TRET TIERNEY

   “An artist’s job is to reflect the times.” -Nina Simone
   My doppelgänger’s Paula Roid (she) or Paul A. Roid (he) or as TRETierney (huh) has maintained an archive of over 12,000 Polaroids, tens of thousands of 35mm & digital photographs, and thousands more including drawings, paintings, sculptures, literature, and media appearances.
   “TRET obsessively takes photographs, creating an image bank that will soon rival Warhol’s.” -Dr. Vicky Clark, Not A Theme Show 2001 catalog, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
   I contracted HIV in Puerto Rico in the 1980s before turning age 30. Today I’m a Long Term Survivor at age 63. These images range from 1991-2023. I faced death yet again in 2022 via a homophobic vehicular hate crime. I got punched, shoved, almost stabbed and wound up on an Uber driver’s hood twice.
   My artwork through the years in whatever medium is necessary has helped my brain and life tremendously. It’s filled w heart, fun, sex, religion, fear, homophobia, stigma, fantasy, faith, trust, literature and love. HE+ART=TRET

   Windows of light, windows of time, windows of opportunities, and windows with secrets inspired my 16 WINDOWS: Part 3 as seen in the up cycled black plastic Polaroid cases. The shadow box frame is a window that protects. Architecture provides safety from our world except when windows reveal secrets of a museum or gallery, nudist camp, beach, back stage, bathhouse, bathrooms and bruises.
   Whose home is that? Who’s that guy? What’s his life like? What kind of job does he do? Is he gay? Is he married? Is he wealthy? Is he happy? Wonder if he sees me? What do you want the world to see, or not to see in the “privacy” of your windows.

1982: Pratt Institute BFA Graphic Design w Honors. 1989-1998: Also took classes at Cooper Union, SVA, Pratt Manhattan, Parsons & FIT. 1999-2001: Warhol Museum Weekend Factory Teacher.
   1982-2022: Art Directorships: PBS’ The MacNeil Lehrer Report, Warner Bros Music, New Line Cinema, Andy Warhol’s Interview, MTV, Bloomingdales, GMHC, Rifat Ozbek, etc x3.
   2023: Mette (a protege of Pharrell Williams & Rihanna) found my 1981 Pratt animation reel online and used sections of it for her powerful “Mama’s Eyes” video.
   Select Exhibitions: The Andy Warhol Museum, 2001. Carnegie Museum of Art, 2000. Edward Hopper House Museum, 1976-1978 & 2023. Leslie Lohman Museum, 1986-2012. NYU Kimmel Center, 2002. Parsons Aronson Gallery, 2001. SOHO Art Project Space, 2023. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 1999-2001. Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Gallery (One Man Show) 2001, amongst others.

NY

United States