Toxic Beauty: The Art of Frank Moore

Lullaby II, 1997, oil on canvas,

Visual AIDS is pleased to announce 

Toxic Beauty: The Art of Frank Moore

September 6 - December 8, 2012,

New York University’s Grey Art Gallery and Fales Library

Curated by Susan Harris with Lynn Gumpert


The exhibition features approximately 35 major paintings and over 50 gouaches, prints, and drawings, as well as numerous sketchbooks, films, maquettes, source materials, and ephemera. It is the most comprehensive presentation to date of work by this remarkable artist whose life was cut short by AIDS.

Moore is best known for his figurative and highly detailed large-scale paintings filled with fantastic and symbolic images. His paintings allude to American culture and presciently address ecological concerns and the dangers of genetically modified foods. Often autobiographical, many of the paintings also reference Moore’s personal life and his HIV-positive status.

In addition to creating his paintings and works on paper, he collaborated on performances, dance productions, and films. Moore was also an activist: he was a founding member of Visual AIDS, where he played a crucial role in the creation of the Red Ribbon. He also helped develop the Archive Project, which endeavors to document and preserve works created by HIV+ artists.

Exhibition Catalogue: 
Toxic Beauty: The Art of Frank Moore is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with essays by Susan Harris, renowned critic Klaus Kertess, and artist/activist Gregg Bordowitz. The catalogue will also include excerpts from Moore’s own writings. Both the exhibition and catalogue will highlight previously unpublished archival material—such as sketchbooks and documents—culled from the vast Frank Moore Papers, totaling 44 linear feet, housed at NYU’s Fales Library. 

For more information visit Grey Art Gallery NYU. Check back here for upcoming programming information associated with the exhibition.