John Waters

John Waters is a filmmaker, writer, and artist known for his unique and provocative contributions to the world of cinema. 

Biography of John Waters

John Samuel Waters was born in 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He debuted as a filmmaker with his first short film, "Hag in a Black Leather Jacket." Throughout his early career, all of Waters' movies were filmed in the Baltimore area, featuring a talented ensemble of local actors known as the Dreamlanders.

In his early campy films, Waters skillfully presented exaggerated characters caught in outrageous situations, with dialogue that brimmed with hyperbole. His infamous "Trash Trilogy," comprising "Pink Flamingos," "Female Trouble," and "Desperate Living," fearlessly pushed the boundaries of conventional propriety and censorship, unapologetically challenging societal norms with audacious themes and provocative content.

In 1981, John Waters directed "Polyester." Subsequently, Waters' films took a turn toward the less controversial and more mainstream, with works like "Hairspray," "Cry-Baby," "Serial Mom," "Pecker," and "Cecil B. Demented." Despite this shift, these movies retained Waters' trademark inventiveness, offering unique and engaging storytelling.

In 1999, Waters received the Filmmaker on the Edge Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival.

In 2004, Waters created "A Dirty Shame," which earned an NC-17 rating. This film marked a return to his earlier, more controversial style from the 1970s, revisiting the provocative and boundary-pushing themes that defined his earlier work.

In 2014, Waters received a Grammy nomination for the spoken word version of his book, "Carsick," showcasing his versatility and talent beyond filmmaking. In 2016, the Maryland Institute College of Art bestowed upon him an honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to the arts.

In 2018, France honored Waters by appointing him an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of his significant contributions to the arts and culture.

John Waters' contribution to the world of art

Since the early 1990s, John Waters has been actively involved in creating photo-based artwork and installations.

In his photography, sculptures, and installations, John Waters applies his satirical style, cleverly re-editing and recontextualizing iconic film imagery. Through a witty and often hilarious queering of popular culture, he playfully challenges societal norms. His work delves into provocative themes and motifs, addressing race, sex, gender, consumerism, and religion at the core of his artistic practice.

In the series "Beverly Hills John," John Waters playfully envisions himself undergoing a dramatic plastic surgery makeover, featuring lip and cheek augmentation, Botox injections, and an amusingly alarming hair transplant. While humorously poking fun at his own vulnerability through these images, Waters also earnestly contemplates whether this reinvention could potentially invite self-parody.

John Waters capitalizes on his film director notoriety by showcasing a fascinating 74-minute video titled "Kiddie Flamingos." The video ingeniously portrays a table read of Waters' notorious X-rated cult film from 1972, "Pink Flamingos," reimagined as a children's movie, complete with an all-kid cast. With this audacious project, Waters aims to create a defanged and desexualized sequel that subverts expectations, intending to be even more perverse than the original. By transforming innocence into a new form of joyous, G-rated obscenity, Waters challenges societal norms and provokes thought about the boundaries of childlike innocence and adult-oriented content in cinema.

John Waters, as a visual artist, has enjoyed a multitude of solo exhibitions both in the United States and internationally. More recently, he has been featured in solo shows at Sprüth Magers in Berlin (2014), McClain Gallery in Houston (2012), Rena Bransten Gallery in San Francisco (2010), Arthur Roger Gallery in New Orleans (2011), Albert Merola Gallery in Provincetown (2009), and Gagosian Gallery in LA (2009). These exhibitions have allowed Waters to showcase his diverse artistic vision and further solidify his reputation as an accomplished and thought-provoking visual artist.