Mark Morrisroe

There is a Mark Morrisroe reemergence at the moment with a new book and two NYC shows. Mark (Dirt) Morrisroe studied at the Museum School during the same era as Nan Golden, David Armstrong, and Philip-Lorca diCorcia. He was born to a drug addicted mother and became a hustler at the age of 15. Having been shot by a client at 17 he lived with a bullet lodged next to his spine for the rest of his very short life. He was boyfriends with Jack Pierson, and sometimes performed as a drag character of his own creation named Sweet Raspberry. He photographed with a Polaroid Land Camera and shot Super 8 Film. His self-portraits are both intimate and raw, revealing desires and sharing vulnerabilities. He also beautifully captured his friends and lovers, what emerges is a portrait of a young man who created his own family out of the scars of a dysfunctional upbringing. Morrisroe died in 1989 from complications of HIV. His work is being show at both Clamp Art and Artist's Space.