Joe-Peter Witkin's work is probably too much for most to swallow. I know the first time I was shown his work, it was hard to ingest. But then my curiosity lead me to search for more of his work, and I was able to find the beauty in his work. I think this is exactly what he is trying to do with his audience. He wants you to see the "human condition" be it alive, deceased, human, animal, those in between, and have a tolerance for it. His choice of subject matter must have stemmed from his experiences as a child, witnessing a girl decapitated outside of his home. crazy.
There is something that keeps me drawn to his grotesquely beautiful work. Here are some of the tamer ones for your viewing pleasure, and a portrait of the artist.