Medium: Mixed media on newsprint
Size: 18" x 24"
Year: 1997
Framed: Sleek gold metal frame with black mat
Cotton Fever by Markham is a bold, haunting mixed media composition originally created as the cover art for Moaning Dwarf’s album of the same name. The work centers on the band’s iconic character, Kleetis—shown mid-howl, with one amputated arm explosively firing cotton balls into the void. The imagery directly references the practice of filtering injected drugs, offering a graphic meditation on addiction, damage, and despair.
The background—smeared in grimy grays—amplifies the mood of decay and dissolution. A physical syringe and twisted plastic wrap, embedded in the piece and secured with bright blue clay, punctuate the message with gritty realism. In Kleetis’s remaining hand, a mound of heroin is rendered with disturbing clarity—unflinching and accusatory.
Executed on fragile newsprint using layered mixed media techniques, the piece captures the raw sonic and emotional energy of the music it was designed to accompany. While created in 1997, Cotton Fever retains its power as a commentary on the unrelenting toll of substance use.
Now preserved in a sleek gold metal frame with black mat, the artwork commands attention while honoring its underground, confrontational origins. Comes with a certificate of authenticity from the artist.
This is an unflinching and confrontational work—perfect for collectors drawn to visual storytelling that challenges, disturbs, and demands reflection.
