The Quentin Crisp Archives invites you to
the online gallery of



a gathering of photographs and paintings continuing the celebration
of mr. crisp's life and legend on the one-year anniversary of his death

Author, performer, wit, and philosopher, Quentin Crisp lived "in the profession of being"--in London and New York. Notorious for his individualism and unique style from the 1920s through the 1960s, Quentin Crisp gained further celebrity in 1968 with the autobiographical publication of The Naked Civil Servant (made into a movie in 1975 starring John Hurt). At the age of 72, he moved to New York City, achieving a lifelong goal. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Crisp toured his one-man show, An Evening with Quentin Crisp. He appeared in various stage productions, movies, and commercials. Mr. Crisp wrote movie reviews and an array of articles for several newspapers, magazines, and Web sites. Mr Crisp authored several books, including Resident Alien, How to Become a Virgin, Manners from Heaven, and The Wit and Wisdom of Quentin Crisp (edited by Guy Kettelhack). Just months before his death, Quentin Crisp finished work on Dusty Answers, his final book, which contains not only his standard literary prose and philosophy, but also presents his collected poetry. Quentin Crisp died on November 21, 1999 in Manchester, England, where he was to begin touring his latest version of An Evening with Quentin Crisp. The Quentin Crisp Archives presented Quentin Crisp: London & New York, an exhibit of photographs and paintings, on the one-year anniversary of Mr. Crisp's death. The exhibit was the first presentation of photographs and ephemera from the personal archives of Quentin Crisp. The exhibit opened at The Emerging Collector on Tuesday, November 21, 2000, and closed on Thursday, November 30. The gallery (since closed) was located at 62 Second Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets, in New York City--only a few steps away from 46 East Third Street, the place where Quentin Crisp had lived for nearly 20 years. It is with much pleasure that the Quentin Crisp Archives presents the online Quentin Crisp: London & New York. The black-and-white photographs are by London artist Jean Harvey, and New York photographers Martin Fishman and Phillip Ward. Also included are paintings and drawings by New York artists Spider Webb and Sal Monetti. These images show Quentin Crisp practicing the "profession of being" during two different periods in his life. Ms. Harvey provides the Quentin Crisp of London during his upswing at "being famous" following the publication of The Naked Civil Servant and the success of his one-man show. The other images show a personal view of the Quentin Crisp of New York City during his quest at "becoming American" through the 1980s and 1990s. Enjoy! For more information, contact Phillip Ward, Curator by email or by phone at 212/254-0508.