Born 1954, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Lives New York NY
Education
1977University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC; BFA
One-Person Exhibitions
2013Feature Inc., New York
Galerie Sebastian Bertrand
Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (film retrospective)
2012Vivacom Art Hall, Sophia
“Richard Kern: 2 Programs,” La Cinémathèque française, Paris (screening)
“Richard Kern: Recent Works & Vintages,” Galerie Jousse Entreprise / Art Contemporain, Paris
2011Anthology Film Archives, New York (screening)
Garage Center for Contemporary Culture, Moscow (film retrospective)
Roger Bjorkholmen, Stockholm
2010Kaune, Sudendorf, Cologne
Studio Gallery, Toronto
“Shot by Kern,” Kenny Schachter Rove, London
Vice Gallery, Mexico City
Ronchini Arte Contemporanea, Terni, Italy
2009Galerie Bertrand and Gruner, Geneva
Guidi & Schoen Arte Contemporanea, Genoa, Italy
Rental Gallery, New York
2008Feature Inc., New York
“The Soft and the Hardcore,” Confort Moderne, Poitiers, France
2006Guidi & Schoen Arte Contemporanea, Genoa, Italy
Hotel, London
Roger Bjorkholmen, Stockholm
2005Proyectos Monclova, Mexico City
Gallery Speak F O R, Tokyo
Jousse Entreprise, Paris
2004Palais de Tokyo, Paris
Feature Inc., New York
2003Galerie Davide Di Maggio, Milan
Galerie Davide Di Maggio, Berlin
Jousse Entreprise, Paris
2002Galerie Davide Di Maggio, Milan
Galerie Davide Di Maggio, Berlin
Jousse Entreprise, Paris
2001Fundación Municipal de Cultura, Gijon, Spain
Feature Inc., New York
The Deep, Tokyo
2000Reali Arte Contemporanea, Brescia, Italy
Galerie Roger Bjorkholmen, Stockholm
1999M du B, F, H & g, Montreal
Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Torch, Amsterdam
1998Reali Arte Contemporanea, Brescia, Italy
Center for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
Galerie Jousse Seguin, Paris
1997Feature Inc., New York
Galerie Roger Bjorkholmen, Stockholm
The Deep, Tokyo
Austerlitz @utrement, Paris
1996Feature Inc., New York
Galerie Jousse Seguin, Paris
1995PURR Gallery, London
The Deep, Tokyo
1990FourFiveFive, San Francisco
1985“You Killed Me First,” Ground Zero, New York (collaboration with David Wojnarowitz)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2013“Coconut Water,” White Flag Projects, St. Louis, MO
2012“Ideal Pole,” Ramiken Crucible, New York; curated by Bjarne Melgaard
“À rébours,” Venus over Manhattan, New York
“You Killed Me First: The Cinema of Transgression,” KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin;
curated by Susanne Pfeffer
“Portraits: Cabinet de Curiosités,” Galerie Bertrand-Gruner, Geneva
2011“MOB,” Bullet Space, New York
“After Shelley Duvall ’72 (Frogs on the High Line),” Maccarone, New York; curated by Bjarne Melgaard
“The Lead Awards,” Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Germany
2010“…and then some,” Feature Inc. New York
“Salad Days,” The Journal Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“The Tattoo Show,” Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, New York;
curated by Kathleen Cullen
“Accessories to an Artwork,” Glen Horowitz, New York; curated by Peter Saville
2008“PM Dawn,” Taxter & Spengemann, New York
“Off, Off Bowery,” Colette, Paris
“Accessories to an Artwork,” Paul Stolper, London
“Sonic Youth, etc.: Sensational Fix,” LiFE, Saint-Nazaire, France (2008); Museion, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
(2008–2009); Kunsthalle Düsseldorf & KIT – Kunst im Tunnel, Düsseldorf, Germany (2009); Malmö Konsthall,
Sweden (2009), Centro Huarte de Arte Contemporáneo, Navarra/Nafarroa, Spain (2009–2010)
“Political Corect,” Blondeau Fine Art Services, Geneva (brochure)
“Explicit Fantastic,” Keep Six Contemporary, Toronto
“Sympathy for the Devil,” Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
2007“Sympathy for the Devil,” Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
2006“The Downtown Show: The New York Art Scene 1974–84,” Grey Art Gallery, New York; Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA; Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX
“Vice,” Silverstein Photography, New York
“The Kate Show,” Amsterdam Photography Museum, Amsterdam
“Tiny Vices,” Spencer Brownstone Gallery, New York; curated by Tim Barber
Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico City
2005“Bienal de Valencia,” Solares Foundazione Culturale, Valencia
“Trade,” White Columns, New York (catalogue)
“East Village USA,” New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York (catalogue)
2004“XXX,” Galerie Davide DiMaggio, Berlin (catalogue)
“Indigestible Correctness,” Participant, New York; curated by Rita Ackerman and Lizzi Bougatsos
“Likeness: Portraits of Artists by Other Artists,” Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco;
curated by Matthew Higgs (catalogue)
“The Human Face,” Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam; curated by Rita Ackerman and Lizzi Bougatsos
2003“Lumpenedlyness,” Lump Gallery, Raleigh, NC; curated by Hudson
“Against All Evens,” Goteborg International Biennial, Goteborg, Sweden; curated by Miki Von Hausswolfe
(catalogue)
“Femmes,” Celine, Tokyo; curated by Olivier Zahm (catalogue)
“Snapshots Now,” Angell Gallery, Toronto; curated by Randy Gladman
“Educational Books,” Hotel, London; curated by Daren Flook
“Phantom of Desire: Visions of Masochism in Art,” Neue Galerie und Stadtmuseum, Graz, Austria
“Martha Graham,” ConTEMPorary, New York, curated by Kenny Schachter
“Not Ordinary People,” Galerie In Arco, Torino, Italy; curated by Sergio Bertaccini (catalogue)
2002“Strip & Tease,” Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels
2001“Selected Works,” Eye Five Gallery, Los Angeles
“Wet,” Luise Ross Gallery, New York
“Face Off,” Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels
2000Galerie Patrick Seguin, Paris
“Kim’s Bedroom,” Parco Gallery, Tokyo; MU, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; curated by Kim Gordon
“Full Serve: Celebrating Ten Years of Shows,” Rove, New York; curated by Kenny Schachter
Reali Artecontemporanea, Brescia, Italy
1999“B.m.W. (black met white),” ANP, Antwerp, Belgium
“Shake the Disease,” Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, Scotland;
curated by Lucy McKenzie
“Salome: Images of Women in Contemporary Art,” Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY;
curated by Katherine Gass (catalogue)
1998“Disidentico,” Palazzo Branciforte, Palermo, Italy; curated by Achille Bonito (catalogue)
“Move 2,” New Image Art, Los Angeles; curated by Rich Jacob
1997“Scared Stiff,” Grey Art Gallery, New York; curated by Annie Stanley
“Flying Buttress Please,” Torch, Amsterdam; curated by Hudson
“El Ojo Tambien Penetra,” Organismo Autonomo de Cultura, Centro de Fotografia, Isla de Tenerife, Spain;
curated by Reiner Opoku and Angel Luis de la Cruz (catalogue)
“The Bite Generation,” Lola Productions, Nantes, France; curated by Romain Slocombe
1996“One Hundred Photographs,” American Fine Arts, New York
“The Experimenters,” Lombard-Fried Fine Arts, New York; curated by Kenny Schachter
B-Side Gallery, New York; curated by Rick Prole
“Picture This,” CBGB Gallery, New York
Kunsthaus, Cologne, Germany; curated by Reiner Opoku
1995“High Anxiety,” 66 Crosby Street, New York; curated by Kenny Schachter
“Oy!,” 121 Greene Street, New York; curated by Kenny Schachter
1994“Winter of Love,” P.S.1, Long Island City, NY; curated by Olivier Zahm and Dike Blair
Monographs
2013Contact High, Picturebox, New York
Shot by Kern, Taschen Books, Cologne
201110:41, Oversea Books, New York
2008Looker, Harry Abrams Books, New York
2007Digital Kern, Charta, Milan
Action, Taschen Books, Cologne
2004Soft, Universe Publishing, New York
2002Kern Noir, Charta, Milan
2001XXModels, Fiction Inc. Books, Tokyo
2000Model Release, Taschen Books, Cologne
1998Richard Kern, Charta, Milan
1997New York Girls, Taschen Books, Cologne
1996XXGirls, Fiction, Inc. Books, Tokyo
1995Richard Kern: New York Girls, Purr Books, London
Publications, Portfolios, Projects, and Reproductions of Artwork
2008“Let’s Talk About Sex,” with John Currin, Dian Hanson, and Richard Kern, Monopol, no. 12, 40 (roundtable with
reproductions and poster)
“Voyeur Chic,” GQ, June, 142–149
“New New York Girls,” Purple, Fall/Winter, 82–101
“Richard Kern & Thurston Moore – Head to Head,” Dazed and Confused, April, 74–75
“Unpublished Polaroids, 1986-1996,” Vice Magazine Photo Issue 2008, 97–105
2007“Douces Exhibitions,” Playboy, October, 96–103
“Action Man,” British Journal of Photography, March, 13–16, cover
“Kern talks to Ana Honigman,” Saatchi Gallery Journal, March
Vice Photo Book, Vice Books, New York, 56–63
Untitled publication, no. 1 (Spring), Feature Inc., New York (back cover)
2006“Tables,” Livraison #2, Stockholm, 330–340
2004Likeness – Portraits of Artists by Other Artists, CCA Wattis Institute, San Francisco, 36
“Beauty Doesn’t Fade,” Index, September, 65–77
“Vice Fashion: New York Teachers,” Vice 11, no. 8, 58–59
“Stick It On My Wall, Uovo, no. 8 (April), 30–59
“Bedside Manner,” Nylon, March, 144–153
2003Curve: The Female Nude Now, Universe Publishing, New York, 120–121
“Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,” Self Service, Fall/Winter, 266–281
“Happy Valley High,” i-D, August, 40–43
“The Girl Most Likely To,” Issue, Fall, 158–169
“The Masters 3,” Black and White, 92–112 (portfolio)
Waters, John, and Bruce Hainley. Art: A Sex Book, Thames and Hudson, New York, 123, 134, 168–169, 197
“The Nude,” Pavement, February, 90–05
“Girls’ E-mails on Shooting with Richard Kern,” Issue, no. 7 (Winter), 44–47
2000Bloom, Amy. “The Mouths Of Babes.” Nerve, October, 56–63
Clifford, Christen. “Richard Kern.” Black and White, October, 96–101
Field, Genevieve, ed. Nerve: The New Nude, Chronicle Books, New York, 16–19
“Hot Dot Com,” Nerve, May, 104–110
Photographie (Germany), September (cover)
Rocco, John. In A Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes, edited by Richard Kostelanetz, Schirmer Books,
New York, 334–335
1999Juliet, June (cover)
Jardin de eros, Barcelona Institut de Cultura, 177, 203
Masterpieces of the Male Nude in Photography, Carlton Books
“T and A,” Purple Sexe, Summer, 77–86
1998“Lucy,” Purple Sexe, October, 20–24
Field, Genevieve. “A Conversation With Richard Kern,” in Nerve: Literate Smut, Broadway Books, 71–79
Leddick, David. The Male Nude, Taschen Books, Cologne, 726–729
Disidentico: maschile femminile e olture, exhibition catalogue with texts by Achille Bonito Oliva, Aldo Busi,
and others, Panepinto Arte, Rome
1997El Ojo Tambien Penetra, exhibition catalogue, Organismo Autonomo de Cultura, Centro de Fotografia,
Isla de Tenerfe, Spain;
Mellmann, Bernd. “Richard Kern,” Photographie (Germany), April (cover)
Bil Bok, no. 7 (pull-out poster)
Technikart, July (cover)
1996“New York Girls,” Scenario, no. 4
Blondez, Philippe. Bil Bok , no. 6
1995Sargent, Jack. Deathtripping: The Cinema of Transgression, Creation Books, 79–123
H (Rockin’ on Japan), September, 55–63
1992Woods, Paul Anthony. “The Evil Cameraman,” in Rapid Eye, Creation Books 7–16
1989RADIUM 226.05, Summer, 24–30
Selected Bibliography
2013Baran, Jessica. “In the Galleries – Coconut Water Closes June 15 at White Flag Projects,” riverfronttimes.com,
13 June >link
Freleng, Maggie. “‘We Are Not Exploited’: Topless Medicated Models Defend Exhibit,” vitaminw.co,
20 September >link
Halle, Howard. “Sex, drugs, and women under the influence,” Time Out New York, 6 September >link
Small, Rachel “Richard Kern’s Girls,” interviewmagazine.com, 26 April
2008Marshall, Piper. Review, Modern Painters, December 2008/January 2009 >link
Sherwin, Skye. Preview, ArtReview, September, 38
2006Petros, George. Review, Art That Kills, Creation Books, London, 86–92, cover
Ventur, Conrad. Preview, Useless, London, 32–35 (reproductions)
2005Kelsey, John. Review, Artforum, Janaury, 182 (reproduction)
2004East Village USA, exhibition catalogue, New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, 98
Johnson, Ken. Review, New York Times, 5 November, E42
Higgs, Matthew. “Best of 2004,” Artforum, December, 156–57
Beatrice, Luca. “Richard Kern,” Flash Art (Italy), December, 121
2003Scuriatti, Laura. “Body Odors,” The Ex-Berliner, July, 6–7
Beatrice, Luca. “I confini dell’arte,” Duellanti, December, 65
Delfino, Michael. “Le Lolite della porta Accanto,” Arte, June, 92
2002Flook, Darren. “User,” Untitled, no. 28 (Summer), 10–15 (reproductions)
Cohen, Rebecca. “Kern Noir,” Contents, 125 (reproduction)
Kent, Sarah. “Richard Kern,” Time Out London, August, 55, (reproduction)
Lubbock, Tom. “The Tart Gallery,” Independent Review, August 20, (reproductions)
Smee, Sebastian. “Scenes of the Flesh,” London Times, August 6, 16 (reproduction)
Golden, Michelle. “Kern It On,” PDN, March, 34–38 (cover; reproductions)
Yoshida, Yukihiro. “Richard Kern [XXMODELS],” DUNE, Winter, 226
2001Gladman, Randy D. “Richard Kern Gets (Other People) Naked,” NY Arts, July/August, 19 (reproductions)
Higgs, Matthew. “Top Ten,” Artforum, Summer, 62
Franko B., “Richard Kern – discovering New York,” Virus, May/June, 20–23, (reproductions)
Francesco Bonazzi, “Richard Kern,” Flash Art, February/March, 139 (reproductions)
Sciaccaluga, Maurizio. “Richard Kern – Sexspotting,” Arte, March, 134–139 (reproductions)
Gardner, James. “Beauty’s in the Lens...of Photographer Richard Kern, Who Loves New York Girls,”
New York Post, 17 May, 55 (reproduction)
2000Hainley, Bruce. “Best of the ‘90s,” Artforum, December, 130–131
Hirschfeld, Sara. “Kim’s Bedroom,” Dazed and Confused, April, 62–64 (reproduction)
Sciaccaluga, Maurizio. “Belle e Pericolose,” Arte, April, 104–109 (cover; reproductions)
Vendrame, Simona. “Porno?” Teme Celeste, February, 57–63
1999McCormick, Carlo. “Pretty On The Inside,” Juxtapoz Erotica, Spring, 12–17 (reproduction)
Ridolfi, Roberta. “Richard Kern,” Segno, January, 66 (reproduction)
Sargent, Jack. “Le Cinema de la Transgression,” Omnibus, July, 16–17 (reproduction)
“Richard Kern,” Tema Celeste, February, 87 (reproduction)
Olivier Zahm. “L’Underground a Corps pervus,” Omnibus, July, 16–17 (reproduction)
1998Curto, Alessio. Juliet, April, 32–33 (reproductions)
Paparoni, Demetrio. “Richard Kern,” Tema Celeste, October/November (reproduction)
Danto, Arthur. “I diritti di chi e fotograto,” Tema Celeste, April, 40–43 (reproduction)
Romano, Gianni. “Richard Kern,” Zoom, March, 36–39 (reproduction)
1997Curto, Alessio. “Kern,” Juliet, February, 48 (reproduction)
Hoffmann, Gordy. “Richard Kern,” Rage, November, 62–66 (reproduction)
Lindgaard, Jade. “Tous derriere, La Fiac Devant,” Le Monde, 1 October
Ravo, Nick. “Puppy Lust,” Icon, August, 96–97 (reproduction)
1996“Exporama,” Art Press 212, April (reproduction)
Doran, Anne. “Art: Picks,” Time Out New York, 6 March, 21 (reproduction)
Fournier, Frederic. Review, BLOCNOTES, April (reproduction)
Hughes-Freeland, Tessa. “Severe Exposure,” Paper, February, 35 (reproduction)
Lucas, Peter. “It’s A Set-Up,” Dazed and Confused, no. 16, 92–93
Pettigrew, Jason. “Close-Ups to the Edge,” Alternative Press, February (reproduction)
Rian, Jeff. Review, Flash Art, October, 118 (reproduction)
1995Henwood, Simon. “Richard Kern,” PURR, no. 3, 58–65 (reproduction)
Hughes-Freeland, Tessa. “New York Dolls,” GQ, October (reproduction)
E. N. “One Man Shock Wave,” FHM, October (reproduction)
Russell, Graham. “Adolescent Fetishism or Anguished Art? Richard Kern Shoots Girls,” Ikon, November
Wilson, Becky. “Richard Kern,” Juxtapoze, May, 8–11 (reproduction)
1994Zahm, Olivier. “Shoot and Kiss,” Purple Prose, Fall, 48–51
1990Helfand, Glen. “Critic’s Choice,” S.F. Weekly, 20 December
FIlmography
2007Extra Action. Video, 60 minutes. (Producer, writer, director)
1994Lunchbox. Color, 16mm, 5 minutes. A rock video for Marilyn Manson. Produced by Interscope Records.
(writer and director)
Love Is. Color, 16mm, 3.5 minutes. A rock video for King Missile. Produced by Atlantic Records.
(writer and director)
1993Body Bomb. Color, 16mm, 5 minutes. A rock video for Unsane. Produced by Matador Records.
(writer and director)
Divine Hammer. A rock video for The Breeders. Produced by Elektra Records.
(co-writer and co-director with Kim Gordon)
Room 429. Black and white, 16mm, 5 minutes. A rock video for Cop Shoot Cop. Produced by
Interscope Records. (director; co-writer with Cop Shoot Cop)
My Nightmare. Color, Super-8 sound, 5 minutes. Featuring Susan McNamara and R. Kern.
(producer, director, writer)
Detachable Penis. Color, 16mm, 4 minutes. A rock video featuring King Missile. Produced by Atlantic Records.
(writer and director)
1992The Sewing Circle. Color, Super-8 sound, 7 minutes. Featuring Kembra Phfaler, Lisa Resurrection and Carrie.
(producer, director, writer)
The Bitches. Black and white, Super-8 sound, 10 minutes. Featuring Linda Serbu, Annabelle Davies and
Charles Wing. Music by Jim Coleman. (producer, director, writer)
1991Horoscope. Color and black and white, Super-8 sound, 5 minutes. Featuring Holly Adams, Bob Drywall and
Squeak Wilentz. Music by Budenholzer. (producer, director, writer)
Catholic. Black and white, Super-8 sound, 2 minutes. Featuring Fee. Music by Budenholzer.
(producer, director, writer)
Nazi. Color, Super-8 sound, 2 minutes. Featuring Annabelle Davies. Music by Budenholzer.
(producer, director, writer)
Tumble. Color, Super-8 sound, 4 minutes. Featuring Linda Serbu. Music by Pitt and the Dreamers.
(producer, director, writer)
Scooter and Jinx (Aka Moneylove). Color, Super-8 sound, 1 minute. Featuring Linda Serbu and Karen Disney.
A rock video for Sonic Youth. Produced by Geffen Records. (writer and director)
1990X Is Y. Color, Super-8 sound, 4 minutes. Featuring Tomoya, Jackie O, Linda Serby, Cassandra Stark and Cristina.
Music by Cop Shoot Cop. (producer, director, writer)
1986/90The Evil Cameraman. Color, Super-8 sound, 12 minutes. Featuring Jap Anne, Ice Queen, R. Kern,
Little Linda and Jackie O. Music by Foetus Corp. (producer, director, writer)
1987The King of Sex. Color, Super-8 sound, 5 minutes. Featuring Nick Zedd, Rick Strange, and Audrey Rose.
Music by Killdozer. (producer, director, writer)
Submit to Me Now. Color, Super-8 sound, 17 minutes. Featuring Nick Zedd, Cassandra Stark, Lydia Lunch,
Audrey Rose, R. Kern, Clint Ruin, Lung Leg and others. Music by Thurston Moore, J.G. Thirlwell,
Bewitched, Black Snakes and others. (producer, director, writer)
1986Pierce. Color, Super-8 sound, 9 minutes. Featuring Audrey Rose. (producer and director)
Fingered. Black and white, Super-8 sound, 25 minutes. Featuring Lydia Lunch, Lung Leg and Marty Nations.
Music by Lydia Lunch and J.G. Thirlwell. (producer and director; co-writer with Lydia Lunch)
Death Valley ’69. Color, Super-8 and video, 7 minutes. A rock video for Sonic Youth.
(director; co-writer and co-producer with Sonic Youth)
1985You Killed Me First. Color, Super-8 sound, 12 minutes. Featuring Karen Finley, David Wojnarowicz
and Lung Leg. (producer, director, writer)
Submlt to Me. Color, Super-8 sound, 12 minutes. Featuring Lydia Lunch, Clint Ruin, Tom Turner,
Audrey Rose and others. Music by Butthole Surfers. (producer, director, writer)
Manhattan Love Suicides. Black and white, Super-8 sound, 35 minutes. Featuring David Wojnarowicz,
Bill Rice, Nick Zedd and others. Music by J.G. Thirlwell and Dream Syndicate. (producer, director, writer)
1984The Right Side of My Brain. Black and white, Super-8 sound, 23 minutes. Featuring Lydia Lunch, Clint Ruin,
Henry Rollins and others. (producer and director; co-writer with Lydia Lunch)
1983Goodbye 42nd Street. Color, Super-8 sound, 4 minutes. (producer and director)