Rough Trade: Art and Sex Work is an exhibit that opened this week in NYC. It explores a little known history at the crossroads of the sexual underground and popular culture and was organized to coincide with David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night at the Whitney.

It includes work by Wojnarowicz, along with John Barrington, Mark Beard, Kenny Burgess, Larry Clark, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Fred Halsted, Peter Hujar, Mark Morrisroe, Joe Parker, Tomata du Plenty, Bill Rice, John Sex, Jane Sherry, Pedro Slim, Samuel Steward, and Tommy Vallette along with related ephemera.

Propelled by the sexual revolution of the 60s, many artists found not only employment in the adult entertainment industry, but artists like Wojnarowicz and Mark Morrisroe drew on their early histories of hustling on the streets to create work that reflected personal experiences as child sex laborers.

Other artists, like Tomata du Plenty and Larry Clark, documented their friends, lovers, and tricks that were involved in the sex trade. Groundbreaking shows like the Times Square Showin June of 1980 were held in massage parlors, go-go bars, porno theaters, and strip clubs.

Rough Trade: Art and Sex Work was curated by Greg Ellis and Brian Paul Clamp and runs through September 22 at ClampArt.

And look for World Of Wonder‘s upcoming documentary about David Wojnarowicz, directed by Emmy award winner, Chris McKim.

P.L. diCorcia, Major Tom; 20 years old; Kansas City, Kansas; $20

P.L. diCorcia, Mike Miller; 24 years old; Allentown, Pennsylvania; $25

Tomato Du Plenty, Golden Boy, Bubba, and Scooter (Sex Worker Series)

Mark Morrisroe; [Sweet 16: Little Me as a Child Prostitute]

David Wojanarowicz’s drawing at Pier 34. Photo, Peter Hujar

NSFW: The upcoming exhibit, Scarlett Muse, at Daniel Cooney Fine Art further exposes hustlers, hookers, prostitutes, gigolos, ladies of the evening and assorted sex workers. Since the dawn of photography over 150 years ago the purveyors of prostitution have inspired compelling imagery...

The idea of this exhibition at first, might seem a bit illicit and seedy, but it is really quite the opposite upon examination. From an early stereo daguerreotype (c.1850’s) to E.J. Bellocq’s portraits of prostitutes in the brothels of New Orleans to Atget and Brassai photographing ladies of the evening in Paris, the show runs the gamut of up-close intimacy.

The more current work of Benjamin Fredrickson in a dual role as artist/hustler with his provocative Polaroid self-portraits made while servicing clients rivet while Anthony Friedkin’s look at gay life in gritty San Francisco are a window into the dawn of gay liberation. Punk rock legend Danny Fields‘ shares living room snapshots circa mid 70’s and artist’s George Awde, P.L. diCorcia and Malerie Marder bring us into the 21st century.

The exhibit opens Thursday, June 9 at Daniel Cooney Fine Art.

#NSFW: ROUGH TRADE: ART & SEX WORK IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY

"SCARLETT MUSE" EXPOSES & EXPLORES THE WORLD'S OLDEST PROFESSION