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Thomas Block Rubnitz (April 2, 1956 – August 12, 1992) was an American painter, video artist and art collector. He was a part of the New York City drag world of the late 1980s, and he was once described as "an exuberant ethnographer of the East Village queer scene." Video artRubnitz was a pioneer of video art and his films were inspired by pop culture and Las Vegas-style shows. A number of his works featured RuPaul and members of The B-52s. He also worked closely with East Village-associated artists like Club 57 founder Ann Magnuson, David Wojnarowicz, Lady Bunny, Hapi Phace, and John Sex. He also appears in the B-52s music video Love Shack. He was also close with the actress, singer and nightclub owner Ann Magnuson. Collaborating with The B-52s, Rubnitz produce a "public service announcement" for the Art Against AIDS organization's "Summer of Love" project in 1987. The work visually referenced the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles in tableau vivant form, featuring the B-52s, Willi Ninja, Allen Ginsberg, Nam Jun Paik, Quentin Crisp, Lady Bunny, David Byrne, and others. His works also include "Strawberry Shortcut" and "Pickle Surprise." Rubnitz has said of his art, “I wanted to make things beautiful, funny and positive—escapes that you could just get into and laugh through. That was really important to me.” (en) |
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Thomas Block Rubnitz (April 2, 1956 – August 12, 1992) was an American painter, video artist and art collector. He was a part of the New York City drag world of the late 1980s, and he was once described as "an exuberant ethnographer of the East Village queer scene." His works also include "Strawberry Shortcut" and "Pickle Surprise." Rubnitz has said of his art, “I wanted to make things beautiful, funny and positive—escapes that you could just get into and laugh through. That was really important to me.” (en) |
