Robert Mapplethorpe’s 1979 portrait of Bryan Ridley and Lyle Heeter provides an fitting surrogate for the seemingly contradictory aesthetics of New York architect Peter Marino. In one of the photographer’s most well-known images, a couple’s black leather clothing (and chains) is juxtaposed with their high-end domestic interior, replete with a wingback chair, oriental rug, and white antler end table. Marino, who is a collector of Mapplethorpe’s work, is not only the leading architect for fashion brands and upscale residences but also renowned for his head-to-toe leather biker gear.
