Gayety

Category: Art

​Explore the vibrant world of gay art, LGBTQ+ artists, and queer creators at Gayety. From engaging art exhibitions to the latest LGBTQ+ literature, Gayety offers comprehensive coverage of queer art.

  • 90 Portraits Celebrating Exhibitionism and the Male Form

    90 Portraits Celebrating Exhibitionism and the Male Form

    What does it take to unlearn the trauma from our youth? As chronically online as that question may be, it’s an honest one. Even now, many of us look in the mirror and see a face older than we remember, only to wonder why we still cling to the same pain. The truth is time alone isn’t enough to disappear those feelings. To compensate, some of us crowd our minds with as much junk as possible, hoarding distractions like it’s our job. Others are taking a more proactive approach. If you spent your youth ashamed of your fascination with the male form, what better way to combat it than by loving it publicly and unconditionally? Exposing your trauma as an act of love and creative outlet—that may be exhibitionism at its most pure.

    Introducing Josh New

    Josh New grew up gay in the midwest in the 80s and 90s. His earliest memories surrounding his identity are fearful and filled with the constant reminder that being gay was an “abomination.” Thankfully New spent some time in Japan in the early 2000s. There he learned that not everywhere in the world was like Oklahoma. It would still be some time before New emerged from his shell to become the person he is now. Someone who lives his life unapologetically, filling the world with images of the male form. New’s photography is at once vulnerable and powerful. Everyone is beautiful behind New’s lens, and that is a credit to both the models and the photographer.

    We spoke to New about his vision, his battle with censorship, and his advice for men struggling with loving their bodies. Keep reading to learn more about New and to sample a collection of his incredible work. Check out his photography on Instagram and make sure to purchase some prints from his website. Unfortunately, we couldn’t show everything here, but rest assured New has got you covered there.

    Related | 48 Photos Liberating The Male Form With Tasty Smut

    Gayety: What sort of conversations do you hope your work inspires?

    Josh: When I think about what I want my photos to do, it would be to cause someone […] to look at a nude male body and think “Dear God, that is so beautiful…why am I so afraid of finding a naked man attractive?” Any conversation after having that sort of epiphany would definitely be one I hope to inspire.

    I truly hope people will let themselves discover and admit the beauty in my models. Even if they honestly aren’t attracted to them. I also hope my images help more Americans see what an uncut penis looks like. And I really hope more gay men will find love and confidence in their bodies and let themselves be photographed.

    Gayety: How do you set your work apart from other people who capture the male form?

    Josh: I’m not sure about other photographers, but I’m ultimately not there for the photo. If I’m honest with myself I’m just there to have that intimate moment with another man. I will only get a photo as good as the connection I have with that model. Making him smile and helping him relax is so much more rewarding than posing or directing him. Models really want you to tell them what to do though but I won’t. I make them be themselves and like to think a little of that comes through in my work as well.

    I seem to capture a sort of languid exhibitionism in men that invites you to look at their bodies without a sense of guilt or shame. They are not trying to have sex with you. They are like a beautiful stag on the periphery of the woods. pausing for a moment to take in the scenery, majestic in form and calm in spirit, unknowingly posing because he is unaware he is even seen.

    Gayety: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

    Josh: I love to meet new people. When I find someone who is particularly vibrant I will often ask them to let me photograph them. Also, many gay men have extremely negative relationships with their bodies. I love to show them how I see them with my eyes. As the famous Oklahoman Will Rogers said, “I never met a man I didn’t like”. I similarly have never met a man I didn’t want to see naked. I blame this on my strict Baptist upbringing. The only penis I saw until I was in middle school was my own. I was made to be ashamed of the human body. Not to be naked, or be seen naked, or to see naked. So I’m really inspired to fill the internet and the art galleries and our public spaces with images of as many different naked men as I can.

    Style-wise I’ve always been a huge fan of Japanese video games and anime, Greek mythology, and American superhero comics. This manifests itself visually in my work a lot because all three tell grand stories about vibrant […] people who do outrageous things. I think I have always subconsciously made my models the heroes of their own adventures. Any of my photos could be a panel straight out of a comic or akin to an ancient Greek sculpture.

    Related | 55 Illustrations Celebrating Bellies and Bears 

    Gayety: Censorship on social seems to be a problem that continues to worsen. How, if at all, does this impact your work? Is it on your mind during the entire creative process?

    Josh: Censorship is one of the worst barriers to creative thinking and expressive thought. It exists when there is a topic that is problematic in nature. Rather than educating someone on why it could be dangerous, power systems simply deny access to it and make it taboo. The frustration is that in art nudity is not necessarily sexual. In our society, all nudity is potentially sexual and therefore rigidly censored.

    I don’t think the threat of censorship keeps me from making anything I want to make. It certainly makes what to do with my work or how to share it extremely problematic. There are several hard drives full of beautiful images that have never been shown to anyone except the model and my close circle of friends. I’ve always known that ultimately it would be up to me to find a way to showcase my work when I was ready and that it wouldn’t be as easy as posting to social media. This year I am re-launching xyexperiment.com to showcase my work and linking it to OnlyFans where I can present everything free from censorship.

    Gayety: What would you say to someone who wants to be photographed but feels nervous about showing their body?

    Josh: “Have you ever seen me let anyone look bad?” So many people are scared of the camera. They are scared of letting another person be in control of how they look. They are scared to even really look at themselves in the mirror so a camera and a flash are terrifying. But I truly believe everyone is beautiful. Of course, hygiene is always important and a bad attitude can really take a toll on a body. But if you are doing your best and living life then you are beautiful. Add the right lighting and a comfortable atmosphere and before you know it we have a flattering, carefree pic. I promise you will be surprised at how attractive you can be.

    Also, why are we doing this? Sometimes a shoot with me can force someone to make and stick to a fitness goal they’ve been putting off. Often it is to document and show off the hard work they have already done. Occasionally it is because I have hounded them so much and so often that they finally let me show them how handsome I see them just as they are. I say if you want to be photographed then do it. The only thing stopping you is fear.

    Gayety: How has your work evolved through the years? What do you hope for the future of your art?

    Josh: The most noticeable change in my work has been in technical precision. I’ve always wanted to make images that looked like the ones I saw in magazines and I knew early on that I wasn’t going to get that with just a camera. For some of my earliest photos I used some old theatrical stage lights I bought (yes, I was a theatre major) but getting some actual professional strobes and cutting my teeth on Photoshop really set my current style in motion.

    Also early on I was just experimenting with light and boys and bodies and so everything else in the photo was unimportant. I used a lot of empty or nondescript backgrounds and I didn’t need to style anything because “just take your shirt off.” I always wonder if these are things that I should pay more attention to so in the near future I want to play around with styling and getting out of the studio more. For the future, future… I really hope that I am able to tap into something culturally significant and beautiful enough to land me in a museum. I really hope I can create at least one thing that becomes an iconic part of the queer culture for future generations to be inspired by.

    Gayety: What’s your personal favorite shot, and why?

    Josh: If you know me at all you’d probably agree that whichever photo I’m showing you at the time is my absolute favorite. All of them make me smile and all of them remind me of the wonderful experience of taking them. Why pick a favorite when you don’t have to? But there is one of me that I am actually damn proud of. Last year I lost my mother and a few weeks later my partner of 13 years left me. I was devastated and lost about 25 pounds as I grieved both my mother and my marriage side by side. I felt like I had lost everything.

    My friends and my therapist really helped me see that what I hadn’t lost was myself, my business, or my photography. I had so much to be proud of and during this wild dark time, I realized, maybe for the first time in my life, just how special and valuable I was on my own. One day soon after I had a long break in my shooting schedule so I locked the doors, took off my clothes, stood naked and proud in front of my own camera, and took what I think might be my actual favorite shot. There is something so liberating about being seen comfortably naked and it wasn’t until I did it for myself that I truly understood the full power of my photography for my models.

    Related | 9 Stunning Photos Exploring Body, Flesh, and Bone

    Gayety: How can people support your work?

    Josh: The easiest way of course would be to follow my Instagram and Twitter – @xyexperiment for both. Share me on your feed and encourage your friends to follow me too! Definitely check out my website as well. I also have a series of fine art prints for sale on my website and an OnlyFans that has all of the photos that don’t make it to social media or the website. Which is a lot. It is also the only place you can see my Penis Portrait collection and a cool little self-portrait series I’ve started doing.

    My favorite way to support me would be to book a photo session from my website. This year I’ve decided to get out of Tulsa and will be traveling to different cities each month. I’d love for guys (or couples!) to sign up and have me photograph them. I plan to hit some big cities like Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Atlanta but please reach out if you are interested and maybe we can get a group in your area and make it a weekend. Or if anyone wants to visit Tulsa I’ll take good care of you!

    Lastly, never be afraid or hesitant to reach out to me and let me know how my photos have impacted you or inspired you. An artist never really knows how they are impacting the world if they don’t get feedback. I love to hear from people who have seen an image and felt changed by it. Every bit of that helps me keep going and evolving. I can’t wait to hear from you!

    Before You Go

    If you enjoyed this artwork, make sure to follow Josh New on Instagram and check out the prints on his website. We want to thank Josh for his thoughtful and heartfelt answers to our questions. Please consider supporting queer art like Josh’s in whatever way you can.

  • 20 Powerful Portraits Celebrating Body Positivity

    20 Powerful Portraits Celebrating Body Positivity

    If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? The now famous words from RuPaul ring in my ears from time to time. As I look in the mirror, prodding and pulling at my body I can’t help but wonder. Why can’t I just love my body? Sometimes it feels like everyone else has figured out the formula for self-love and I’ve barely left square one. The truth, of course, is that I’m not alone in this experience. I am surrounded by people with deep-seated insecurities about their bodies. This is true even in a community that celebrates pride and rejects shame. To access desirability, people with bodies like mine must fit within a specific mold of masculinity and gender expression. How do we get past this? How do we celebrate our bodies and our expressions for what they are? Fat, fluid, and fierce.

    Fat, Fluid, and Fierce

    Enter Beltrán. The genderfluid model has built his career celebrating a body and expression that defies gender convention. Beltrán is among a select group of people who gave me a blueprint for accepting my body and gender expression. A while back Beltrán teamed up with Toronto-based photographer Anthony Patrick Manieri for a project called Arrested Movement. The groundbreaking series made waves online and certainly grabbed my attention. While Beltrán was there Manieri took the opportunity to shoot her for another series. Fat, Fluid, and Fierce turned up the dial on that series and expanded its focus to explicitly include gender expression.

    I got the chance to ask Beltrán and Manieri some questions about the series. I also made sure to get Beltrán’s insight on body image and gender expression. Keep scrolling to appreciate the stunning portraits by Manieri, featuring Beltrán.

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    Gayety: These photos were shot by the incredible Anthony Patrick Manieri, who also created the acclaimed Arrested Movement project. How do these two projects compare and what does Fat Fluid & Fierce bring to the table?

    Anthony Patrick Manieri: When I knew that it was confirmed that I would be photographing the incomparable Beltrán for my Arrested Movement series, I wanted to properly make use of his time with me. Beltrán, who is an artist in his own right, loves the fluidity of being. As a visual artist, I wanted to explore that with him. Beltrán refers to himself as fat-positive. He sometimes tends to be somewhat fluid in how he presents himself. And all that alone is fierce, and makes for great imagery and storytelling.

    How do the two series compare? Well, I think it’s a quiet comparison. The subtext of both series’ is being body-proud. One does it quietly on a grander scale; The other is over the top and somewhat in your face. Arrested Movement is a stripped-back, soft, non-abrasive, nonoffensive assemblage, creating a narrative of what feels like a BIG exhale regarding men’s singular and collective journeys that I’m proud to have captured. The foundation of this series was to remind people that men feel too, we all struggle with body issues on some level because we are all human. And the narrative portrayed in the media regarding the term ‘body positivity’ is focused on women. And I wanted to have men included in that conversation.

    The ‘Fat, Fluid, and Fierce’ series I did with Beltrán was loud, and playful, while definitely making a statement, which Beltrán excelled at. It was about blurring lines while playing with pop culture.

    Gayety: In your experience how receptive are gay men specifically to the message that Fat Fluid & Fierce conveys?

    Beltrán: I think that they have received it well but that there is still some resistance at the same time. I think it’s because of the fact that portraying masculinity that doesn’t comply with traditional gender norms in terms of what gender expression has always been and how it has been portrayed in social media creates some friction from time to time.

    The latest advances in drag culture and art through mainstream media have given visibility to the elements that traditionally come with drag art, such as makeup or outfits usually associated with women or femininity. With this visibility and mainstream acceptance comes a disruption of traditional gender norms. One of the most disruptive elements of this editorial shoot for me as the model is that, traditionally, I was not the ideal representative of this mainstream concept of queer art; That is to say, this type of expression has always been reserved for thin frames and lean bodies.

    Gayety: Body positivity and body neutrality have become frequent topics of discussion online. Where does gender expression fit into this discourse?

    Beltrán: I think that, in both cases, talking about either body positivity or nonconventional gender expressions, there is an ongoing debate on how to free ourselves from society’s traditional rules and mandates on what our bodies are supposed to become (while we are actively being raised to comply with those expectations). Body positivity tries to find ways to combat the lack of representation of body diversity in mainstream media and on the internet. On the other hand, the fight to make other ways of expressing your gender identity visible is also a fight that involves key tools such as representation.

    With body neutrality, I find interesting the idea of battling against the idea of giving so much power to this sort of “book covers” our bodies represent in this image-based society. So much that they affect our well-being so deeply. When they should be only our means of material existence. Then, to fight against the incarceration of our gender expression between these only two options we were given since the day we are born. Both of them are ways to say “fuck you” to expectations that society tries to convince us to fill.

    Related | 55 Illustrations Celebrating Bellies and Bears

    Gayety: What has been your experience embodying both masculinity and femininity in a body that is both hyper-sexualized and criticized in the gay community?

    Beltrán: I always say that eroticizing my body was a tool of empowerment and change in the way I perceive my body image in opposition to the insecurities I developed from being bullied. Over the years I discovered something that I like to call “mandatory Alosexuality” within the male gay community.

    One of the negative consequences of all the years of (sexual) repression in the gay collective is that the community as a whole went to the opposite end of the spectrum, in which most of our interactions have to involve a minimum amount of sexualization. It’s hard for gay men to visualize an image that portrays male nudity (a piece of artwork, for example) without sexualizing the body of the model (specifically his genitals) or making comments about the model’s level of attractiveness. The most conflicting aspect of this phenomenon is that it insinuates that a male body outside of traditional beauty standards cannot empower itself without using erotic language as a tool.

    What Role Does Femininity Play?

    Beltrán: Traditionally, femininity has not been well received as something appealing in a guy by the gay community. It can be used as a weapon of rebellion, of course, but for years, androgyny and fluid gender expression have again been reserved for lean and thin bodies, as if not having those traits makes femininity unacceptable.

    As bears, we have had to conform to masculine traits in order for people to find us attractive. If not, you’re just seen as a “queer chub”, outside the realm of sexual attraction. Of course, these are just my general observations and they come with their own disclaimers and exceptions.

    Everywhere you look, criticism is going to rear its head. Luckily, I also get compliments, but, most importantly, praise also finds its way to me from the people at which my activism is directed. Those who are least represented need to see someone doing something they thought they couldn’t do in order to believe that there is a path to express themselves.

    Gayety: You worked with many talented creatives to bring this project to life. What was the experience of being on set like?

    Beltrán: Being on set is always challenging because, whether you like it or not, someone will probably give you a look or say a comment or something that reminds you that people are not used to seeing bodies like mine on set. No matter how professional you act, there is a small part of you that always thinks and worries about what people might say when those pictures come to light. Practicing and becoming more professional has always been a way of protecting myself from anything that can throw me off my game. Working a lot is the best way to learn a lot, and when you are surrounded by amazingly creative people you end up learning a lot about photography, aesthetics, style, design, cinema, politics, communication, advertising, the fashion industry, and so on.

    Gayety: Can you speak to the inspiration behind the costume design and makeup?

    Beltrán: There isn’t a singular inspiration, but, in terms of style, I believe the idea was to merge a lot of elements of camp and drag art in a fluid game orbiting around traditional binary gender expressions. For instance, the black and white ombre makeup with the spikes in the warrior-like representation or the golden filigree Luchador mask paired with the ballet tutu and high heel boots. Some elements have always been at the disposal of queer artists to use, such as feathers, corsets, il pagliasso, shiny lively fabrics, vinyl, etc.

    Gayety: Your face is partially or almost entirely obscured from most of the photos in this series. Can you speak to the specific intention behind this, if there was any?

    Beltrán: If you take a look at the history and iconography of queer art expressions, there is always a sense of surrealism and of exceeding what reality offers to us while we are expressing our artistic spirit. That is why theatricality is so appealing when pop culture invokes it. This is also why a lot of gay people also gravitate towards makeup and masks, which we use to cover up boring reality with campiness, glamour, and fantasy.

    For many LGBTIQ people, living an average life with basic human rights was (and, in some cases, still is) a fantasy, so why limit ourselves to fantasizing about dignity? That is why camp and drag art push those boundaries. They let us celebrate ourselves to our fullest and even further, pushing us into the surreal.

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    Gayety: If you could say one thing to all of the fat, femme, self-conscious queer men and non-binary folks out there, what would it be?

    Beltrán: Find yourselves and then find each other. There is nothing more healthy for a misunderstood underdog than to find peace in a shared existence. Not only for the intersectionality and intricacy of life stories where they cross. The sharing of trauma has always been a great engine to power up the political fight against what oppresses us.

    Gayety: What is your favorite shot of the series?

    Beltrán: The “oops I did it” expression in the one-leg-standing golden filigree Luchador mask look gives me life. It expresses precisely how my personality and my mood are most of the time.

    Gayety: What’s next for you and how can our readers support your work?

    Beltrán: There is a complete link list to support and give to my art in my bio (and yes, it includes NSFW content). Just by sharing my art with others, you are helping me to reach new corners of the world, and that alone gives my creative spirit new life. For the Spanish speakers, I’m also hosting a podcast for Scruff called “Scruff Entre Amigos” that addresses current gay issues and topics of conversation.

    Before You Leave

    I would like to take a moment to thank Beltrán and Manieri for these incredible portraits. I would also like to thank Beltrán for her thoughtful answers to my questions. The photo series also featured work by some incredibly talented stylists and makeup artists. I’ll list their names and social handles below so you can show them some love. Please take a moment to follow Beltrán and Manieri on Instagram, and check out the Arrested Movement series while you’re at it.

    I may still have a distance to travel when it comes to loving my body and gender expression. But it’s projects like this that have given me the framework to start that journey. Depictions of fat, fluid, and fierce bodies in this context give me hope. Perhaps I can one day take up space so unapologetically. That day can’t come soon enough. Can I get an amen?

    Fat Fluid & Fierce: Credits

    Model: Beltrán
    Photographer: Anthony Patrick Manieri
    Makeup: Dawna Boot
    Hair, Head Pieces, and Accessories: Ladylyn Gool
    Clothing and Head Pieces: Kim Ironmonger for VALENCIENNE,
    Cuffs and Head and Neck Pieces: Marie Copps
    Gold Crown and Face Mask: David Dunkley

  • 9 Stunning Photos Exploring Body, Flesh, and Bone

    9 Stunning Photos Exploring Body, Flesh, and Bone

    Editor’s Note: To see the unsensored version of this article, click here and subscribe.

    When I say the words Greek or Roman art, it probably conjures up images of fluted columns and muscular statues. Tall and gleaming white in the sunlight. This exact imagery has gone on to inspire fine art all the way from the Renaissance to modern-day Marvel movies. Although we now know the statues and art of the time were likely a lot more colorful than we imagine, this imagery has set itself in stone.

    That’s how pervasive art like this can be. Perhaps for a gay like myself, it’s the homoeroticism of the art that stayed with me. For the rest of us, it might be the visceral feeling of seeing the human body rendered through marble and stone. Our very bodies — flesh and bone — petrified forever and set on display. You don’t have to look into antiquity to see it. In fact, this practice is alive and well today on Instagram.

    Introducing Phantasma Photography

    Christopher Borshowa is a sculptor, but instead of a chisel and a hammer, his tools are a camera and editing software. Although his creations live primarily in data and on paper (more on this later) they are no less striking. They conjure up images of mythological figures, deities, and superheroes. Whatever your vice, Borshowa has the image for you. Like a sculptor, no detail goes unnoticed and no contour goes untouched. Every pixel has its place. The result is a veritable feast for the eyes. Coming from south Saskatchewan, Canada, Borshowa has been exploring the human body and psyche since 2011. His work transports the viewer to another world, bending reality with the click of a shutter. Borshowa has been sharing his work on Instagram for some time, but his latest work is now making the transition to print.

    Phantasma Photography, Body Flesh Bone

    Related | 64 Photos That Prove Masculinity Can Be Queer AF

    Body, Flesh, Bone

    Borshowa’s latest project, a photo book called Body ∙ Flesh ∙ Bone sits at the core of his artistic fingerprint. “My images always start with the human body,” says Borshowa on Instagram. Indeed these latest images are a tour de force in capturing just that. This highly anticipated book will also come on the heels of the 39th annual James Weir People’s Choice Awards, which Borshowa is part of. The public (that includes you) gets the chance to vote for their favorite artwork in the exhibition, which has been anonymously submitted. Head on over to the voting page and see if you can find Phantasma Photography in the lineup.

    While we wait for the book to drop, we’ll do whatever we can to give him the accolades he deserves. That means following him on Instagram too. We also had the pleasure of chatting with Borshowa about his work and the aforementioned book. Read on for a deeper understanding of his art and a selection of his latest work.

    Gayety: Your references come from all over the art world—from the Renaissance all the way to Marvel. Was this an intentional decision or something that happened organically?

    The references I use are truly organic. Since I was a small child, I’ve naturally been drawn to grandiose imagery; movies, music, poetry, art, and even my own imagination. Feeling, hearing, and seeing these larger-than-life moments really propelled my art in that direction. Regardless of the emotion, I want my work to be bold, powerful, and intriguing. My inspirations are vast and ever-growing. I think as any kind of artist, it’s important to soak in as much content as you can. I learn and evolve this way!

    Gayety: You’ve touched on censorship in social media with your work, and it seems to be a problem that continues to worsen. How, if at all, does this impact your process of creating art? Is it on your mind during the entire creative process?

    Our society is no stranger to censorship. I respect and understand it, however at times, I feel it’s unnecessary and controlling. In my opinion, Instagram is the best form of marketing for any artist or creator. You have an unlimited reach and your work can be seen by millions of people all over the world. However, it is wildly restrictive. In context to the kind of work I produce, Instagram does not differentiate between artistic nude and pornography. It’s deemed equally “offensive” “suggestive” and “violating”. In some instances, this can be offensive to the creator and the subject.

    I produce tasteful artistic nudes, not offensive lewd pornography. This is something that plays into my process, however. If my model is fully nude, I’ll either censor their genitals during the session with a prop or in post-production by layering images over top. I respect censoring, but I also want the censoring of my work to make sense with the image. Not just a black circle covering the model, but something that builds and works within the image itself. I treat it as part of artistic expression.

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    Gayety: There is a noticeable balance between masculinity and femininity in your work. How does this factor into your creative process?

    I love this question! To sum it up in one word… contrast! I’m fueled by the dichotomy in art and the beauty of traditionally opposing points. For example, my work often depicts strong, muscular, godlike men curated into soft, beautiful, and elegant atmospheres and poses. For me, this shows a different kind of strength. Strength in vulnerability, strength in passion, strength in death. Men can be physically and visually powerful, and can still exist in softness.

    Gayety: What is the greatest or most memorable response you’ve seen to your work?

    The greatest response to my art is from other artists. Creators of all kinds who saw my work and were compelled and inspired to create something of their own! I’m honored to display artwork in my home studio from people all over the world. I always try to buy this artwork to show my appreciation. The connection that art births is inspiring. Speaking with people all over the world about my art, shooting with people from all walks of life… the list goes on. Hearing how something I created made someone feel! It truly is mind-blowing.

    Gayety: What photo books are currently sitting on your coffee table?

    I currently have “Painting With Light” by Mati Gelman on my coffee table. It’s a beautiful and intriguing artistic journey that explores everything from the human psyche to social issues. Mati and his book are strong sources of inspiration for me that I frequently reference. I truly admire and respect him and his work.

    Gayety: You’ve got a new book coming out soon, tell us about that!

    My new coffee table book titled “Body, Flesh, Bone” is my latest passion project. Releasing later this year, it will be a collection of my strongest work from the last ten years, so I have been diving deep into my work, both past, and present. I’m still in the process of selecting the images, but that’s part of the beauty. Revisiting sessions, connections, and memories, while also celebrating the artist I am today and the current work I produce.

    On a more technical side, I take every opportunity I can to print my work. Our world and society are so focused on consuming content electronically, and that’s great, but I also love seeing art, not on a screen. Something physical, something I can hang, or flip through. For me, it’s very nostalgic, just like buying a CD and looking through the album booklet, reading the lyrics, and taking in the art. It’s all sensory, and I’m sure others feel the same!

    Before You Leave

    As we reach the end of our virtual exhibition, make sure to “exit through the gift shop” by following Phantasma Photography on Instagram. If you haven’t voted for him at the James Weir People’s Choice Awards, please take a moment to do him this simple kindness. Check back here, or on his social, for the release of Body ∙ Flesh ∙ Bone. We know you’re going to love it.

  • 64 Photos That Prove Masculinity Can Be Queer AF

    64 Photos That Prove Masculinity Can Be Queer AF

    Jordan used to be scared of masculinity. Who can blame them? As an out, proud queer kid Jordan was bullied for not performing masculinity as society expected. It was his femininity that all but alienated him from men. He carried with him a fear of male-centric spaces like locker rooms and public restrooms. For this reason, Jordan, despite being passionate about photography, only shot women. They carried this fear into adulthood, but eventually, photography would be their saving grace.

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    Overcoming A Fear of Masculinity

    When Jordan picked the camera back up he pushed himself to shoot men. Through the camera lens, Jordan’s fear of masculinity began to fade. At the same time, they began to understand the shape of their own gender identity. Now navigating the world as a queer non-binary creative, Jordan’s photography has bloomed into something transformative. The fingerprint of his journey is on every photo he takes. We’ve compiled a collection of photos by Jordan that explore masculinity in all of its complexities. Photos that prove any one person can embody both masculinity and femininity.

    This balance is queer, expansive, and one of the most beautiful things we know. Join us now as we explore Jordan’s photography, and follow them to keep up with their work. If you’re in the LA area you can book a shoot with Jordan and start your own journey of self-discovery. Jordan also just launched their printed tee collection today. The upcycled tees feature their existing graphics and stunning images in a range of cute cuts and sizes. The pieces are for sale right now so go pick one up. We highly recommend it.

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  • 32 Illustrations That Explore The Men’s Locker Room

    32 Illustrations That Explore The Men’s Locker Room

    What is our fascination with locker rooms? It is a source of complex feelings for many gay men. Many of our most impactful teenage memories are made in this place of vulnerability. Some of us used to dread the locker room out of fear of bullying. For others, it was a source of shame and anxiety surrounding our bodies. Then there were those of us for whom it was an awakening. This brought with it its own anxieties, of course. “What if they know? Can they tell I’m not like them? Don’t look directly at them, just shower and get out of here.” For some, these complex feelings develop into a kind of taboo fascination. So let’s explore this fascination through the safe and limitless medium of art.

    Related | 55 Illustrations Celebrating Bellies and Bears

    Masculinity and the Men’s Locker Room

    Safe is the operative word here. For so many straight men, it seemed that navigating this place was second nature. Not only were they not anxious, but they also seemed to thrive. The locker room was a space to perform masculinity. To flex your ego and to blow off some steam. Smacking butts, whipping towels, communal showering, and general rough-housing. There is something very homoerotic about the whole thing. With that in mind, keep scrolling for some of our favorite illustrations that evoke the same sweaty, homoeroticism that makes locker rooms so fascinating.

    Make sure to follow the artists listed here and support them in whatever way you can. Whether that’s through crowdfunding, commissions, or purchasing a print/merch in their stores, anything helps.

    1. Felix D’eon (@felixdeonart)

    2. Syrs (@syrs)

    3. Daniel Jaen (@danieljaenart)

    4. Rene Farias (@rfariasamores)

    5. Daisuke (@daisukebear)

    Related | 24 Glimpses Into Gay Homelife With Artist Zach Brunner

    6. vrsa minor (@vrsaminor)

    7. Ryan the Artist (@ryantheart)

    8. Zach Brunner (@zacharyiswackary)

    9. Iliev Illustration (@ilievillustration)

    10. Dopey (@yy6241)

    11. Qaisan (@kkai_san)

    12. Ralph Cervi (@ralphcervi)

    Have you followed these artists or shared their work? If you’ve made it this far now would be a great time to go back up and click through on their names and images to show your support. There is plenty more where this came from. Go ahead and work through your complex relationship with locker rooms some more.

     

     

  • 65 More Illustrations That Celebrate the Big Boys

    65 More Illustrations That Celebrate the Big Boys

    As SZA so beautifully put it, I need a big boy. If your appetite for beef is as insatiable as ours then we have quite the treat for you. We recently shared 55 illustrations celebrating bellies and bears, but we have so much more to show you. We’re back with a selection of even more illustrations that celebrate the cubs, the chubs, and the bears. All hail the big boys!

    Every Part of You Is Beautiful

    To all the big boys reading this, remember that your body is a good body. Your belly, your love handles, and your stretch mark are all beautiful and tell a story about your body. It can be hard to appreciate your body when so much media tells you to hate the fat body you are in. The pressure can sometimes be worse in the LGBTQ+ community. We’re here to tell you that fat is not an insult. It’s a body type as complex and beautiful as any. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorite illustrations of big boys, broken out by each artist.

    Make sure to follow the artists listed here and support them in whatever way you can. Whether that’s through crowdfunding, commissions, or purchasing a print/merch in their stores, anything helps.

    1. Your Pal, Jake (@mokajake)

    2. Andrea Bottasso (@bottyto90)

    3. Mieldeoso (@mieldeoso)

    4. Ryan the Artist (@ryantheart)

    5. Dante (@danteamoretto_)

    6. Kuma (@sugar_bear2110)

    7. Jason Lloyd Art (@jasonlloydart)

    8. NomiDrawsBears (@nomidrawsbears)

    9. Kuma (@kuma_do_artwork)

    10. Łukasz Majcher (@lucas.majcher)

    11. Thadeus (@hippypotter)

    12. Daisuke (@daisukebear)

    One More Time For The Big Boys

    Have you followed these artists or supported their work? If you’ve made it this far now would be a great time to go back up and click through on their usernames and images to show your support. Art like this helps to normalize and appreciate all bodies and for that, we are eternally grateful. Give it up for the big boys!

  • 55 Illustrations Celebrating Bellies and Bears

    55 Illustrations Celebrating Bellies and Bears

    Cubs and chubs and bears, oh my! Who doesn’t love a little extra tummy and a healthy helping of hair? Every day is Tummy Tuesday when you appreciate husky homos. As Sza famously sang on SNL, it’s cuffin’ season and we need a big boy! There’s never been a better time to celebrate the bellies and the bears.

    Related | 8 Disney Villains Reimagined as Gay Beefcake Daddies

    Need A Big Boy?

    Not all of us are lucky enough to have a big boy of our own. If that sounds like you, you’re in luck! We’ve done our fellow bear admirers a favor by finding the best bear artists out there. These talented illustrators are experts when it comes to capturing all things beefy and furry. Keep scrolling for a tasty sampling, broken down by artist.

    1. Daniel Jaen (@danieljaenart)

    2. Ryan the Artist (@ryantheart)

    Related | 34 Steamy Gay Santa Illustrations To Ring in the Holigays

    3. Andrea Bottasso (@bottyto90)

    4. Mieldeoso (@mieldeoso)

    5. Jason Lloyd Art (@jasonlloydart)

    6. Dante (@danteamoretto_)

    7. NomiDrawsBears (@nomidrawsbears)

    8. Thomathy Amadeus (@thomathyavf)

    9. Kuma (@sugar_bear2110)

    10. Thaddeus (@hippypotter)

    11. Daisuke (@daisukebear)

    More Bellies And Bears

    Not feeling satisfied? There’s so much more where that came from. Make sure to follow each of these artists and consider supporting them if you can. Many of these artists make their keep through crowdfunding, commissions, or buy prints/merch purchased from their stores.

  • 67 Photos Depicting a ‘Wondraland’ of Queer Intimacy

    67 Photos Depicting a ‘Wondraland’ of Queer Intimacy

    I have an appetite for queer intimacy. As I see it the world is starved of this very delicacy. Everywhere I look I see LGBTQ+ folks crying out for intimacy. They are hungry for meaningful depictions of queer closeness—both tender and raw; free from the constraints of heteronormativity. They are searching for mirrors. Portraits that reflect who they are without stripping away or apologizing for the things that make them beautiful. The things that make them queer. That is why I am thankful for Wondra.

    Related | 15 Queer Women to Follow on TikTok

    Through The Looking Glass

    Wondra is a Portland-based photographer that specializes in bridging two worlds. The world we live in, and another world of endless possibilities. With that comes, as Wondra puts it, “the normalization of all bodies and identities.” Although I’m very familiar with their work, today I spent the afternoon wandering through their catalog. Now on the other side of it, I feel as though I stepped out of a kind of dream. One that feels so close to being real that it’s almost maddening.

    “I love creating a raw and emotive viewfinder between two realities while making humans feel beautiful and seen.”

    That’s because I feel so distant from—and yet so close to—their work. Surely the Wondraland they created doesn’t exist outside the bounds of their camera lens. We live in a world that harms queer bodies, polices masculinity, and punishes femininity. Wondra’s world celebrates and uplifts everything that is good and queer and true. The unique and the mundane. The feminine and the masculine. The spiritual and the worldly.

    Curiouser And Curiouser

    In Wondraland the boundaries of these so-called dualities blur, creating something entirely new. They somehow place queerness in a fantastical world without removing the context that adds weight to their art. At once ethereal and yet grounded, Wondra’s insatiable curiosity defies contradiction. Even their collection of self-portraits communicates an approach to gender and sexuality that is without limits.

    Make no mistake, despite the boundless freedom, Wondraland does appear to have its own set of rules. Trans joy is innate. Queer sexuality is good. Fat bodies are beautiful. Disabled bodies are sexy. Black bodies are sacred. Gender is expansive.

    In Wondraland you might see a Brokeback Mountain with trans leads. You’ll recognize queerness in nature and nature in queerness. You’ll see mythical creatures and worldly desires. You might even find yourself.

    Eat Me, Drink Me

    Wondra’s work is also unapologetically erotic. This is made all the more poignant when you consider that right now queer people are being stripped of their sexual agency. We are called groomers when we don’t play by a set of arbitrary rules; the goalposts for which keep changing. So we disappear ourselves. This is not the case in Wondraland. Here queer intimacy is as natural as the food we eat and the water we drink. Wondra gives their models the agency they are entitled to, simply guiding them through the process—no modeling experience required.

    Related | Drag Is Not Dangerous


    Believing Impossible Things

    As queer people, we are sometimes forced to believe in things that feel impossible. I can be visibly queer and take up space in a world that often doesn’t want me here. I can celebrate my sexuality without shame or doubt. My body is a good body. I have agency over this body and I am more than this body. I am worthy and I am beautiful. Art like Wondra’s helps me believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast. Perhaps these things aren’t so impossible after all.

    Follow Wondra to keep up with their incredible work, and check out their website to purchase some of their prints. Maybe you would like to be featured in one of Wondra’s shoots and make a little queer world of your own. I am so incredibly inspired by Wondra’s work and struggled to select just 67 images to represent their catalog. Please do yourself a favor and take a trip down the rabbit hole. Wondraland is waiting for you.

    Keep scrolling for more by Wondra and remember to follow them on Instagram.

  • This Is What Happens When AI Generates 100 Gay Couples

    This Is What Happens When AI Generates 100 Gay Couples

    We have indeed entered a new era of AI technology. As this innovation makes waves in the art world people are asking, is this tech viable? Are tools like DALL-E 2, Midjourney, and NightCafe part of a technological renaissance or a short-lived trend? The answer you receive to this question will depend greatly on who you ask. However, one thing is certain. This technology definitely has its limitations. After one creator used the tool to generate 100 gay couples it’s clear that one of those limitations is diversity.

    Related | 8 Images of Tom Holland as Link From Legend of Zelda

    Looking to the Experts

    Meet Dan Leveille, Director of Product Marketing at Deviant Art. Leveille is also the developer of Equaldex, a tool that tracks the progress of LGBTQ+ rights across the world. Clearly well-versed in both tech and art, Leveille is uniquely positioned to opine on this particular matter. This is especially true because he frequently puts AI tools to the test. Leveille made headlines earlier this year when he used these tools to generate concept art of Tom Holland as Link from Legend of Zelda. He also used the tool to fan-cast all of the characters in the franchise.

    What Do Gay Couples Look Like?

    Leveille took the tools to task once again to test them on another prompt. “I asked Midjourney for 100 gay couples using the same simple prompt: ‘photo of a gay couple.’” said Leveille on Instagram. The result certainly raises eyebrows. As detailed as the images are almost every single couple is white, young, and skinny. In fact, many of them look almost identical.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Dan Leveille (@danlev)

    White Is Not the Default

    It’s not impossible for these tools to generate people of color, but unless you ask for it, Midjourney delivers exclusively white, young, and skinny. Whether this is a result of the tool itself or a product of the sources it draws from is unclear. Either way, it’s plain to see that the tool is failing to compensate for a very real lack of diversity. White is not the default. Skinny is not the default. Young is not the default. There is no excuse for this misstep.

    “Midjourney is one of the most amazing technologies I’ve ever used,” said Leveille. “But the lack of diversity is really concerning. 99% of the time, it defaults to White people unless you’ve specified.” Keep scrolling for more examples of the images the prompt generated. Take this as a reminder of the uphill battle faced by gay couples that aren’t white, skinny, and young.

    Follow Dan Leveille on Instagram for more experimentation with AI art.

     

  • This Artist’s Paintings Depict Gay Religious Symbolism

    This Artist’s Paintings Depict Gay Religious Symbolism

    Religion has long been a muse and source of inspiration for the great artists of the world. Unfortunately, artists from the Renaissance era had very little room to play around with explicitly gay imagery. Today artists have the freedom to explore every facet of their identity and areas of interest—although not without certain restrictions. Gay folks have a complex relationship with religion. There are gay religious people, of course, but many gay people have been scarred by religious institutions and family members. This doesn’t mean queer people are any less spiritual, it just means there’s more baggage. For artists like Rene Farias, baggage like this is a deep well of inspiration.

    Related | 34 Steamy Gay Santa Illustrations To Ring in the Holigays

    Meet Rene Farias

    Currently living in Barcelona, Rene Farias works primarily with watercolor, oil, and graphite. With influences like Caravaggio, Bouguereau, Banksy, Norman Rockwell, and Tom of Finland, Farias has a vision that feels fully realized. His work is laden with gay religious symbolism, which has opened him up to quite a bit of criticism—particularly from the Catholic community. Being a queer artist, Farias also has to deal with homophobia regularly. As an artist that frequently explores taboos and stereotypes, this is something Farias appears to take in his stride. Although he has more freedom to explore his subject than many of his idols, Farias doesn’t exactly have free reign. “My biggest viewing platform is Instagram and Facebook,” says Farias. “Many times I have ideas that I must modify so that these platforms allow me to exhibit my work without censoring it or closing my account.”

    Despite this Farias is determined to share his art with the world. Unafraid to pick at the seams of femininity and masculinity while deconstructing theology, Farias is resolute. If you ask us, his poignant work would certainly be admired by his forbearers. Follow Rene Farias on Instagram and shop his artwork, which ships worldwide, online. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

    Art by Rene Farias

    More Where That Came From

    As amazing as it may seem, this was merely a sampling of Farias’ work. He doesn’t just create gay religious imagery either. A quick glance at his catalog and you’ll see recurring imagery from nature and mythology. Mermaids, minotaurs, fairies, snakes, and butterflies are the mainstays of his art, each interpretation a complex layer of influences. We highly recommend purchasing a piece for yourself or at least following Rene Farias on Instagram.