Artist
Mariette Pathy Allen (American, born Egypt, 1940)American, born Egypt, 1940
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Applying Lipstick
- from the series House Ball, Harlem, 1984
Date1984, printed 2022
MediumInkjet print
DimensionsImage: 15 3/16 × 22 15/16 in. (38.6 × 58.3 cm)
Sheet: 15 15/16 × 23 15/16 in. (40.5 × 60.8 cm)
Sheet: 15 15/16 × 23 15/16 in. (40.5 × 60.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of the artist and ClampArt
Object number2023.66
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
PhotographyObject Type
Mariette Pathy Allen has been photographing members of the LGBTQ+ community for more than four decades, including the drag queens and other participants of the Ballroom Scene in New York. These community events and competitions are structured around particular categories of pageantry and performance in which individuals compete for prizes and bragging rights for their house. The Ballroom Scene was historically important in providing spaces for LGBTQ+ people of color and continues to provide spaces that celebrate individual identity and expression and community support.
ProvenanceThe artist; [ClampArt, New York, 2023]; given to MFAH, 2023.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in pencil, verso, bottom right: "Applying Lipstick" 1984 // 2/12 // Mariette Pathy Allen [signed]
Signed in pencil, verso, bottom right: Mariette Pathy Allen
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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Mariette Pathy Allen
1990-2000
Gelatin silver print
2000.225
