By Esteban Corona

Photos courtesy of Fish the Clown

Giant Monarch butterfly wings. Golden-glittered lobster claws. Twisted black horns, black fur coats, red latex gloves. These are just a few of the accessories living in this local performer’s wardrobe and most of it was created by himself.

”I want to look like a cartoon,” said Fish the Clown, who uses he/they pronouns. “I want to look like walking art. I don’t want to look human.”

For the past decade, Fish the Clown has been entertaining the El Paso community through the ideas he brings alive through costume, clownery, and the art of drag performance. A self-taught local artist and performer, Fish utilizes flamboyant expressions of gender from drag through the art of the clown to tell the stories he feels most inspired to tell. He creates avant-garde drag clown art through elaborate costumes and animalistic makeup features, bringing his stories to life in thought-provoking performances.

Fish has made a large number of unique and camp-like clown costumes that range from a four-horned theatrical cow in clown attire to a giant cockroach.

From the mirrored stage at Epic Bar to pride events in neighboring cities, Fish the Clown has become a rising star in El Paso’s local talent scene. Last September, Fish was part of the many DJs and drag performers from El Paso to perform in Marfa, Texas’ Pride Marfa.

“I’ve just always been an artist. I’ve always created before Fish. I’d come home and paint for hours, I’d get lost just painting and creating. One time I got home from work at 11 p.m. and painted till 6 a.m. I would sometimes paint on myself. I would draw myself as a clown in crazy outfits.”

It all started in September 2015 when Fish was asked by a friend for their help in their own show. When Fish asked how he should help, his friend answered that he could help by wearing whatever he wants. So he did, in clown costume, which is when he decided to begin performing as Fish the Clown.

Fish prefers the “drag clown” or “drag monster” label over “drag queen,” as his gender expression ranges from the masculine to the feminine. This constant shift allows Fish to not feel boxed into a certain type of drag.

The reaction to Fish’s artistic expression differs from other members of the drag world.

”I think even now to this day, I still feel pushback because you can tell people I do drag and they have this idea in their head of what drag is supposed to look like.” Fish does not like to limit himself to any boundary and views this extension of his character as a genderless being.

Fish is a busy and outgoing character in the city, who practices frequently with the El Paso Roller Derby team. He often joins friends on Thursdays at El Paso’s Wheelin-and-Chillin’, a social skating event that invites skaters of all skills and wheels to skate together along a designated route downtown. He recently joined the El Paso Roller Derby team at the Dia De Los Muertos parade, porting giant Monarch butterfly wings and staying on theme with skull makeup, Fish brought his lively character along with friends to walk the downtown streets.

Though The City Magazine is lucky to be able to call the person behind the clown makeup a friend, Fish prefers the mystery around his identity, but his stage persona may not be too far from the truth. “I like to think of Fish as an extension of me,” the performer said,” It’s not so much a different character. It’s just that Fish is braver on stage and maybe a little crazier in public.”

Fish is a member of the Tigua Tribe and they identify as two spirit, an umbrella term used by Indigenous Native Americans who embody a dual or nonbinary gender identity. He has noted before that the Tigua Tribe does not have clowns and wearing their drag has allowed them to express that part of their identity freely.

The local community has a strong and supportive drag scene with official city recognition and popular venues. The El Paso city council even officially recognized July 16 as International Drag Day and has voted to deprioritize the enforcement of state-level restrictions on drag shows within the city.

When asked if he has experienced any pushback for his drag, Fish replied,

“I wish more spaces would open up. I think people are scared of drag. They see people dressed up in these giant, colorful outfits. Dancing. I think that resonates with some people and I think with some people, it scares them. It’s too much confidence. It’s too much to handle.”

Fish has been popping up in places beyond the borderland. Last year, the Natalie Seroussi Gallery in Paris commissioned the avant-garde artist to create a new outfit for the Dragclown Affair exhibition from March 21 to July 31. The exhibition brought together 13 drag clowns from all over the world to display their creations while exploring all the facets to each culture and identity represented behind their costumes. The outfit Fish created included symbols from his Mexican and Native American background. As well as emblems only from our border city.

In El Paso’s subcultures, Fish has become a memorable and uplifting community character by following his passion for the art of storytelling. From his artistry to his active involvement with the El Paso community, Fish is an advocate for inclusivity and individual expression. He inspires others to embrace their unique identities, live authentically, and challenge conventional ideas about artistic taste. The world is his stage. When asked about what to expect next from him, Fish replied, “You’ll never know where Fish will be next.”

Fish the Clown’s Instagram: @fish_the_clown