Kenny Kenny 13 at Strange Loop Art Gallery

Photographer Alice O’Malley collaborates with NY nightlife legend Kenny Kenny to reveal the icon’s many guises in her current show entitled “Kenny Kenny 13” at Strange Loop Gallery.

“These pictures were made years ago in Kenny’s dressing room, four flights up in a Greenwich Village flat. The space was so small that he would stand in one corner, while I climbed on the radiator kitty-corner. The wardrobe and everything else is Kenny’s own.” (O’Malley)

O’Malley’s photographic work stands as a living testament to the vibrant artistic community of New York’s Lower East Side. Through an intimate lens, O’Malley has created not merely documentation but a visual archive that captures the essence of a unique cultural ecosystem where artists live, create, and inspire one another.

What distinguishes O’Malley’s portraits is their remarkable authenticity—each image reflects a genuine connection with the subject, revealing the raw creativity and resilience that defines this iconic neighborhood’s artistic spirit. The photographs transcend mere representation to become artifacts of cultural significance, preserving moments and personalities that might otherwise fade from collective memory.

O’Malley’s work has earned critical acclaim through exhibitions at prestigious museums and galleries across the United States and Europe. The photographer’s distinctive visual language has also found resonance in prominent publications including iD, Art in America, Flash Art, and The New York Times Magazine, further cementing O’Malley’s contribution to contemporary visual culture.

Through consistent dedication to documenting this creative community, O’Malley has created both a historical record and an artistic statement that speaks to the enduring power of place and community in artistic development. The resulting body of work stands as both a tribute to and resource for those who have participated in the unique cultural landscape of the Lower East Side.

Strange Loop Gallery
and The Bureau of General Services — Queer Division
27 Orchard Street, New York
March 8-31st, 2013
strangeloopgallery.com

All images courtesy of Strange Loop Gallery.