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Photo Essay: Third Gender Artist Paves the Way for Possibilities Through Performance

Muxxxe, who is adorned in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry, stands on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Next to them is a Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation strapped onto a dolly. And to their right is a red carpet. They rest one hand on the dolly and wave with the other.
Muxxxe, a Tijuana-based artist, stands on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star recreation engraved with their name as part of a performance/intervention that reclaims space and calls out the lack of representation of trans and queer people in the entertainment industry. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
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As a trans artist, whose name is inspired by the third gender Indigenous people of Juchitan, Oaxaca, Muxxxe opts to be faceless as a way to create endless possibilities for who they could be instead of adhering to gender binaries. Much like the endless mutations and influences of their native Tijuana, Muxxxe tries to free themselves of gendered expectations. "I wanted to be something completely different outside of being man or woman, I wanted another possibility," they say. "I find Tijuana to be an often chaotic, in-your-face and crude place, and my work reflects that."

Muxxxe, who also writes rap and reggaeton music, is perhaps most known for their interventions at the border. During Trump's presidency, when he espoused anti-immigration rhetoric, Muxxxe, face hidden behind a nude covering, donning a black pig tails and black leather, dragged a portable speaker and microphone to the infamous "linea" where cars wait hours to cross into San Diego from Tijuana. There, they performed reggaeton songs, intervening in an often hostile and politically loaded space. Through these border performances, Muxxxe, who is interested in art that goes beyond gallery walls and engages with public space, created conversations around the intersection of border and queer identities.

Muxxxe performs original song "Me rio en tu cara" in Tijuana as cars wait in line at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Muxxxe's Performs "Me rio en tu cara" in Tijuana at the U.S.-Mexico Border

"Tijuana has molded me and has made me reflect on the relationship between this border condition and the metaphoric borders that we decide to cross in our own bodies and identities and being able to inhabit multiple spaces at once," Muxxxe says. "People come here from all over because they want to cross to the other side, but they often don't succeed and they get stuck in Tijuana, and on a symbolic level the border transforms into what never was."

On a recent Wednesday afternoon along Hollywood Boulevard, just as golden hour begins its magic, Muxxxe pushes a dolly, on it is a nearly 200 pound piece of concrete and granite. It's a near perfect recreation of the stars that dot the infamous Walk of Fame with the names of celebrities both past and present. Missing from the sidewalk, though, are the names of trans people who have contributed to the entertainment industry. This is precisely the reason Muxxxe enlisted a team based in Mexico City to make them a star with their name on it. The piece, which took over a month to make, was then flown to Tijuana, and then driven across the border to Los Angeles.

After pushing the heavy art piece down the Walk of Fame, Muxxxe, who is dressed to the nines in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry all meant to recall old Hollywood glamor, chooses a spot directly across the street from the Grauman's Chinese Theater where a crew premiere of the latest Mission Impossible is happening. Once there, the artist, whose face and body is completely covered by a black bodysuit worn underneath their gown, rolls out a red carpet and gently places the star on top of it. Collaborators and friends who've helped Muxxxe make this year-long idea into a reality, snap photos, crowd around them and yell "Muxxxe, Muxxxe, look here! I love you!" replicating what a typical Walk of Fame star ceremony would look and sound like. Tourists stop by to take photos, assuming it's a real ceremony.

This intervention is part of a series the artist has cheekily called "Fame For Dummies: A Guide to Becoming A Star," which is meant not only as a way to reclaim space and call out the lack of representation of trans and queer people in the entertainment industry, but also as a conversation between their native Tijuana and Los Angeles.

Videos from the Hollywood performance, which was funded through a grant by The Front galleryin San Ysidro are currently on view there until August. Muxxxe's performance at the border is also on view at the Vincent Price Art Museum's "Sonic Terrains in Latinx Art"exhibit until the end of the month.

"I'm constantly in resistance, trying to reclaim space, trying to be seen," Muxxe says. "And who says I have to wait for someone to give me a star?"

View photos from Muxxxe's performance below.

Muxxxe, who is wearing a black morph suit underneath a white sparkly dress, looks in the mirror and adjusts their wig which sits on top of their head.
Muxxxe adjusts their wig in preparation for their performance/intervention at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Two photos side by side. The photo on the left is a curly black wig sitting on a foam mannequin head. The photo on the right is a long, sparkly white dress with feather sleeve caps hanging on a hanger, hooked onto an open window.
A glamorous, early Hollywood-style wig, left, and dress, right, await to be worn by Muxxxe for their performance/intervention at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe stands in a bedroom wearing a black morph suit and a sparkly, glamorous white dress. A woman stands in front of them and adjusts a black, curly, glamorous wig over Muxxxe's head.
Collaborators help Muxxxe get ready for their performance on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is wearing a black morph suit under a sparkly, glamorous dress puts on a silver bedazzled high heel.
Muxxxe puts on bedazzled high heels, meant to recall old Hollywood glamour. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
A collaborator hooks on a sparkly necklace on Muxxxe, who is wearing a black morph suit underneath sparkly jewelry and a sparkly dress.
Muxxxe wears a sparkly statement necklace to recall old Hollywood glamour. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Two photos side by side. The photo on the left is a full body photo of Muxxxe, who is adorned in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry over a morph suit, standing at the bottom of a staircase. The photo on the right is Muxxxe in the same clothing standing in front of a white wall.
Muxxxe is adorned in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry over a morph suit, recalling old Hollywood glamour. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
A close-up of Muxxxe's hands, covered with black gloves, delicately holding a bedazzled pearl clutch. Bedazzled silver rings decorate their fingers. Their sparkly white dress and faux fur coat create a texture background behind their hands.
Muxxxe is dressed to the nines in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry all meant to recall old Hollywood glamor. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Three people help carry a Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation. The star reads, "Muxxxe."
Collaborators help Muxxxe unload the Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation — a 200-pound slab of concrete and granite. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a black morph suit under a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry, pushes a Hollywood Walk of Fame star with their name on it on a dolly. They're walking down a street.
Muxxxe pushes their Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation on a dolly down Hollywood Boulevard. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
A person wearing a sparkly white dress over a black morph suit pushes a slab of concrete on a dolly down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The person is wearing a glamorous early Hollywood wig and sparkly high heels.
Tijuana-based artist Muxxxe pushes a Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation in a dolly down Hollywood Boulevard. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry over a morph suit, pushes a Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation on a dolly as they cross the street. The star recreation reads, "Muxxxe."
Muxxxe pushes their Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation on a dolly as they cross the street on Hollywood Boulevard. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a black morph suit under a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry, stands next to their Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation which is propped up on a dolly. Two women, one who is pushing a stroller, stop to take a selfie with Muxxxe.
Tourists stop to take a selfie with Muxxxe on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
A slab of a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star with the name, "Muxxxe" engraved on the star is strapped onto a dolly and is standing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Muxxxe's Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation stands on a dolly on Hollywood Boulevard. Muxxxe enlisted a team based in Mexico City to make the 200-pound slab of concrete and granite. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, adorned in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry, lays out a red carpet on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Muxxxe lays down a red carpet for their performance/intervention at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a black morph suit under a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry all meant to recall old Hollywood glamor, stands behind their Walk of Fame star recreation. The slab sits on top of a red carpet. Behind Muxxxe is the Grauman's Chinese Theater and cars bustling down the street.
Muxxxe poses with their star recreation in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe in a black morph suit is wearing a glamorous early Hollywood wig, a sparkly white dress, a fluffy white shawl and sparkly high heels. They are standing over a red carpet on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Next to them is a dolly holding a concrete slab that is a Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation. Tourists and collaborators crowd the performance, emulating a real ceremony.
Collaborators and tourists take photos of the performance, emulating a real unveiling ceremony. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a black morph suit under a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry, sits on a red carpet laid out on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In front of them is a Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation sitting atop the red carpet.
Muxxxe sits on a red carpet they laid out for the Walk of Fame star recreation as part of their performance art critiquing the lack of representation of trans and queer people in the entertainment industry. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a black morph suit under a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry all meant to recall old Hollywood glamor, is on their hands on knees on a red carpet laid out on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Next to them is their Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Behind them is cars driving up and down Hollywood Boulevard
Muxxxe set up their performance art piece on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, adorned in a black morph suit under a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry, stands on a red carpet next to their Hollywood Walk of Fame star recreation. They're standing with one hand on their hip and the other in the air.
Muxxxe poses on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to their star recreation. | Samanta Helou Hernandez
Muxxxe, who is adorned in a sparkling white dress, curled wig and bedazzled jewelry stands on a red carpet laid out on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On the carpet in front of them is a Hollywood star recreation. Pedestrians look on as they walk by.
Muxxxe stands next to their star recreation on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as passersby look on. | Samanta Helou Hernandez

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