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One of John Connelly’s first exhibits, "The Bedroom Show," packed in about 75 mostly unknown artists. Curated by artist and K48 editor Scott Hug, the show transformed the gallery into a wood-paneled "teenage rebel" bedroom: The walls were plastered, salon-style, with voyeuristic photos, scribbly drawings, and artist-designed wallpaper; videos played on old TV sets which visitors could watch while lounging on used furniture. The show was a sensation, marking a real shift away from the ultra-white-cube exhibition style of ‘90s Chelsea. Connelly’s breakout artist is assume vivid astro focus, with his riotous installations studded with chandeliers and hummingbirds, drawing images from The Partridge Family and Art Nouveau. (The Brazilian artist AVAF now refuses to use his own name because of the collaborative nature of his work—embracing DJs, tattoo artists and even Yoko Ono.) — Alex Mar