Artist Maya Man performed "StarQuest" at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, a performance-lecture derived from her show "StarPower." The event sold out, surprising interim director Ivana Dama of Harvestworks, which co-sponsored the performance. The article highlights other practitioners of the form, including Mindy Seu with her touring piece "A Sexual History of the Internet," Gideon Jacobs and Joshua Citarella (the latter participating in the 2026 Whitney Biennial via his podcast "Doomscroll"), and influencer Mackenzie Thomas with her durational work "I Said What I Said" (2026).
The performance-lecture is gaining traction as a medium that mirrors online content creation, allowing artists and influencers to project their identities directly to audiences. Its rise challenges traditional art-world categories, blurring lines between artist, critic, and influencer, and reflects how digital culture is reshaping live performance. The article argues this form is the perfect art for the influencer age, offering a direct, confessional mode that resonates with audiences accustomed to front-facing cameras and personal branding.