Kembra Pfahler is a performance artist and lead singer for the theatrical cult-glam rock group The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black. Pfahler was born in Hermosa Beach, CA but now lives in New York City. She created horror films and performance art for ten years with Samoa, her ex-husband, and they decided their work need a musical...More
Kembra Pfahler is a performance artist and lead singer for the theatrical cult-glam rock group The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black. Pfahler was born in Hermosa Beach, CA but now lives in New York City. She created horror films and performance art for ten years with Samoa, her ex-husband, and they decided their work need a musical soundtrack. Thus, The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black (named after cult horror film actress Karen Black) was born in 1990. They recorded four albums, including Black Date (Cleopatra, 1998).
Pfahler is known for the sexual nature of her performances and for combining a "monster aesthetic" with traditional notions of female beauty. For instance, she often performs with her body painted a single color, her teeth blacked out, and wearing only black stiletto boots, black underwear, a teased out black wig, and theatrical make-up. She subscribes to a philosophy of Availablism, incorporating low-tech, readily accessible materials into her sets, props, and costumes.
Pfahler also curates shows, including a 2007 show called Womanizer at Deitch Projects in New York. In 2008, Pfahler was featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City during their Biennial celebration. Deitch Projects published a book on Kembra Pfahler, entitled Beautalism, in celebration of her projects for the Biennial.
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