Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure embraces the ethos of queer failure as a productive way of proposing alternatives rather than adhering to traditions of barbershops, which under the guise of giving haircuts, often reinforce notions about heteropatriarchal masculinity. The installation itself resembles a barbershop, but, rather than using the aesthetics found in a cis-normative, hetero patriachal barbershop, Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure, which debuted at the Wassaic Project in 2019² is comprised of loud patterned textiles, images of queer icons giving haircuts, it’s robustly textured, with pompoms, tinfoil, fuzzy fabric, faux fur, sequins, and much more. Glitter curtains mark the entrance; the walls are adorned with juxtapositions of multi-colored fabric stretched over plywood and staple gunned much the same way one would stretch a canvas or upholster furniture. Strings of multi-colored pompoms appear throughout, and Andy Warhol’s factory is referenced by the use of aluminum foil on the walls. A playful mix of various queer musical outfits punctuates the air, while party lights, a disco ball, and a faux zebra rug all adorn the space to create an ambiance that is akin to a queer club coupled with a campy parlor.