Performance Space New York is auctioning naming rights to the stalls in its fourth-floor unisex restroom as a fundraising campaign. Artist Bailey Hikawa will create custom resin toilet seats and commemorative plaques for each stall, collaborating with donors to reflect their personal aesthetics. One stall remains available and will be auctioned online this summer. The campaign coincides with a sound installation by Kevin Beasley that transforms the restroom into an immersive acoustic environment. Senior director Pati Hertling produced a promotional video using AI tools, featuring a synthetic newscaster announcing the fundraiser.
The campaign matters because it reimagines institutional fundraising through absurdist, queer-affirming humor while honoring Performance Space New York's legacy as a crucible for experimental and marginalized artists. The organization, which has operated for over 40 years, uses the bathroom naming initiative to critique conventional donor recognition practices and to raise funds for experimental programming. The project also connects to the space's history as a queer venue where the AIDS ribbon was invented and ACT UP benefits were held. The campaign will culminate in a fall unveiling celebration tied to the 2025 season launch, which includes Julio Torres's theatrical debut.