Over the rooftops of New York City, with the skyline shimmering like sequins in the September sun, BeautyAffair LI brought the fashion world to a standstill. The occasion? An exclusive Penthouse Brunch during New York Fashion Week, curated with the precision and elegance only this magazine’s powerhouse team could deliver. The verdict from every guest was unanimous: “the best party of the season.”

Starchild Rooftop is a true A-List venue, an elevated lounge experience with exceptional views perched up on the 27th floor. Its retractable roof transforms the venue from a climatized, glass-enclosed space to an open-air rooftop in seconds. Outdoor terraces offer panoramic views of the city skyline, and the custom Funktion-One sound system creates a uniquely sensory, immersive experience. The perfect place to take in sunset views and unwind. Starchild offers cocktails and bites to post-work patrons, theatergoers, locals and happy hour guests.

From the moment champagne flutes clinked, guests knew this was not just another Fashion Week stop—it was the gathering. Celebrity friends, fashion insiders, influencers, and creative talents mingled in a sky-high penthouse that seemed designed for both spectacle and intimacy. Tables gleamed with flawless cuisine, laughter filled the air, and conversations spilled effortlessly from fashion to film to art.

At the heart of the celebration stood the dynamic duo of BeautyAffair Magazine: Co-Publishers Lindsay Aliseo and Dawn Boyle Kostakis. Their vision, taste, and relentless drive have positioned BeautyAffair LI as more than a magazine—it’s a cultural beacon, shaping the lifestyle conversation from Long Island to New York City and beyond. Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Aliseo, with her refined editorial direction, and Sales Director Dawn Boyle Kostakis, whose network and instincts bring every dream collaboration to life, set the stage for a brunch that felt like an editorial come to life.

The brunch shimmered in collaboration with celebrated GENART CEO Keri Ingvarsson Rokos, who arrived with her son TJ Rokos – a poignant symbol of family, legacy, and the future of creative entrepreneurship. It was this mix of glamour and groundedness that elevated the event into legend. The Rokos are not only the nicest family from OC but we also share mutual friends in California and it was a wonderful occasion to celebrate over the roofs of NYC!

There’s something electric about discovering new art: the moment when fresh creativity meets opportunity, when emerging talent steps onto a stage built for possibility. That’s exactly the world GenArt (sometimes written Gen Art) has cultivated for nearly three decades—a platform where up-and-coming designers, filmmakers, visual artists, and musicians are showcased, where creativity is celebrated before fame, and where cultural risk is rewarded.

 

From Dorm Room Dream to Arts Powerhouse

GenArt was founded in 1993 by Ian Gerard, Stefan Gerard, and Melissa Neumann, under the original name Generational Arts Limited. The idea was simple but bold: there were many young artists without exposure, and many young art lovers who had interest but little access or affordable routes into the art world. The founders saw the gap and built a bridge.

From that humble start—yes, beginning in Ian Gerard’s NYU law school dorm with a laptop, a fax machine, and a modest exhibition of four emerging artists—GenArt steadily grew. What began as art shows expanded into fashion, film festivals, music, and visual arts programs. By bringing together new voices and giving them high-visibility platforms, GenArt became both a launching pad and a spotlight. Its programming has included hundreds of shows every year during its peak periods, covering not just New York but also Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and Chicago.

The Mission: Emerging, Inclusive, Creative

At its core, GenArt’s mission is to encourage and promote emerging talent. Whether it’s designers still learning their craft, filmmakers making their first features, or visual artists experimenting with novel media, GenArt gives them access—access to an audience, access to networks, access to cultural legitimacy. It’s not about only supporting established names; it’s about discovering what’s new. Wikipedia

This mission isn’t just aesthetic. It’s democratic. It intersects with questions of access, representation, and cultural equity: who gets to have their work seen, and who gets to influence what counts as innovative or beautiful. GenArt works through exhibitions, fashion shows, film festivals, music showcases, and parties—but those social coverings disguise serious work: mentorship, sponsorship, media exposure, and community building. Wikipedia

Leadership: The CEO & Their Unique Role

GenArt is currently headed by Keri, along with a team of private investors. This leadership group took over in 2014. Under their direction, the organization has sought to refresh its approach, to adapt to changing cultural and commercial realities, and to ensure GenArt remains relevant for artists, audiences, and partners alike.

While detailed personal background on Keri Ingvarsson is somewhat limited in public sources, what is clear is that her stewardship emphasizes:

• Sustainability: Maintaining the balance between artistic integrity and financial viability, particularly through partnerships and events that support both exposure and revenue.

• Innovation: Adapting to shifting platforms (digital, live, hybrid), recognizing that art consumption and presentation are changing.

• Emergence: Keeping the spotlight on talent that hasn’t yet broken through, giving opportunities early in careers.

• Community & Collaboration: Working with corporate sponsors, media outlets, fashion houses, film institutions—but doing so in ways that uphold the creative voices rather than overshadow them.

Notable Moments & Influence

Some of the signature GenArt programs:

• GenArt Film Festival: Featuring “7 Premieres. 7 Nights. 7 Stories”, a festival pairing features and shorts, followed by events and receptions—making art a celebration.

• Fashion Weeks: Launchpads for “fresh faces” in fashion, often during major cultural moments like New York Fashion Week.

• Events & Shows: Over 100 events annually in its heyday, representing a wide array of creative disciplines.

GenArt’s influence extends beyond exposure. Many artists initially seen on GenArt platforms have gone on to major success in design, film, music, and visual arts; the organization often serves as a first headline, a badge of credibility that helps newer names get seen by press, buyers, curators, or collaborators.

Why GenArt Matters—and the CEO Matters Even More

In an era when culture can feel saturated, GenArt fills a unique space. It is not the biggest organization, nor always the flashiest—but it is essential. For many artists, it is the place they first imagine their dreams being reachable. For many creative consumers, it’s the place they first see what’s next.

Keri Ingvarsson’s role is especially important here, because leading an arts organization in the 2020s means doing many things well: curating, fundraising, branding, digital presence, partnerships, financial management, and fairness in representation. Under her leadership, GenArt’s continued relevance shows that an organization can retain its soul while evolving—to meet new audiences and resist becoming irrelevant in shifting media ecosystems.

Portrait: The CEO: Keri

Here’s what we know (and what makes her stand out):

• Visionary with roots in artist-centered thinking: She steps in a lineage that deeply values emerging creative voices. That value remains central—not as a nostalgic wish, but as an active strategy.

• Bridge builder: Between artists and market, between creative risk and commercial possibility; between sponsors and authenticity.

• Strategic steward: Understanding that creativity needs both freedom and structure. That means producing shows, managing costs, leveraging branding, but doing it in service of art rather than subjugating art to commerce.

• Adaptable: As GenArt expanded, contracted, changed ownership (including private investors stepping in), Ingvarsson has guided leadership through these shifts without losing the essence of what GenArt is—to spotlight the emerging, to amplify voices, to host experiences that feel alive.

Looking Forward

What does the future look like for GenArt and its CEO?

• Continued digital expansion: livestreamed events, hybrid fashion shows, online premieres.

• More global reach: more emerging voices from beyond the U.S., cross-cultural collaborations.

• Stronger funding models: balancing corporate sponsorship with grants, philanthropic backing, perhaps more direct support models for artists.

• Deepening mentorship: not just showcasing, but building infrastructure that supports artists long term.

GenArt under its CEO isn’t just holding culture’s mirror—it’s helping shape what comes next.

Beauty Affair LI true magazine magic

Behind every spectacular detail stood a team as multifaceted as the event itself. Art Director Stacey Kruk-Damiano orchestrated the aesthetics with sophistication, ensuring that every corner of the penthouse carried BeautyAffair’s modern-luxury DNA. Editor Barbara Mims polished every word and moment with the kind of editorial grace that turns coverage into culture. Production & Distribution by Schneps Media guaranteed that BeautyAffair LI’s reach extended far beyond the penthouse, while Sales Executive Brandy McLam carried the celebratory buzz into new partnerships and opportunities.

The cover photo shoot team reflected the brilliance that BeautyAffair LI curates issue after issue: Photographer Katherine Nuñez, whose lens finds elegance in every frame, Body Artist Vincent Licata, who transforms skin into living art, Set Directors Lindsay Aliseo & Dawn Boyle Kostakis, the visionaries behind both page and party, Models Jennifer Evans, Felix Martinez, and Vitor Hugo, embodying the glamour and energy that the brunch itself radiated.

This energy was matched by a remarkable roster of contributors reads like the WHO IS WHO, who together embody the lifeblood of BeautyAffair LI’s storytelling: Lindsay Aliseo, Dawn Boyle Kostakis, Jillian DeVito, Jamie Gale, Melanie Garcia, Nadgeena Jerome, Jo Marie, Mary Margaret Glover, Samantha Nicole, Amy Recco, Lauren Rosner, Gabriella Rossi, Alisha Sahai Sharma, Erica Taylor, Gabe Vidales, Mena Abitino RPA-C, Mark D. Epstein MD FACS, Sharon Grasso LME CLT, Stephen T. Greenberg MD FACS, Linda Harkary MD, Maria Hogan DAc MS LMT, Janet Trabosh PA-C MPH, Silvia Tuthill DNP ANP-C, and Greenberg Dermatology. Each voice, each specialty, brings dimension to BeautyAffair’s coverage—from medical beauty to cultural commentary, from fashion insights to health expertise.

No magazine story is complete without the eyes behind the camera, and BeautyAffair LI’s contributing photographers captured the brunch’s spirit in timeless frames: King Aaron Photography (@kingaaronphotography), Jillian DeVito (@iconogram_group), Katherine Nuñez (@KatherineNunez.Photo), and Ed Shin (@ShinBonePhotography). Their artistry turned fleeting moments—celebrity smiles, rooftop laughter, clinking glasses—into indelible memories.

What made this brunch so extraordinary was not just the panoramic views or the flawless menu. It was the way it united a community. Guests spoke of how BeautyAffair LI events don’t just showcase fashion, beauty, and lifestyle—they curate belonging. The rooftop became a salon, where tastemakers and celebrities felt equally at home.

As one guest summed it up: “Completely delightful, unforgettable, and purely BeautyAffair.”

For those who couldn’t attend, the magazine’s contact and follow platforms—from @BeautyAffairLI on Instagram and Facebook to Magazine@BeautyAffairLI.com—ensure that the spirit of this brunch travels far beyond the penthouse. With Leenex Media steering publication and Schneps Media driving distribution, the story of this brunch, like all BeautyAffair endeavors, is destined for wide acclaim.

In a season full of spectacles, this penthouse brunch defined Fashion Week 2025. And in doing so, it reaffirmed what the world already knows: BeautyAffair LI is not just covering culture—it is creating it.