“Sext Me if You Can” is an interactive performance installation taking place in the New Museum Lobby in full view of Museum visitors. For this performance, Karen Finley creates a limited edition of paintings inspired by “sexts” that she receives from participating patrons. Participation takes the form of a commission and requires a ten-minute private and anonymous sitting on-site during announced performance times (bring your own cell phone!). Through this process, the erotic exchange with the artist—bound by rules of commerce—transforms into a lasting and collectible work of art. For more information on how to participate, please see below.

KAREN FINLEY’S LIMITED EDITION “SEXT ME IF YOU CAN” PAINTINGS ONCOMMISSION AT THE NEW MUSEUM STORE

Thursday May 23–Sunday May 26

New Museum Store patrons are invited to commission a participatory work of art by Karen Finley for their personal collection. Here’s how it works: Patrons who wish to participate process their commissioning fee online or in person at the New Museum Store and are subsequently provided with a time to be present for a ten-minute on-site sitting during announced performance times. Sittings are completely private, discrete, and anonymous. During your sitting, you will receive access to a private phone number for the purpose of sending Finley a “sext.” This sext will, in turn, serve as the inspiration for a painting, or series of paintings, created by the artist in a temporary studio set up in the New Museum Lobby. The paintings will be displayed for the duration of the installation, from May 23–26. At the end of the installation, participating patrons (now collectors) will take home one of the paintings inspired by their sext.

Participants must be at least eighteen years old. No exceptions.

Presented in conjunction with “NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star” and IDEAS CITY.