
P·P·O·W is pleased to present I have become my own worst fear, a group exhibition featuring important works by artists that form the backbone of the gallery’s program: Dotty Attie, Anton van Dalen, Jimmy DeSana, Joe Houston, Betty Tompkins, Martha Wilson, David Wojnarowicz, and Martin Wong.
Underscoring the important role galleries play in creating a platform for activism and unmediated expression, the show includes van Dalen’s Junk Culture series featuring a McDonald's cheeseburger staring up at its own crucified udders and DeSana’s Dungeon series depicting S&M beach scenes. The exhibition will also provide a rare opportunity to view David Wojnarowicz’s 1988 film, Beautiful People, starring Jesse Hultberg. Filmed in New York City and Rockland County, NY, Wojnarowicz films Hultberg as his drag persona Melanie Safka. For Wojnarowicz, the film was about “seeing drag queens as true revolutionaries who fuck with visual codes of gender.” Spanning painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and video, the works in I have become my own worst fear both depict the nightmare of America and celebrate the rebellious power of collectivity within in it.
David Wojnarowicz with Jesse Hultberg
Beautiful People, 1988
silent film; super8 on digital video
Running time: 27:56 minutes
Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York
Martha Wilson
I have become my own worst fear/Deformation, 2009/1974
photographic print on canvas/video transferred to DVD
photograph by Michael Katchen
87 x 44 ins.
220.98 x 111.76 cm
Anton van Dalen
Junk Culture #14, 2004
graphite and india ink on paper
23 x 29 ins.
58.4 x 73.7 cm
Martin Wong and Sharp
Sharp Paints a Picture, 1997-98
acrylic on canvas
30 x 48 ins.
76.2 x 121.9 cm
Joe Houston
Rainbow, 2024
oil on linen
39 7/8 x 39 7/8 x 2 ins.
78.4 x 101.3 x 5.2 cm
Jimmy DeSana
Untitled, from 'The Dungeon' series, 1978-79
Gelatin silver print with Terence Sellers
13 5/8 x 16 5/8 ins.
34.6 x 42.2 cm
David Wojnarowicz with Jesse Hultberg
Beautiful People, 1988
silent film; super8 on digital video
Running time: 27:56 minutes
Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York
Martha Wilson
I have become my own worst fear/Deformation, 2009/1974
photographic print on canvas/video transferred to DVD
photograph by Michael Katchen
87 x 44 ins.
220.98 x 111.76 cm
Anton van Dalen
Junk Culture #14, 2004
graphite and india ink on paper
23 x 29 ins.
58.4 x 73.7 cm
Martin Wong and Sharp
Sharp Paints a Picture, 1997-98
acrylic on canvas
30 x 48 ins.
76.2 x 121.9 cm
Joe Houston
Rainbow, 2024
oil on linen
39 7/8 x 39 7/8 x 2 ins.
78.4 x 101.3 x 5.2 cm
Jimmy DeSana
Untitled, from 'The Dungeon' series, 1978-79
Gelatin silver print with Terence Sellers
13 5/8 x 16 5/8 ins.
34.6 x 42.2 cm