Jamie Isenstein, 32, Performance Artist
Isenstein’s the purveyor of a new brand of endurance performance art. Like a PG version of the nailed-to-a-Volkswagen self-mutilators of the seventies, she pushes her body’s ability to withstand the most unnatural of circumstances. And the work actually sells: Her solo debut at Andrew Kreps Gallery in Chelsea—up through October 20—was bought out within its first week. The first piece she ever showed there, Magic Fingers, seems like an exercise in photo-realism—elegant golden frame surrounding an oh-so-lifelike, disembodied hand—when in fact Isenstein is cooped up within the gallery wall (she swears it’s not so bad) for hours, mimicking the hand gestures of famous art-historical subjects. Even this sold: Its buyers display a will return sign, and can call her up to perform the piece whenever they’d like.

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