John Waters (*1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, author, actor and artist. As one of the most celebrated directors in American independent cinema, he has produced an array of cult films in the 1970s and 80s, such as Pink Flamingos (1972), Polyester (1981), and Hairspray (1988). Casting his eye over some unlikely corners of the film business, he later turned to photographic-based work in the 1990s with the same wit and audacity found in his films. At his vibrant best, when flaunting Hollywood’s rules or revelling in bad taste, he brings this rebellious streak to his artwork whichever the medium.
Seriously.
Curated by Nana Bahlmann
November 21, 2025–January 31, 2026
London
Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers are pleased to present Seriously., a group exhibition curated by Nana Bahlmann, featuring over a hundred conceptual photographs, print media, and select films ranging from the 1960s to the present, which expose the absurdities of our world and its representations. Through visual wit, subversiveness, and even outright slapstick, these photographic experiments offer humorous conceptual investigations of how images are constructed and interpreted. Employing a range of strategies, from masquerade and role-play to the construction of inexplicable scenarios, unexpected juxtapositions, and idiosyncratic sculptural compositions, these works reveal the farcical and fantastical within the visual realm. In reframing our visual world through satire and playful mimicry, they create space for both reflection and amusement.
