‘It-couple’ Riley Mac and Coco Gordon Moore are redefining the intersection of style and creativity, making waves in New York’s vibrant cultural scene.
New York is brimming with power couples—dynamic duos who leave an indelible mark on the city’s cultural and creative fabric. In a city where ambition and artistry converge, partnerships like Riley Mac and Coco Gordon Moore stand out not only for their individual accomplishments but for the way they skillfully blend their personal and professional lives.
Mac and Gordon Moore, prominent figures in the contemporary art and book worlds, exemplify a remarkable fusion of creativity and affection. Celebrated for their distinct yet equally captivating work, their visual and written projects offer a rare look into how their relationship influences and enriches all aspects of their lives. Their relationship provides a passionate perspective on the unique challenges and rewards of being both artistic collaborators and life partners.
In their conversation with Elephant, the couple explores the nuanced balance between independence and collaboration, shedding light on how their connection drives and shapes their creative endeavors. They also discuss their upcoming projects, offering fresh insights into their evolution as both individuals and collaborators within today’s vibrant artistic landscape.
JR: Could you talk to us briefly about how your love for art intertwines with your love for each other?
CGM: We are both poets and met because of poetry. The first time I met Riley was at KGB, where she was doing a reading, and I was like, I want to have sex with her.
RM: And shortly after, we were in an in-person workshop together. Luckily, after one drunken night out, we finally hooked up, and we’ve been together since.
CGM: We both really respect and like each other’s work. I couldn’t be with someone if I didn’t like their art or writing. It makes us love each other even more.
JR: What makes a great piece of art?
RM: I’ve never had a taste for the subtleties, and I’ve always been drawn to more extreme things, whether nostalgic and sad, ridiculous, violent, sexual. On the other side of the coin, I like “vapid” girly things like sorority Tiktok and Addison Rae. I don’t know if I’m a pervy voyeur or one of the girls; it depends on the day, but I know it makes me feel alive. It’s all heavy-handed.
CGM: It’s just a gut feeling. What I like is nearly the opposite of Riley. I’m drawn to more simplicity- but not minimalism. I like simplicity, romanticism, and fantasy.
JR: What are your favorite and least favorite things about being an artist and the artistic process?
RM: My least favorite things are the “artistic process” aspects that make me feel like I’m back in school. I didn’t like and didn’t do well in school. I sometimes envied other people’s work ethic, regimen, adherence to deadlines, etc. Ultimately, I’ve gotten good at talking myself out of it and feeling confident in my pace, but I’m still trying to find that balance between ‘writing when I feel called to’ and having an ounce of discipline. God forbid it starts to feel like homework, though, and I’d burst into flames.
CGM: I don’t want it to feel like homework. There is a difference between visual artists and poets. I’m both, unfortunately, but for the most part, artists are annoying, myself included. We’re all a little narcissistic, and that’s exhausting. My least favorite thing about art is when people ask me, “What kind of art do I make?” or “What type of poetry do you write?” That is my least favorite thing about being an artist.
RM: What’s your favorite thing?
CGM: Being surrounded by other artists. It’s a double-edged sword. Regarding the process, I like hyper-focusing on a specific poem- like writing or editing it. I love that feeling of writing and editing a piece; hours go by, and suddenly, it’s pitch black in the room, and my back hurts.
JR: Describe your work process for us…
CGM: We’re both not very disciplined.
RM: No discipline, no regimen… This is something me and Coco bonded over early on in our relationship… However, Coco always had a very positive attitude when writing one-liners and fragments of poems on her phone. “Writing on your phone is writing practice,” she says. She’s right. Coco can write a whole poem on her phone. I can’t go that far. But I take the clutter from my phone notes and try to make sense of it. The editing process gets neurotic really quickly.
CGM: I write when it makes sense to write. I’ll force myself to sit down and edit, but once I start, it’s easy. It helps when I’m in a workshop because there’s a weekly due date, so there’s some schedule, but it’s also very low stakes—like if you don’t have a poem written, who cares?
JR: What piece of art reminds you most of each other together and separately?
RM: I always say to Coco, “You’re like if Lux Lisbon never committed suicide and grew up to be a woman.” The Virgin Suicides. To know Coco is to know exactly what I mean by that.
CGM: That movie Fat Girl reminds me of Riley. The one by Catherine Breillat. Maybe it’s because I know she loves it so much, but it has many elements she likes. A pretty girl, a weird girl, a creepy age gap relationship, brutality, humor, and it’s short.
JR: Talk to us a little bit about your recent projects…
RM: I recently co-wrote a screenplay for a short horror film. I’d never written a screenplay, so it was an incredible experience, and it made me want to write more horror stories. I had a poetry chapbook coming out in April through a small press. It’s a long story, but I’m self-publishing now. You can order it through my Instagram account (@rileyxmacx).
CGM: I have all this poetry I want to turn into a full length book. I just have to sit down and do it…
RM: Discipline and regimen…
CGM: I know… I keep saying I’m working on it, and it’s still not close to being done, so I will stop talking about it until it takes more shape.
JR: How often do you give each other feedback on your creative projects?
CGM: We give each other quite a lot of feedback. We both trust each other’s opinions.
RM: I’m an external processor, and Coco’s an internal processor. I’m asking for feedback the whole time I’m writing; she asks me for feedback when she’s done. Again, we got to know each other in a poetry workshop.
CGM: We are very comfortable.
JR: What would you say to a young person looking to get into art & publishing?
CGM: Submit as much as you can and take workshops. Workshops are the best way to connect with other writers. Go to readings if you want.
RM: I agree. Read the work of your peers, make friends, fuck around, fall in love, and you’ll figure out the rest. Making friends with people who become your favorite writers is the best thing about it all, hands down.
JR: What does the future hold for you as artists alone and as a couple?
CGM: I don’t know, I’m not a planner. I like to fall into things. Hopefully, keeping the apartment clean… Oh… AND MARRIAGE!
RM: Exactly.
Words by Jo Rosenthal
