James Deen, Heather Vahn Appear in James Franco's 'Rebel' Exhibit

LOS ANGELES — XBIZ Award-winning performer James Deen and fellow performer Heather Vahn engage in explicit sex in a video that accompanies James Franco's upcoming "Rebel" art exhibition that opens on May 15 at the JF Chen gallery.

Presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art, "Rebel" is an homage to Nicholas Ray’s classic 1955 film  "Rebel Without A Cause," which starred Hollywood legend James Dean. "Rebel" was conceived by Franco to embrace and mine the main themes and events in the original film.

The exhibition reinterprets the film’s legends, the people involved and its place in Hollywood. "Rebel" is being presented via film, video installation, photography, painting, drawing, and sculpture, all housed in and framed by iconic Hollywood structures. It will be on view from May 15 through June 23 at JF Chen, a newly emerging contemporary art and design space, located at 941 North Highland Ave., LA 90038.

Deen and Vahn are part of the video installation that was shot by Paul McCarthy and son Damon McCarthy. The video primarily features Franco as James Dean, Paul McCarthy as Nicholas Ray, and others in what is being billed as "ludicrous abstractions of events that were rumored to have happened during the making of Ray’s 'Rebel Without a Cause.'"

Deen and Vahn perform a hardcore sex scene for the video, which is set in Bungalow Two at the Chateau Marmont. The video references Hollywood and celebrity and art and the art world. The McCarthys desribe it as “the beginning of an ongoing investigation into, and improvisations involving, a group of characters for a major multimedia installation work” to be presented in its entirety at The Box gallery in Los Angeles starting this Friday.

The Box gallery is located at 805 Traction Ave., LA 90013.  

Harmony Korine, Terry Richardson, Douglas Gordon, Ed Ruscha and Aaron Young also contributed to the "Rebel" exhibition. 

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Michael Ninn Returns With 'Catherine' Sequel Made Entirely by AI

Veteran filmmaker Michael Ninn, though retired from the adult business for the past 10 years, recently unveiled a new episodic project titled "Catherine II: The Series," which serves as a sequel to his 2005 adult film "Catherine."

Alison Rey Stars in Latest From New Sensations

Alison Rey stars with Isiah Maxwell in the latest release from New Sensations.

Bad Bella Fronts Latest From MYLF

Bad Bella stars with Hayden Wild in the latest release from MYLF.

Abella Danger Opens Up Like Never Before in X3 Magazine

Powerhouse star Abella Danger lights up the latest issue of X3 magazine, the industry’s premier “authenticity first” publication spotlighting the real personalities, passions, and stories behind today’s top creators.

Pure Taboo Debuts Bree Mills Thriller 'Let Me In Too'

Reagan Foxx stars with Shay Sights in the latest thriller from Pure Taboo, titled “Let Me In Too.”

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

Hookup Hotshot Adds TobyDick.com

Hookup Hotshot (HUHS) has added U.K. paysite TobyDick.com to its network.

Leana Lovings, Shay Sights Front 'Substance' Parody From Brazzers

Leana Lovings stars with Shay Sights in the latest release from Brazzers, a parody of "The Substance.”

Little Puck Stars in Latest Episode of 'The Bottom Floor' From Adult Time

Little Puck stars in the second episode of Adult Time series “The Bottom Floor,” titled “The Second Coming.”

Haley Spades Stars in Latest From Immoral

Haley Spades stars with Charlie Dean, Matt Bird, and Dean Van Damme in a new three-part release from Immoral Productions, directed by "Porno Dan" Leal.

Show More