Esther Asher Shmuelevitz Hacohen

I am a performance artist and designer based in Chicago, IL and New York, NY. My work explores overstimulation, anxiety, ugliness, and glamour. As a trans person and Ashkenazi Jew, two identities that come with a lot of baggage, I have always existed at a high frequency. I use bright, flashing colors and jarring sounds to disrupt the audience and push them to sit in their discomfort. My work showcases all of the parts of myself that often clash with each other.

Layering is central to my practice. I incorporate photo, video, fibers, sound, text, and installation into my work to create an immersive experience. I perform in drag, under the name Atrocious, and I see my drag practice as the most complicated aspects of myself, dialed to 100. I’ve described my drag as the “Headache Queen” and as having the glamour of a Miami Beach hooker and the personality of a babushka.

As a fashion designer, I combine clashing patterns, textures, and techniques to create pieces that blur the line between garment and sculpture. I use found garments and scraps, pieces of fabric with history, and recontextualize them in my garments. I’m fascinated by what people consider ugly or unflattering, and gravitate towards prints that resemble a grandma’s couch, nauseating color combinations, and organic textures. My work pushes the limits of what is considered “fashionable” or traditionally beautiful.