Artist gives birth in art gallery

A performance artist who said giving birth is the highest form of art has delivered a baby boy - inside a New York City art gallery.

The Microscope Gallery in Brooklyn said Marni Kotak gave birth to a healthy infant, weighing 4.083 kg, 56.69 grams, and 53 centimetres long.

The 36-year-old artist had set up a home-birth centre at the gallery, turning the space into a brightly decorated bedroom with ocean blue walls and photo-imprinted pillows.

The gallery said in a statement that "Baby X" was born at 10:17 a.m. Tuesday. It didn't say how many people witnessed the birth or give any other detail.

The gallery said a video of the birth will be added to its upcoming exhibition.

(Sapa, October 2011)