Brooklyn-based artist Lisa Levy is set to challenge the art world with her bold performance, The Artist is Humbly Present. Taking place at Christopher Stout Gallery in Bushwick, Levy will sit completely nude on a toilet for two days, directly referencing Marina Abramović’s famous 2010 performance, The Artist is Present.
Levy’s goal? To expose the ego and pretension she believes dominates the art world. By choosing nudity and a toilet as her stage, she aims to strip art of its superficiality and focus on authenticity.
A Raw Critique of the Art World
Levy’s performance critiques the vanity and competition in contemporary art, which she feels is driven more by wealth and trends than meaningful creativity. “Ego interferes with art-making,” Levy explains. “The most direct way to create art is without pretense.”
Through this act of vulnerability, Levy invites viewers to confront their own perceptions of authenticity in art and human connection.
Interactive and Vulnerable
Like Abramović’s performance, visitors are encouraged to sit across from Levy and engage with her however they choose. However, Levy’s version is far from glamorous—her nude stillness on a toilet strips away all pretension, creating a raw, interactive experience that challenges societal norms.
Nudity as Protest in Art
Levy’s performance joins a growing trend of artists using nudity to protest or make bold statements. By sitting naked on a toilet for 48 hours, she uses vulnerability as a tool to expose the art world’s flaws and encourage honest dialogue.
Why This Performance Matters
The Artist is Humbly Present is more than a parody of Abramović’s work—it’s a powerful critique of how ego and pretense can distort art’s purpose. For viewers, it’s an opportunity to reflect on how art can remain authentic in a world often driven by wealth and superficiality.