‘Art School Stole My Virginity’ to take place in April
By Ben Kelly
Clayton Pettet – the 19 year old Central St. Martin’s student who revealed last year that he plans to lose his virginity for art – has announced that the performance piece will take place on the new date of April 2, at the Orange Dot gallery in Bloomsbury.
The piece, titled Art School Stole My Virginity, will see the teenager lose his virginity with a male partner before a selected audience of 150 people.
Contrary to speculative media reports, the performance will not be followed by a Q&A, but rather Clayton will invite the audience to ask themselves about the true definition of virginity after witnessing his performance.
Clayton spoke to Attitude in January (Issue 239) about his plans. “Virginity is subjective because it has no physical attributes. First experiences are real, and what you determine to be your first experience.” On the backlash he’s already experienced – and the future judgement he anticipates, he said: “I don’t mind if people judge me – that’s art, everyone judges art.”
Although the performance is live, there will be a follow-up exhibition lasting two days after the event with Clayton’s permanent work on display. This exhibition will be open to the general public on April 3, 4 and 5, and will not be ticketed.
You can follow Clayton at artschoolstolemyvirginity.tumblr.com