'I Throw Myself at Men #4'
Lilly McElroy's series of photographs 'I throw myself at men' starts with the premise of the artist going to a lot of bars where she literally throws herself at men. She uses her body as a projectile, hurling herself towards strong, vulnerable "hominis-cum-receptaculi", as she puts it, waiting to catch her. Perfectly poised in a perpetual state of social awkwardness and in full possession of the ability to subvert stereotypical gender roles, McElroy poses questions concerning relationships, social connecting, sex, gender, and the desire to form relationships quickly that are both intense and long lasting. The project initially started after Lilly placed ads on Craigslist.org looking for men who would meet her blind date style in bars and allow her to throw herself at them.
Lilly McElroy graduated from Chicago's School of the Art Institute's MFA program in photography and attended the Skowhegan School for Painting and Sculpture in 2006. She is an internet phenomenon, easily one of the funniest performance artists alive, and currently waiting tables in Kansas City.
LILLY MCELROY: I throw myself at men
Until 19 April
Thomas Robertello Gallery
939 West Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
T +1 312 421 1587
www.thomasrobertello.com
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