David ‘Mr.StarCity’ White with exhibition at Michelin starred NYC restaurant

Frevo, the Michelin Star restaurant and contemporary art gallery (48 W 8th Street), presents “When We Bloom,” a new solo exhibition by Brooklyn-born artist David “Mr.StarCity” White opening February 18th in Greenwich Village exploring compassion, heartbreak, and healing. Working between New York City and Los Angeles, Mr.StarCity is recognized for his experimental storytelling conveyed through figurative painting and poetry.

“When We Bloom” is a vibrant exploration of resilience and renewal told through a new series of textured, expressionistic portraits, BLOOMERS. The singular figures project a sense of heaviness; their blank expressions emerge through rough surfaces of dark, layered color, suggesting the emotional scars of struggle and adversity. Embraced by flourishing flower beds, the figures stand in stark contrast with their vibrant, hopeful environments.

Beneath the scratched textures of the portraits lie colorful, amoeba-like forms, hinting at the unseen depths of those affected by trauma and systemic stigmas. This layered approach reflects the duality of the human experience: pain interwoven with hope, vulnerability balanced with strength.

“This new body of work celebrates life’s beauty while acknowledging the complexities of mental health and the emotional scars we carry,” exhibition curator Destinee Ross-Sutton said. “At its core, the series serves as a gentle yet powerful reminder to appreciate one another and give ‘flowers’—literal or metaphorical—freely, as acts of unconditional love and acknowledgment.

Throughout his work, Mr.StarCity synthesizes representational imagery with expressionistic, painterly abstraction to create emotionally-charged narrative worlds.

Also on view are select works from Mr.StarCity’s LOVERBOY series. These mixed-media portraits recount the story of a traveling jazz musician and hopeless romantic who is habitually falling in love and heartbroken, both cursed and comforted by his one true love – his saxophone.

Since its debut in 2019, Frevo has merged creative food and art to redefine the New York dining experience. The intimate 16-seat counter dining room is concealed behind an unmarked gallery where guests first enter and encounter rotating exhibitions of contemporary art. Co-owner Bernardo Silva views art and hospitality as a natural combination.

“Frevo’s concept is built on an appreciation for art, food, and the unique expression that comes from bringing both worlds together,” Silva said. “The dialogue between both worlds influences the perspective on the art and the food itself, bringing to life sensations otherwise muted on a classic art gallery or restaurant experience.”

Like the restaurant’s philosophy, the menu is constantly evolving. Frevo oers an eclectic tasting menu focused on high-quality ingredients, emphasizing creativity and sustainable practices. Chef Franco Sampogna successfully melds European, South American, African, and Asian ingredients into his approach, drawing on myriad techniques gleaned from his classical French culinary training and from his extensive travels. The current menu features surprising, globally inspired ingredients and avor combinations such as Chocolate and Wasabi, Comté Cheese and Honey Ice Cream, or Gazpacho and Jalapeno.

‘When We Bloom’ is on view at Frevo (48 W 8th Street) from February 18 – June 30th.

David “Mr.StarCity” White

David “Mr.StarCity” White (b. 1979, Brooklyn, New York City) is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, poetry, performance, video and installation art. While he creates figurative and abstract works through his spontaneous and constantly evolving, highly experimental practice, White’s undying commitment to spreading positivity while uplifting the spirits of his community remains constant throughout his body of work.

Using found objects and any materials available at hand, sourcing from both real and imagined histories, his works are full of texture and infused with a deep sense of his physical and emotional surroundings. While identifying and unmasking societal ills, White addresses themes that live within the shared experiences of contemporary culture.