Harmony Korine

Harmony Korine, a Miami-based artist and filmmaker, is known for his influential and divisive work rooted in modern American grotesque. A fan of slapstick and vaudeville, he coined the term "mistakism" to describe his unconventional aesthetics and humor. His early appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman introduced viewers to his unique blend of beauty and repulsion. Born in 1973 in Bolinas, California, Korine grew up in a commune, moved to North Africa, and settled in Nashville at age seven. He began creating art as a teenager and later attended film school at New York University. His collaboration with Larry Clark led to the screenplay for Kids (1995). Korine directed Gummo (1997) and Julien Donkey-Boy (1999), then took a break from directing before returning with Mister Lonely (2007) and other films like Spring Breakers (2012) and The Beach Bum (2019). Korine's artwork was featured in the traveling exhibition Beautiful Losers (2004–2009), showcasing his work alongside notable artists linked to youth subcultures. He had a solo exhibition titled Pigxote at Vanderbilt University in 2009 and held a major retrospective at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2017.