By Isabel VINCENT, Khristina NARIZHNAYA, Steven VAGO, Melissa KLEIN
The hotly anticipated and controversial solo art show by Hunter Biden finally opened Saturday in SoHo.
Workers took down the paper covering the windows and posted Biden’s paintings, and Biden’s wife stopped by the space.
The sale has been the subject of intense criticism by Republicans who say that the amateur artist’s paintings, priced between $75,000 and $500,000, could be purchased by people looking to curry favor with the president.
The Post revealed earlier this month that Biden had already sold five paintings at $75,000 each, which the gallerist later denied.
Earlier this month the White House assured critics that it had a full-proof plan to prevent influence-peddling: require SoHo gallerist Georges Berges to keep the identities of the buyers secret from the White House. Critics have said this plan is fatally flawed because buyers’ names are sure to leak publicly.
Georges Berges hysterically laughs at the front window of the Georges Berges Gallery. James Keivom
An employee hangs over a painting ready to be displayed at the Georges Berges Gallery. James Keivom
A painting by Hunter Biden is showcased with a quote by American author Joseph Campbell. James Keivom
Georges Berges lies on a handrail while a woman checks out Hunter Biden’s paintings.James Keivom
The public could only catch glimpses of the artwork through the glass Saturday — visits inside the Georges Berges Gallery on West Broadway were by appointment only.
Large, brightly colored canvases could be seen hanging in the space. One had handwriting taking up the upper third with an image of a large face below.
A sign for the show said, “’The Journey Home’ a Hunter Biden Solo Exhibition.”
Gallerist Georges Berges tours around Hunter Biden’s solo exhibition James Keivom
Hunter Biden has already pocketed from five of his artworks for $75,000 each.
The gallery wall contained a quote from author Joseph Campbell’s book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” about the hero’s adventure in mythology. Campbell, a literature professor at Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester, coined the phrase “Follow your bliss.”
A documentary film crew was on hand for the hanging of the 15 canvases. Hunter Biden’s second wife, Melissa Cohen, was spotted in black leather pants, white T-shirt and a black leather jacket leaving the gallery earlier in the day.
She would not answer questions from a Post reporter, who was then prevented from entering the gallery.
Hunter Biden’s art exhibition features a total of 15 canvases. James Keivom
A sign for Hunter Biden’s “Solo Exhibition,” features a quote by American author Joseph Campbell. James Keivom
The gallery wall contained a quote from author Joseph Campbell’s book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” about the hero’s adventure in mythology. Campbell, a literature professor at Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester, coined the phrase “Follow your bliss.”
A documentary film crew was on hand for the hanging of the 15 canvases. Hunter Biden’s second wife, Melissa Cohen, was spotted in black leather pants, white T-shirt and a black leather jacket leaving the gallery earlier in the day.
She would not answer questions from a Post reporter, who was then prevented from entering the gallery.
People transport paintings at George Berges Gallery on West Broadway in SoHo, where Hunter Biden will have an upcoming art show. Stephen Yang for NY Post
You can’t just walk in here,” snapped gallery owner Berges. “This is a private place. I don’t just walk into your house. I’m going to have to talk to your mother. She didn’t raise you right.”
Cohen exited the gallery and hugged Georges before getting into a waiting vehicle.
Hunter Biden’s wife, Melissa Cohen hugs George Berges outside of George Berges Gallery. Michael Dalton for NY Post
Workers assembled and moved Hunter Biden’s paintings at the SoHo gallery. Stephen Yang for NY Post
Another visitor, George Wayne, 57, who writes about popular culture, said he introduced Biden to the gallery two years ago.
“He’s amazing. He’s got a bit of a signature. It’s interesting when an artist can develop a narrative, a visual narrative so immediate and so signifying for what the work is about. He’s very talented,.” Wayne said. “The work is great. It stands for itself. It’s very good.”
Sharon Peled, an Upper West Side resident who was passing by the gallery, peeked inside and deemed the art “very impressive.”
Hunter Biden’s paintings are priced between $75,000 and $500,000. Instagram
“It’s the first time I’ve seen his work. It’s beautiful,” Peled said. “I like it. I want to go inside.”
A Virginia-based government watchdog group filed a proposal to the Treasury Department to create the “Hunter Biden Rule” that would treat galleries and museums like financial institutions, requiring them to report high value transactions to authorities to counter money-laundering by terrorists, criminal enterprises and influence-peddlers.
The Post recently revealed that the Georges Berges Gallery, which has an outlet in Berlin, received a $500,000 pandemic-relief loan from the Small Business Administration between 2020 and 2021.
Melissa Cohen would not answer questions from a Post reporter. Michael Dalton for NY Post
The majority of the money was awarded during the Biden White House administration. It was the highest amount given out by the federal agency to any art gallery in the 10th Congressional District, which includes Chelsea and SoHo.
