10 Facts About Mark Morrisroe

Mark Morrisroe was an American performance artist and photographer.

Mark Morrisroe is known for his performances and photographs, which were germane in the development of the punk scene in Boston in the 1970s and the art world boom of the mid- to late 1980s in New York City.

Mark Morrisroe's mother was a tenant of Albert DeSalvo, who would become known as "the Boston Strangler", and Mark often told people he was DeSalvo's illegitimate son.

Mark Morrisroe attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where he made friends with several soon-to-be-well-known artists, including Nan Goldin, David Armstrong, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Stephen Tashjian, Gail Thacker and Pat Hearn.

Mark Morrisroe experimented with unusual development techniques, receiving generous support of supplies, film, and chemicals from the Polaroid Corporation.

Mark Morrisroe's photographs were mostly portraits, and his subjects included lovers, friends, hustlers, and people who visited his apartment.

Mark Morrisroe died on July 24,1989, aged 30, in Jersey City, New Jersey from complications of AIDS.

Mark Morrisroe's ashes are scattered in McMinnville, Oregon on the farm of his last boyfriend, Ramsey McPhillips.

Mark Morrisroe is considered a member of the Boston School of Photography and his work is found in many important collections including that of the Whitney and MOCA of Los Angeles.

The estate of Mark Morrisroe is currently located at the Fotomuseum Winterthur.