"Little Deaths" is the latest installment within the narrative of "Canon in Drag," an ongoing project that envisions an alternative Western art canon extending beyond patriarchal influence. This exhibition comprises a series of paintings that skillfully adopt the stylistic elements of iconic artworks while introducing a gender-reversed perspective and altered narratives.
Alluding to the euphemism for orgasm, "Little Deaths" explores the conditions of pleasure from psychological, physical, and cultural perspectives. Drawing inspiration from the rich mythologies of ancient Sumer and ancient Greece, these lush paintings question and provoke, challenging established norms and offering fresh possibilities for the contemplation of the conditions of pleasure.
“Little Deaths” is on view at Galerie RX, Paris, October 14 - November 25, 2023.
Details of Sacred Orgasm of Inanna (after Titian), 24”x32”, oil on canvas, 2023
Selected Press for Canon in Drag:
ARTNews, Canon in Drag: Female Artists Reimagine Famous Works by Men, Karen Chernick, December 26, 2023
The Brooklyn Rail, Tirtzah Bassel: Canon in Drag, Christopher T. Richards, November 2022
StirWorld, Brooklyn-based artist Tirtzah Bassel presents her new series 'Canon in Drag', Shraddha Nair, November 30th, 2022
Perfil, Clásicos de la pintura contra el patriarcado, Omar Genovese, December 3rd, 2022
BBC Radio 4: Front Row, Artist Tirtzah Bassel's Canon in Drag reimagines art history without the patriachy, July 20th, 2021
The Art Newspaper, Canon in drag: Tirtzah Bassel reimagines art history without the patriarchy, Chernick, Karen, July 7th, 2021
BBC Radio 4: Front Row, Artist Tirtzah Bassel's Canon in Drag reimagines art history without the patriachy, July 20th, 2021
Lilith Magazine, When Women Paint the Truth: Artist Tirtzah Bassel’s Female Gaze, Susan Schnur, November 15th, 2021