JOHN WATERS
“In all his work, Waters presents a remarkably consistent world view and the willingness to imagine what gets unleashed when repressive personal, social, and cultural strictures are lifted. In the photographic and sculptural work, and the early films presented in this exhibition, Waters joyfully exposes cultural contradictions, relentlessly questions ingrained social hierarchies, and cheers us all on toward nonconformity, liberation, and empowerment.”
— New Museum
John Waters (b. 1946 Baltimore, MD) is an American artist, film director, writer, actor, and comedian who expresses a broadened understanding of individualism and freedom of expression. Waters examines the distance between fine art, entertainment, and the human experience, and allows his viewers to engage with his provocative observations about the public image. His work in print photography utilizes humor to show how celebrity and consumption seep into cultural attitudes.
John Waters rose to prominence in the 1970s for his work in transgressive cult films. Yet, no matter the medium, Waters is a teller of stories. His stories give us raw depictions of queer identity, racial inequality, and class dysphoria. His creative mind uplifts counter-culture and spotlights the oddities of media and society. John Waters' work is represented in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, and the Baltimore Museum of Art, among many other institutions.
John Waters, Shoulda!, 2014, Edition 2/5 + 1 AP, 6 C-Prints, Image Size: 6 x 54 inches, Frame Size: 10.5 x 60.5 inches