#NSFW: “Rough Trade: Art and Sex Work in the Late 20th Century”

David Wojanarowicz’s drawing at Pier 34. Photo, Peter Hujar

Rough Trade: Art and Sex Work is an exhibit that opened this week in NYC. It explores a little known history at the crossroads of the sexual underground and popular culture and was organized to coincide with David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night at the Whitney.

It includes work by Wojnarowicz, along with John Barrington, Mark Beard, Kenny Burgess, Larry Clark, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Fred Halsted, Peter Hujar, Mark Morrisroe, Joe Parker, Tomata du Plenty, Bill Rice, John Sex, Jane Sherry, Pedro Slim, Samuel Steward, and Tommy Vallette along with related ephemera.

Propelled by the sexual revolution of the 60s, many artists found not only employment in the adult entertainment industry, but artists like Wojnarowicz and Mark Morrisroe drew on their early histories of hustling on the streets to create work that reflected personal experiences as child sex laborers.

Other artists, like Tomata du Plenty and Larry Clark, documented their friends, lovers, and tricks that were involved in the sex trade. Groundbreaking shows like the Times Square Show in June of 1980 were held in massage parlors, go-go bars, porno theaters, and strip clubs.

Rough Trade: Art and Sex Work was curated by Greg Ellis and Brian Paul Clamp and runs through September 22 at ClampArt.

And look for World Of Wonder‘s upcoming documentary about David Wojnarowicz, directed by Emmy award winner, Chris McKim.