Born in Rochester, New York in 1953, she has often maintained that women are
“natural anarchists”.
While studying at the School of Fine Arts, she developed a stronger interest in lesser-known provocateurs of contemporary art rather than in established figures.
Kim Gordon
She has consistently opted to venture into less conventional territories instead of taking more direct routes. During the early ’80s, her increasing fascination with alternative rock coincided with women challenging the male-dominated norms within the music industry. In the U.S.,
Patti Smith
and
Lydia Lunch
were part of her world. In the United Kingdom, it was
The Slits
,
Raincoats
,
Poly Styrene
(X-Ray Spex), and naturally,
Siouxsie Sioux
Who won her admiration. Hence, a bond of spirit formed right from the beginning…
When she started the legendary band, she brought along these musical influences.
Sonic Youth
with
Thurston Moore
and
Lee Ranaldo
. This was 1981, and for three decades, her band made history with around fifteen albums, sometimes harsh but always uncompromising. Among these, “Sonic Youth” (1982), “Confusion Is Sex” (1983), “The Whitey Album,” also known as “Ciccone Youth” (1988), “Goo” (1990), or “Dirty” (1992) contain their share of raw anthems and cutting electricity that are the band’s trademark. As the Moore/Gordon couple gradually fell apart, the story of the mythical quartet also came to an end, as Kim Gordon reiterates in her autobiography “Girl In A Band” (2015).
In the year 2000, she rediscovered her love for contemporary art through organizing the touring exhibit “Kim’s Bedroom.” This show was prominently displayed at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and included both her work and pieces from fellow artists like
Mike Kelley
or
Raymond Pettibon
Always enthusiastic for novel adventures, in 2005 she was featured in “Last Days,” directed by Gus Van Sant, a movie chronicling the final moments of a person’s life.
Kurt Cobain
(
Nirvana
She has repeated this experience multiple times, notably with the French director.
Olivier Assayas
. She also appeared in an episode of “Gossip Girl” and notably in “Portlandia.” Perhaps remembering her mother who worked in fashion, she briefly partnered with the American brand
Urban Outfitters
and the French brand
Surface To Air
for small capsule collections.
And what about music, you may ask? It probably occupies a less central place than her work in the visual arts or on film sets. Alongside sometimes longstanding collaborations, notably with
Free Kitten
,
Body/Head
, and even
Yoko Ono
, her personal production ultimately comprises only two recordings, including the demanding “The Collective” (2024) partly inspired by writer
Jennifer Egan
”s short novel “The Candy House” received two nominations for the prestigious Grammy Awards; specifically, in the Alternative Music category!
(MH with Stéphane Soupart – Image: © Etienne Tordoir)
Image: Kim Gordon performing at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels (Belgium) on May 29, 2022