Reverend Billy is a street performer/guerilla theater actor whose anti-consumerist message is delivered in the style of a street preacher.

NYTimes article | Visit Rev. Billy’s website

If you’re in the art scene in NYC you’ve run into Rev. Billy at least a few times over the last few years.

My favorite memory of Rev. Billy — and it may be the first time I encountered him— was at the Brooklyn Museum rally in support of the ‘Sensation’ exhibition.

You’ll remember that then-mayor Giuliani had whipped up some controversy by complaining that a certain painting in the show was anti-catholic and was threatening the museum with funding cuts &c. At the rally there was a small space cordoned off by the cops for a counter demonstration by catholics. Rev. Billy jumped on their side of the barricade (there were perhaps 10 people in the counter-demonstration) and entertained the pro-art crowd for a few minutes until the cops figured out he was on the wrong side and asked him to leave. permanent link to this post