Roots & Culture, Chicago IL
September 12-October 25, 2025
Pleasure Cruise was a two-person exhibition presenting video installation works and sculptures by artists Ále Campos and Kitty Rauth.
Campos takes a step back from liveness and explores performance on camera. These discreet video installations extract the double entendre embedded within the age-old question of gay cruising culture, “are you looking?”. Taking on the architectural forms and objects associated with sites of anonymous sex, these videos become queered speculative sites for contemplating tension, gaze and intimacy.
Rauth follows the histories of sunken cruise ships, namely the Titanic, to consider the complications of pleasure and indulgence. Engaging nautical traditions and symbolism, historical recreation, and fan fiction, the work builds a haunted picture of the relationship between classed hubris and catastrophic failure.
Read about the work in a conversation with Matt Morris here:
A Lesbian’s Heart Is an Ocean of Secrets, Femme Art Review
WSL1yd, 2025
4x scale historical recreation of White Star Line flag in linen, canvas, rope, pulley, cleat
128” x 53”, dimensions vary
Maiden Voyage, 2025
single-channel video 2min 30 sec loop
Cinematography and editing by Ruby Que
As the water rises, 2025
Table, linen damask tablecloth, linen napkin, handblown champagne flute, fountain pump, champagne
38” x 16” x 16.”
As the water rises, 2025
Table, linen damask tablecloth, linen napkin, handblown champagne flute, fountain pump, champagne
38” x 16” x 16.”
Unsinkable, 2025Cut crystal glass, glacier water
5.5” x 3.5” x 3.5”
Unsinkable, 2025
Cut crystal glass, glacier water
5.5” x 3.5” x 3.5”
Fan Fiction, 2025
White glossy vinyl wall text on white wall
60” x 60”
PDF full text of Fan Fiction