Ed Woodham (born 1957) is an American conceptual artist engaged in social practice, performance and visual art.
[1] Utilizing Queer aesthetic strategies and often employing humor to challenge social codes and conditions, Woodham’s work activates specific contexts, bringing focus to the moment, along with shifts in awareness and perspective.
[2] In his art project, The Keepers, performers dressed in Ghillie suits appear in circumstances of rapid urban development to address displacement, gentrification, environmental impact, and historical loss.
[3] First performed in 2013 on beaches in Australia under the title "Numb and Number", the project has appeared in numerous locations over time, most recently in 2023 in the neighborhood of New York Penn Station [4] In their fictionalized history, “The Keepers” are otherworldly protectors that live “on the border between animal, plant, and human consciousness.” [5] Woodham is the founder of Art in Odd Places (AiOP).
[8] The seed AiOP originated during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, which supported a robust Cultural Olympiad.