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Emory Visual Arts Gallery - Winter Exhibit (mondays)
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Through Fri., Apr. 25
CRITIC’S PICK: Jayne County’s Electric Dreams, Emory Visual Arts Gallery - Born in Dallas, Georgia, Jayne County first gained notoriety as a member the Theatre of the Ridiculous, an absurdist fringe outfit in New York in the late 1960s. She participated in the Stonewall Riots and joined Andy Warhol’s Factory where he cast her in his play ‘Pork’ as a character named Vulva Lips. County then moved to London and formed a band named the Electric Chairs; she signed a contract with David Bowie’s record label MainMan, but even they balked at releasing her product, deeming it too outrageous. “I couldn’t get anywhere for a long time because people were too freaked out by me,” County told The Guardian in 2021. “They had no idea how to market me.” The paper referred to her as “the first transgender rock‘n’roller.”
Now a visual artist living in Atlanta, County’s show at Emory is said to defy artistic convention while bringing her dynamic visions to life. “My dreams come to me while I’m half awake,” says County. “They feel like visions descending from somewhere - maybe the Holy Spirit, maybe a distant planet. From there, they evolve into psychedelic houses spouting designs, smokestack lightning, and creatures that don’t belong anywhere but my own head. The result is a trip - both on canvas and in life.” - Kevin C. Madigan
From the venue:
The Emory Visual Arts Gallery proudly announces the opening of Jayne County’s Electric Dreams, an electrifying new exhibition by punk icon, artist, and visionary Jayne County.
Curated by Daniel Fuller, this exhibition is made possible with generous support from Emory University’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library as well as the Arts and Humanistic Inquiry Initiative of the Office of the Provost of Emory University.
Electric Visions Come to Life
County’s art exists on the edge of dreams and waking visions, drawing inspiration from psychedelic imagery, spirituality, and surreal landscapes. Electric Dreams showcases her imaginative world where Trojan horses roll on wheels and give birth to psychedelic offspring, and magic mushrooms pulse with energy, acting as both muse and life force. Each canvas seems “plugged into a wall socket,” alive with electric color and raw creative power.
“My dreams come to me while I’m half awake. They feel like visions descending from somewhere—maybe the Holy Spirit, maybe a distant planet.”
Jayne County
Emory Visual Arts Gallery - Winter Exhibit (m... | 03/03/2025 10:00 AM