One Art Space Presents: The Moonlighters by Michael Fredo
One Art Space Presents: The Moonlighters by Michael Fredo
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I attended the opening of The Moonlighters at One Art Space in TriBeCa, and the evening was a beautiful blend of nostalgia, artistry, and long‑standing creative friendships. The exhibition, created by Michael Fredo — the 90s singer who once opened for Britney Spears — introduces a captivating claymation‑inspired world that feels alive, expressive, and deeply cinematic.
Hosted by Tommy Hilfiger and Andy Hilfiger, with gallery owner MaryAnn Giella McCulloh welcoming guests, the night felt like a reunion of creative spirits who have supported each other for decades. I learned something I never knew: Michael Fredo appeared in Tommy Hilfiger’s very first jeans campaign — and he’s also Tommy Hilfiger’s nephew. Seeing the Hilfigers still standing proudly beside him decades later made the moment feel full‑circle and deeply meaningful.
Walking through the gallery, Michael’s claymation figures immediately reminded me of the classic Davey and Goliath stop‑motion style — expressive faces, handcrafted textures, and characters that seem to possess their own autonomy. Each figurine felt like it had a backstory, a personality, and a moment frozen in time. His miniature scenes, photographs, and the duet video for The Moonlighters all work together to create a whimsical universe that feels both retro and refreshingly new.
A Claymation loop played continuously on the white wall behind the step‑and‑repeat, adding movement and life to the space. During Andy Hilfiger’s speech, he shared that Michael has been developing these characters since he was young — and encouraged us to revisit his music as well. According to his Wikipedia profile, Fredo’s 1999 single “This Time Around” spent six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, peaking at #21 while he was opening for Britney Spears on her …Baby One More Time tour.
I also had the chance to speak with Michael Fredo, connect with Tommy Hilfiger, and chat with MaryAnn Giella McCulloh, the owner of One Art Space. And of course, a special thank‑you to Norah at Lawlor PR — truly one of the best PR professionals in New York — for making these moments possible. https://www.mymoonlighters.com/ and One space https://oneartspace.com/
A Claymation loop played continuously on the white wall behind the step‑and‑repeat, adding movement and life to the space. During Andy Hilfiger’s speech, he shared that Michael has been developing these characters since he was young — and encouraged us to revisit his music as well. According to his Wikipedia profile, Fredo’s 1999 single “This Time Around” spent six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, peaking at #21 while he was opening for Britney Spears on her …Baby One More Time tour.
I also had the chance to speak with Michael Fredo, connect with Tommy Hilfiger, and chat with MaryAnn Giella McCulloh, the owner of One Art Space. And of course, a special thank‑you to Norah at Lawlor PR — truly one of the best PR professionals in New York — for making these moments possible. https://www.mymoonlighters.com/ and One space https://oneartspace.com/