CREATIVE CAPITALISM

HERE ARE SOME NOTABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE WALKED THE LINE BETWEEN ART, COMMERCE, AND EXPERIENCE, SOME MORE SUCCESSFULLY THAN OTHERS.

A24

When the film studio becomes a bigger draw than the film itself, you have A24. The 10-year-old company has become so renowned for backing genredefying, boundarybusting indie hits (Midsommar, Uncut Gems, Moonlight, Lady Bird) that it’s now a name brand in and of itself.

ALINEA GROUP

Opened in 2005, Chicago’s Alinea restaurant became a leader in molecular gastronomy under chef Grant Achatz. Cofounder Nick Kokonas spun out a handful of other restaurants, a cocktail bar, and even an online reservations and delivery platform, Tock, which Squarespace acquired for $400 million in 2021.

BURNING MAN

The annual city in a desert has grown from a ragtag art project to a sophisticated nonprofit that, in 2019, took in

$45 million in revenue and hosted nearly 80,000 artists, ravers, and influencers at Black

Rock City. It also has a network of regional events across the globe.

MORGANS HOTEL GROUP

Studio 54 impresarios Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell hired French interior designer Andrée Putman to create the provocative interiors for their Morgans hotel in New York City in 1984. The result led to Schrager’s hotel collaborations with artists and designers like Philippe Starck and Julian Schnabel.

BLUE MAN GROUP

What started in 1991 as a performance art show in Manhattan’s Astor Place Theater is now a ubiquitous immersive experience, with permanent shows in five cities, touring companies, and even (for a time) a cruise-ship production. It’s currently owned by a consortium led by Catalyst Capital Group, a private equity firm.

UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE

UCB became the “yes, and” improv training ground for performers and even white-collar stiffs who went through the group’s corporate program. After expanding to several cities, the group closed its original New York City theater and training center in 2020, before selling to investors in 2022.

OFF-WHITE

Founded by Virgil Abloh in 2013, Offwhite upended fashion with $1,000 hoodies and offbeat collabs that served as both streetwear and acerbic commentary on the industry. Abloh’s label continues to push into fashion even after his 2021 death.