Following the acquisition of Zizi in Motion: A Deepfake Drag Utopia (Movement by Wet Mess) (2023) into SFMOMA’s permanent collection, Gazelli Art House is delighted to announce a major presentation of’s work at the museum from 23 May through September 2026.
Installed within SFMOMA’s Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Atrium, the large-scale multi-channel installation brings together 21 life-size AI-generated drag performers across a monumental LED display. Developed in collaboration with London-based drag artists, the work forms part of Elwes’ ongoing Zizi Project (2019–present), which explores the intersections of artificial intelligence, drag performance, queerness, and representation.
Animated through the choreography and movement of legendary drag performer Wet Mess, the installation intentionally foregrounds the glitches and failures of deepfake systems, exposing the biases embedded within machine learning technologies while reclaiming AI as a space for queer visibility, experimentation, and collective expression.
The presentation will coincide with a live performance of The Zizi Show at SFMOMA on 28 May 2026.
With thanks to Rudolf Frieling, Karen Cheung, and the entire SFMOMA team.
SFMOMA | Jake Elwes
Jake Elwes, Zizi in Motion: A Deepfake Drag Utopia (movement by Wet Mess), 2023
May 23, 2026
