Three books by Supervert: Extraterrestrial Sex Fetish, Necrophilia Variations, and Perversity Think Tank

Supervert is the creator of the books Perversity Think Tank, Necrophilia Variations, and Extraterrestrial Sex Fetish. Supervert's essay Horror Panegyric was published by Savoy Books and an introduction to Venus in Furs was published by Bookkake.

Supervert Essays

In addition to its books and blogs, Supervert has written a number of essays and reviews over the years. Anything about William Burroughs appears on RealityStudio. The essays on contemporary art stem mostly from the 1990s, when Supervert wrote criticism for the major New York art magazines.

Featured Essays

Horror Panegyric

"Horror Panegyric" is Supervert's essay on the Lord Horror novels of Savoy Books' David Britton and Michael Butterworth. Published in book form in 2008, the entire essay — along with excerpts from the novels — is available for free on supervert.com

Sadistic Introduction to a Masochistic Book

"Sadistic Introduction to a Masochistic Book" is Supervert's introduction to the Bookkake edition of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's classic Venus in Furs, published in book form in 2008.

Perversion and Terror

Written in the month following the terror attacks of 9/11/2001, "Perversion and Terror" ponders the role of perversion in a world of terror.

Essays about Art and Reviews of Art Exhibits

Animal Sex Machines

Bestiality (sex with animals) in the history of art and particularly in two mechanized works by contemporary artists Paul McCarthy and Mat Collishaw

Matthew Barney and Beyond

Analysis of the work of Matthew Barney — aka Bjork's husband — in terms of power, askesis, impedance, force, and sliminess

John Currin's Nudes

The nude and its paradoxes in the work of contemporary artist John Currin. You may also read this in español: Desnudos de John Currin

John Currin: Boomerang

Analysis of the "weirdness," sexism, and painterly virtuosity of Currin's painting. Also includes an interview with the artist. This text was included in the monograph accompanying Currin's first major solo museum exhibition, in France and in Londo. You may also read this in español: John Currin: Boomerang

Vanessa Beecroft: Classic Cruelty

Description of the implicit cruelty that occurs when transposing classical art-making techniques to live subjects, as in the work of Vanessa Beecroft

Joel-Peter Witkin

Review of an exhibition featuring the necrotic photographs of Joel-Peter Witkin

Rudolf Schwarzkogler

Review of an exhibition documenting the sadomasochistic performances of this seminal Viennese performance artist

Rita Ackermann

Review of an exhibition featuring the nymphet works of lolita painter Rita Ackermann

Jeff Koons: Frankenstein in Paradise

Discussion of the "Celebration" series of paintings and sculptures by Jeff Koons

Robert Williams' Car Crashes on Canvas

Defense of the outrageous, violent, supposedly sexist paintings of Zap Comix legend and underground artist Robert Williams. This was the first article dedicated to the artist in a major "art world" publication.

Sean Landers: Logorrhea

Review of [sic], the brilliant first book by artist Sean Landers: "...if shrinks of the future hope to illustrate logorrhea (think logo + diarrhea) with his wordy painting, now they can also cite his arty literature..."

Clive Barker's Eye

Exhibition catalog for the first-ever gallery showing of drawings and paintings by horror meister Clive Barker

Allen Ginsberg

Review of an exhibition featuring autobiographical photographs by Beat poetry legend Allen Ginsberg

Orlan

Review of works by an artist who considers plastic surgery a performance art

Lily van der Stokker

Review of an exhibition featuring the groovy pink wallpaintings of this pomo psychedelic artist

Barbara Kruger

Review of an exhibition featuring the propagandistic work of artist Barbara Kruger

Paula Hayes

Review of an exhibition featuring brilliant, sinuous works that propose a botanical sexuality