Readers of the New York Times’ recent profile of former lobbyist Tony Podesta may have come away thinking not about his renewed K Street aspirations, but about the article’s mention of a toilet camera.
According to the Times, Podesta’s former Falls Church home had a “closed-circuit video camera installed inside a toilet allowing users to observe their bodily processes from a unique angle.” Even for Podesta and his ex-wife, Heather, known for their expansive art collection, a toilet cam was quite the statement. So what’s the deal?
The artist responsible for the work is Pipilotti Rist, who’s known for her sometimes uncomfortably boundary-crossing work. “She’s an artist who doesn’t accept conventions about anything,” says Podesta, “and I have long admired her work.”
The Podestas sold their Falls Church house in 2007 (they divorced in 2014), and rather than truck the toilet-cam to Kalorama, they donated it to the Guggenheim in New York.
Correction: This post has been updated with the right artist information and a quote from Podesta.
Clara Grudberg joined Washingtonian in July 2021. Originally from New York City, she studies history and journalism at Georgetown University.
