A Night at ICE: Strippers, Art, and Pure Power

Saturday night during New York Fashion Week I found myself at WSA for the opening of ICE, and it left me thinking about art in an entirely new way. Part gallery opening, part magazine launch, the show centered strippers as muses, innovators, and cultural icons — a bold reminder that power can be claimed in many forms, and beauty often lives in places people overlook.

The energy was electric. Fashion insiders, artists, and celebrities filled the space, with Hennessy XO keeping the night urban, luxe and celebratory, thanks for the free tequilla ;) Every detail felt intentional, and the result was unapologetically raw and glamorous.

What struck me most was the vision of Renell Medrano, the creative force behind ICE. Known for her storytelling through photography, she has built a platform that uplifts dancers and nightlife as legitimate art — reframing the narrative with respect, style, and power. Her recent collaboration with Timberland deeply impressed me: she reimagined the iconic 6-Inch Waterproof Boot in mineral grey waterproof suede, with Ice Studios’ signature ice-blue outsole, turning a rugged staple into something genderless, heritage-rich, and replete with feminine energy, not to mention a bit of nostalgia.

As a recent recipient of the Artist Support Grant from Broward County, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to bring my own ideas to life, and this night gave me a glimpse of what’s possible. ICE showed me how an exhibition can be more than images on a wall — it can be a cultural experience, a movement, a space where community and artistry collide. Walking through the gallery, I found myself being completely present while taking mental notes, imagining how to create a gallery event that reflects my own vision with the same courage and intentionality.

Being in that room showed me what’s possible when art, vision, and community meet — and it left me inspired to create something of my own. With the support of my Broward County grant, I’m already sketching plans for an event in 2026 that will carry that same spirit of boldness and authenticity through an interactive display of the human experience that is displacement...

My captures from the night lean painterly — no flash, just the glow of the room itself. You’ll see motion, blur, and ambience, because that’s how it felt to be there: alive, electric, and unfiltered. Here are some of those frames — moments that hold the energy I hope you’ll feel as strongly as I did.

-culture maven xo

p.s. the genderless restroom was romantic af lol candles much?