American artist and writer Joe Brainard was BOTD in 1942. Born in Salem, Arkansas, he grew up in Oklahoma, moving to New York City in 1960 to pursue an artistic career. After studying briefly at the Dayton Art Institute, he returned to New York City, becoming associated with the writers of the New York School, including Frank O’Hara, John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, Virgil Thompson and James Schuyler. His art work initially drew inspiration from Pop Art by resisted easy classification. Drawing from everyday objects and pop culture images, including comic books, his work included collages, drawings, paintings, designs for books and album covers. He also designed sets and costumes for theatre and ballet productions, including for the Joffrey Ballet. He is perhaps best known for his 1970 memoir I Remember, a loosely structured series of anecdotes and reflections on his Oklahoma childhood and adult life in New York. Brainard was in a long-term open relationship with writer Kenward Elmslie for much of his adult life. He died in 1994 of an AIDS-related illness, aged 52.