Does fashion imitate art? Does art imitate fashion? New York’s fashion and art inspired venues create dramatic contrasts of cultural competition. From global fashion shows to arty automobiles there’s a plethora of events this week. Here’s the scoop!!!

GLOBAL RUNWAY'S NIGHT OUT:
The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) in partnership with Misha Nicole presents a spectacular fashion show, Thursday, April 15 starting at 7pm at New York’s hip boutique hotel, The Paramount. The star-studded event presents global designers showcasing their latest collection including Amrita Singh, Naeem Khan, Padma Lakshmi, Payal Singhal to name a few. Expect to see a range of couture gowns, chic knits, impeccably cut dresses, fusion Indian tunics and eclectic jewelry. Buy tickets at /.

THE BMW ART CAR
In the spirit of Calder, Stella, Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Holzer, BMW announced that the 17th Art Car created by Jeff Koons will race where the first rolling pieces of art by legendary artists raced—at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, June 12-13, 2010. The resulting graphic conceived by Koons-evocative full of power, motion and light is rendered in the artist’s signature saturated hues on a black ground set against the car’s silver interior. It imparts a dramatic appearance to Koon's race car even when it’s standing still. “These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy,” said Koons. He will also sign his car at Paris’ Centre Pompidou on June 1, 2010, just as Roy Lichtenstein did in 1977.

SOFA NEW YORK
Contemporary decorative art and design in all its unique forms and manifestations takes front the center at the Sculpture Objects & Function Art Fair (SOFA NEW YORK). The exhibition compels the viewer to confront the age-old adage of ‘what is art?’ as it pushes the boundaries of “art” through the use of innovative forms materials and processes. Sixty galleries present international artists and designers. April l6-19 at the Park Avenue Armory, between 66/67 Sts. Fri/Sat. 11 to 7 pm, Sat.noon-6pm, Mon. 11-5 pm. $25 single day, $40 4-day pass.www.sofaexpo.com.

FASHION AND FILM
A multi-media exhibition revisits the 1960s through the interface of fashion and film and examines how these industries fed off each other economically, aesthetically, and symbolically. The ‘boom years’ in Italy are revisited through in the fashion and film photos in the exhibition hallway. A display of designer fashions include Pucci, Balmain, de la Renta, Galitizine and the Fontana Sisters. FREE At the Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Ave. @ 34th St. through May 1, 2010