While watching, (or not watching, your choice) the nail artists use gels and lacquers from lines such as Smith & Cult, RGB and Floss Gloss to hand-paint an array of shapes, colors and designs. Imagination is the limitation here, flamingos, emoji’s, and ombre are all options. Come prepared to invest, nail art is art and it costs both time and money.

Try the $40 Weekly Gel Special or for the full experience book an appointment with a visiting specialist, past artists include Britney Tokyo and Kimmy of OhLaLaNails. 

Vanity Projects
7338 NW Miami Court, Miami