Book Description

"Toxic Beauty: The Art of Frank Moore is the most comprehensive presentation to date of work by this remarkable artist whose life was cut short by AIDS. Curated by independent scholar Susan Harris with Grey Art Gallery director 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. The exhibition is accompanied by an amply illustrated catalogue with essays by Susan Harris, renowned critic Klaus Kertess, and artist/activist Gregg Bordowitz. Harris evokes a compelling portrait of the multitalented artist as revealed through his personal papers and notebooks. Kertess examines Moore's recurrent themes and eclectic influences while situating the artist's work within a larger art historical context. Finally, Bordowitz sheds light on Moore's passionate AIDS activism and how his work conveys feelings of loss, fear, and hope as well as gay male identity during the early days of the pandemic. The catalogue will also include a selected bibliography, chronology, and 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 Both the exhibition and catalogue will highlight previously unpublished archival material--such as sketchbooks and documents--culled from the vast Frank Moore Papers, totaling 44 linear feet, housed at NYU's Fales Library. These archival materials provide fascinating insights into Moore's life and work: the sketchbooks reveal his penchant for journaling and his extraordinary draftsmanship. The drawings include detailed preparatory studies for his large-scale paintings and custom-crafted frames, as well as lighthearted vignettes of a more personal and even humorous nature."--Publisher's website.