The Nea Four: Karen Finley, John Fleck, Holly Hughes, and Tim Miller

In 1990, the “NEA Four”—Karen Finley, John Fleck, Holly Hughes, and Tim Miller-had their grants from the National Endowment for the Arts rescinded because of pressure from right-wing politicians who deemed their work “indecent.” The four performance artists sued the NEA and their case went to the Supreme Court, becoming a crucial flashpoint in the culture wars of the 1990s. The three queer members of the quartet (Fleck, Hughes, Miller) are regarded as key figures for their long and vibrant artistic careers and impact on the field of queer performance.