Did she know any artists? “Yeah,” she said, “I know a few.”The place was just eight by 25 feet, and the idea was to make a gallery by artists, for artists. The first show there was an exhibition of pencil drawings by Steven Kramer, Ms. Astor’s husband at the time; all 20 of the pieces sold, at $50 each, which seemed like a promising beginning. Mr. Scharf, who had already turned all of the appliances at Ms. Astor’s home into his signature outer-space critters, was offered the next show. He was also given the opportunity to name the place for its duration.

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Persons: Patti Astor, Lee Quinones, Lady Pink, Freddy, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Jean, Michel Basquiat, Richard Roth, Astor, Bill Stelling, “, Steven Kramer, Astor’s, Scharf Organizations: Fun, Mudd Locations: Manhattan, Hermosa Beach, Calif, TriBeCa