Kembra Pfahler

Kembra Pfahler, a New York countercultural icon since the 1980s, is known for her extreme performances (painted body, blackened teeth, voluminous hair) that fuse Cinema of Transgression, kabuki, occultism, and bondage. Founder of the band The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black and muse to designers like Rick Owens, Pfahler has pushed boundaries for five decades with wild shows, enormous props, and resistance art. This work compiles 50 years of ephemera, documentation, and memoirs from collaborators, celebrating her as a star who terrified and fascinated audiences with her unique and unmistakable style.