Reflecting his background as an art critic, the work of William Powhida displays a concentrated fascination with the politics of access and the powers that control the assignment of value in the art world. He frequently uses an alter ego (also named William Powhida) to enact the worst excesses of this world – and, by implication, of broader, consumer-driven culture. This fictional Powhida exhibits many of the worst traits imaginable in any coddled enfant-terrible art star. In his revealing, mocking, and often hilarious drawings, Powhida depicts his take on the machinations of the art world; he has also recently expanded his practice to include performance and video.
Image: William Powhida,
The Game, 2010. Graphite on paper. 30x23 inches. Courtesy of the artist.
