NYC-based galley The Untitled Space is holding a benefit art auction called ‘Spring Into Action’, featuring artwork from artist Kat Toronto, aka Miss Meatface, supporting reproductive rights. Featuring over 50 photographs, including a number of new releases and unique Polaroids, the auction will kick off with an online preview on April 17th, 2023, with bidding live from April 20th at 12pm EST through April 30th at 5pm EST on untitled-space.art. A portion of proceeds from the sale of each artwork will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Miss Meatface is a multidisciplinary artist hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area who works in performance-based photography. She uses her often unsettling and surreal images to explore cultural ideals of feminine beauty and the objectification of women in a patriarchal society. Through her self-portraiture that dissects the complexities of sexuality and gender roles, the artist toys with the push and pull of dominance and submission and the acts of revealing and concealing.
“Ultimately I’d love to inspire people to ask questions of themselves and of society as a whole via my Miss Meatface work in the hopes that this self-questioning might inspire change, as well as inspire them to start creating their own art,” whatever form that may take!” she told us in an email.
Diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer in 2010 that eventually led to a full hysterectomy in 2013, Kat uses the name “Miss Meatface” as an artistic and spiritual catalyst to delve into a complex set of questions about where she now fits into society as a woman.
“I’ve been a lifelong advocate for women’s reproductive health but after my firsthand experience of a diagnosis of cervical cancer which led to a hysterectomy I understood just how immensely important these services are for women (regular pap smear, cancer screening, etc). Without a supportive healthcare system many lives will be lost and society as a whole will suffer,” Kat explained.
‘Spring Into Action’ features a wide array of unique and limited edition photographs by the performance artist, who has become known for her BDSM-inspired artwork. 10% of proceeds from each artwork sold will be donated to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which works to educate the public on reproductive and sexual health, advocate for policy to expand access to healthcare, and support healthcare providers at over 600 Planned Parenthood health centers across the country.
“Within my Miss Meatface work I enjoy toying with stereotypical gender roles: Miss Meatface is always taking the lead, she is the one in control directing her Meatmaid companion. She is a powerful force to be reckoned with, as shown through her love of latex and the incorporation of fetish and BDSM imagery, but this side is juxtaposed with her love of doilies and the importance of proper etiquette. She is an extraordinarily powerful feminine force, a call to all to not be afraid of the magical power found within femininity,” said Kat about the images on display in the auction.
The artist also spoke about the importance of donating a portion of proceeds to a reproductive rights cause, given her own experience as well as what is happening across the US with the regression of abortion access.
“Witnessing the horror show that is the current state of affairs regarding women’s reproductive rights and legal access to abortion in the United States, I’ve been inspired to ‘Spring Into Action’ and donate a portion of the proceeds from my benefit auction to Planned Parenthood Federation of America fund to help their work in keeping abortion and women’s reproductive health support legal and accessible to all.” said Miss Meatface in a press statement about the auction.
Preview auction lots now and register to bid online at untitled-space.art. Support women’s reproductive rights with a purchase of Miss Meatface artwork!
