Inside the fantastical world of performance artist Darrell Thorne | Wallpaper*

About this video

Darrell Thorne appears like a glitch in the Matrix. Ornate and mirrored, headdress high, often on prosthetic stilts, body painted, horned, winged, caped, crowned (sometimes all at once), he doesn’t enter so much as materialise. Not quite male or female, not entirely human or alien, he moves through space as something in-between. A guest from another realm, summoned by those who find the visible world insufficient. Gala committees, fashion houses and private clients seek him out for something that floats beyond the boundaries of reality. Part character designer, part performance artist, pure spectacle, Thorne turns flesh into fantasy. When pop’s grandes dames (Liza, Cher, Madonna) crave something otherworldly, they turn to his singular talents. A profile of Thorne appears as our cover story for Wallpaper's 2025 US Issue, which celebrates America’s rambunctious and resilient creative spirit in turbulent times. To accompany the story, we followed Thorne and his family as they prepared to walk in the annual Mermaid Parade on New York's Coney Island for a short film profile. Editors note: The club 'Catch One' referred to by Thorne in the video was a club in Los Angeles, not in New York. Before closing in 2015, Jewel's Catch One was a beloved black queer nightclub in Los Angeles. Read the full profile on wallpaper.com Directed by Michael Bullock and Bob Hoste Cinematography: Bob Hoste Interview: Michael Bullock Camera assistant: Ian Wishart Sound design: Duffy Sound Produced by Wallpaper* US Director: Michael Reynolds Head of Video: Sebastian Jordahn Director of Digital Content: Charlotte Gunn