Queer Van Kult is a liturgy of performance, installation, and music with a focus on queer artistry and medium. Imagined as a surreal funhouse of queer taste, Queer Van Kult was created as a response to a tapering of dedicated platforms for avant-garde performance and art on Staten Island.

The events presented and produced by the collective intend to encourage an atmosphere of community, unbounded creativity, and celebration—all while providing a home for the cultivation of experimental works by local and emerging artists beyond. Currently, QVK is Jenno Snyder, Nicie Mok, Rachel Lyngholm, and Zoë Tirado.

Exhibited Artists

Cherry Mag
Dot Dulgarian
Dreamcrusher
Elaichi + Juniper Spice
God Complex
Hot Messiah
Irina Kats
Jenno
Jurrien Kampinga
Lee Donlon
Lovetapescollective
Lys Obsidian + Morticia Amoureux
Madame Brassiere

Maggie Buford
Maria Ladias
Mazzy Leinbach
Milange Solano
Moody Marinaro
Nicie Mok
Noelle Choy with the assistance of Liu Light
Nola Star
Peggy Lee
PNK VLVT WTCH
Porno Pig
Rachel Decesario
Rachel Fox

Rena Parisi
Samantha Tirado
sb kosinski
Sea Shelves Productions
snooze
stevie may
T. Marsh
Therese Grossmeyer
Zoe Alice
Zoë Tirado

Past Exhibitions

QVK 01: Queer Van Kult x Kala Lolo

8.24.2019
The Carpenter’s Shop at Snug Harbor

In the inaugural QVK event, we combined efforts with Kala Lolo—the well-established series of queer variety shows and experimental theater produced by Staten Island-based artist Lys Obsidian—to present a cross-pollinated night of art, entertainment, and gay propaganda.

Held at Snug Harbor’s Carpenter Shop, Queer Van Kult x Kala Lolo featured installations and art by Dot Dulgarian, Peggy, Zoë Tirado, Maria Ladias, Jenno Snyder, and Nicie Mok; projections by Cherry Mag (the duo Ai Vila and Velvet Tatiana) and Rachel Fox; and performance art by SB Kosinski, Snooze, PNK VLVT WTCH Ensemble, and Nola Star; and was hosted by Porno Pig.

QVK 02:
Leap Day

2.29.2020
The Carpenter’s Shop at Snug Harbor

Queer Van Kult: Leap Day was inspired by the folklore legends surrounding the elusive day.

Returning to Snug Harbor’s Carpenter Shop, QVK: Leap Day featured performances by stevie may, Madame Brassiere, Noelle Choy with the assistance of Liu Light, and Jenno; and installations by Moody Marinaro and Maggie Buford, Zoë Tirado, Nicie Mok, and Rachel Fox. Hosted by lovers, Thing and Demon.

QVK 03:
Revelation

4.30–7.24.2022
Snug Harbor’s Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art

In 2022, QVK was invited to a residency with Snug Harbor’s Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art. For this we, were given four galleries to convert into a dreamscape that subverted the societal narrative in which to be queer is to be “othered.” Growing up queer is to be subjected to religious dogma and often personal and familial rejection. Just by existing, a queer person instigates circumstances without their willing participation—scenarios that may be fueled by patriarchal expectations and aspirations of a nuclear family. Revelation invites visitors to be “unborn” from these societal expectations and enter a world where queerness is a preexisting condition.

Revelation was inspired by hell houses, nuclear families, dream logic, and creationism churches. QVK both curated and commissioned works from visual and new media artists local to Staten Island, and NYC.

@queervankult | queervankult@gmail.com