Klaus Nomi Mid Century Triptych

A mid century modern take on retro-futuristic queer icon, Klaus Nomi. A staple of the East Village art scene, the legendary Klaus Nomi awed audiences with his ethereal voice and his otherwordly appearance. From singing backup for David Bowie to singing operatic arias at Berlin gay discothèque Kleist Casino, Klaus’s career was wild, varied and transformative. Klaus was an early victim of the AIDS crisis and the loss of his beautiful countertenor operatic voice and his unique lens on human culture is one still felt to this day.

This triptych spans Klaus’s career — Print 1 is inspired by one of Klaus’s earliest performances of Purcell’s 17th century aria, The Cold Song, from King Arthur. Print 2 is inspired by Klaus’s evolution into his signature triangular futuristic tuxedo aesthetic. Print 3 is Klaus’s final evolution into a Baroque aesthetic — the ruffled collar helping to cover the outbreaks of Kaposi’s sarcoma on his neck, one of the numerous AIDS-related diseases Nomi developed toward the end of his life. Notably, the triptych ends on Print 3 as it begins in Print 1, with Klaus’s last public performance in 1982, taking the stage with a full orchestra at Eberhard Schoener’s Classic Rock Night in Munich, close to the place where he was born, singing The Cold Song for the final time. The lyrics are haunting in context and the performance was excruciating in its beauty and vulnerability.