The Brute

This is an excerpt of something I wrote in 2011. "For those of you who set foot in New York City within the last 30 years or so you have probably seen The Brute ... He's the creation of famous NYC artist Robert Loughlin ... He's been in all the right places at all the right times.

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He was buying important mid century furniture before it was important ... He was a staple at the Chelsea flea market ... There are stories about Robert ... For now, let's talk about the one that I know best ... It was an unusually cold day in early spring 2002. I was making the rounds at the flea market. Robert was one the person who I noticed first. You couldn't miss him. Booming voice. Calling everyone 'girlfriend'. Standing at the back of his pick up with some amazing finds that all the other dealers would fight over. It was as if he were holding court and teaching school at the same time. This morning I had brought with me a chair I found on the street ... When I asked him if he'd paint my chair he quickly agreed. He did what any dealer would do and examined the chair. Joking, he made a few references to famous designers but I said that I didn't care who made the chair I wanted him to paint it. The chair disappeared into the back of his pick up truck and we went about our shopping in the early hours. Me with my coffee and Robert with his felt tip marker and eye for detail. I felt like a superstar when I would hang out with him ... So, the day finally came. Robert walked up to me and said that he had brought my chair ... The other dealers seemed envious and made the immediate assumption that I would try and flip it right then and there ... I placed it under a vendor's table and kept it out of sight until I was ready to head home ... It became my desk chair ... I felt as though I had elevated my business just with this chair alone ... He was a truly nice person ... I will always cherish the chair he made for me and remember fondly the fun times. ;-) hkv