Description

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Susanne Bartsch stands peerless in her reign over New York City nightlife.
 
From the opulence of the late 1980s to the present day, Bartsch possesses an innate ability to capture the spirit of the moment. Her legendary parties and diverse events continue to serve as the stage for an extraordinary convergence of people from around the world. From visionary artists to sex workers, fashion designers, cabaret stars, queer performers, Harlem ball dancers, go-go girls and boys, drag queens, burlesque amateurs, bodybuilders, twinks, and lipstick lesbians—to name just a few—all are welcome in Bartschland. In this book, alongside a long list of friends—from RuPaul to Aquaria to Amanda Lepore to Joey Arias—Bartsch illuminates the countless moments that have shaped her indelible legacy as New York City’s “patron saint of transformation and inclusion.”

About the Author

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Susanne Bartsch emerged from Switzerland to captivate London's avant-garde scene before leaving an indelible mark on 1980s New York. Her iconic NYC boutique, the first to feature designers like Vivienne Westwood, ignited a transformative fashion-cultural movement. Devastated by AIDS in the early '90s, she conceived the Love Ball, raising millions for those affected and inspiring Madonna's song “Vogue.” Hailed as the "nightlife equivalent of a couture label" by the New York Times, Susanne Bartsch's legendary parties persist in the cultural zeitgeist. Dismantling traditional norms that fostered inclusivity in a vibrant subculture, these events have maintained their influence and significance four decades later.  A blockbuster museum exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology, coupled with the documentary Susanne Bartsch: On Top, has firmly cemented her impact and enduring legacy in fashion and popular culture.

Praise For…

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"Bartschland is an opulent window into the moments that shaped her legacy as the city’s 'patron saint of transformation and inclusion.'"
— AUTOSTRADDLE, 69 Most Anticipated Queer Books for Spring 2024