Queer Behavior: Scott Burton and Performance Art

Scott Burton (1939–89) was an artist who created performance art and sculpture that drew on queer experience and the sexual cultures of New York City in the 1970s. This first book on the artist examines his underacknowledged contributions to performance art and how he made queer life central to them. It charts his deep engagements with postminimalism, performance, feminism, behavioral psychology, design history, and queer culture. Queer Behavior makes a case for Burton as one of the most significant out queer artists to emerge in the wake of the Stonewall uprising and offers rich accounts of queer art and performance art in the 1970s.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Scott Burton (1939-89) was a pioneering artist who explored performance art and sculpture during the vibrant 1970s in New York City. His work drew upon his queer experiences and the rich sexual cultures that thrived in the city. In his artistic endeavors, Burton sought to redefine the audiences and possibilities of art by examining body language and queer behavior in public spaces, particularly street cruising.

This groundbreaking book is the first to comprehensively document Scott Burton's artistic contributions. It delves into his underappreciated contributions to performance art, highlighting how he made queer life central to his work. Burton extended his performances about cruising, sexual signaling, and power dynamics throughout the decade, eventually creating functional sculptures that subtly hinted at queerness by blending into everyday objects.

Through extensive research in various archives and numerous interviews, author David J. Getsy charts Burton's deep engagements with postminimalism, performance, feminism, behavioral psychology, design history, and queer culture. The book offers a comprehensive portrait of Burton as an artist who was restless and expansive, constantly pushing boundaries and challenging conventions.

Queer Behavior is not only a tribute to Scott Burton's artistic achievements but also a valuable contribution to the study of queer art and performance art in the 1970s. The book provides rich accounts of Burton's life in New York's art communities and showcases his unique practice of performance, sculpture, and public art. It argues that Burton should be recognized as one of the most significant out queer artists to emerge in the aftermath of the Stonewall uprising.

In conclusion, Queer Behavior is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of contemporary art, LGBTQ+ culture, and the transformative power of art. Scott Burton's pioneering work continues to inspire and influence artists today, and this book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of his life and artistic legacy.

Dimension: 254 x 178 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226817064