One of the most unique queens in New York City is definitely Avant Garbage. The visual allure alone is a work of art; from garments made from discarded materials and trash, to her famous mop wigs (literally excatly what it sounds like), Avant has a unique look and vibe that sets her apart from other more traditional look queens.
The creation of Ohio-born Jesse Hicks, Avant Garbage is a walking concept character that brings an elevated and hand-crafted drag aesthetic to New York's drag scene. I would consider Avant Garbage to be "alternative drag" for the fact that all of her looks are conceptual creations that are not intended to solely be "pretty". "I just wanted to create something that was my own personal take on drag," Avant said about her aesthetic. "My personal inspirations for my looks come from discarded items, forgotten items."
And these kinds of items indeed form her looks from head to toe. I had the opportunity to go with Jesse out of drag on a "dumpster dive" in the West Village and photograph him on the hunt for items that could be utilized in some part of Avant's looks. We traipsed around looking for anything and everything that would be useful in creating a look, with Jesse diving headfirst into anything that looked like it would be useful. Despite this, he remained cautiously aware of just how dirty these potential materials were and if touching them would be a mistake.
If there is one thing New York is synonymous with, it's garbage. What other material is more suited to be resurrected, reformed and made into beauty.
