Pictures is an exhibition of twenty Polaroid works shot between 2014 and 2017 of friends, lovers, spaces, and places. Having predominantly worked with 35mm film up until then, I had the opportunity of doing a residency at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles, and Polaroid seemed like the perfect medium to record my time at that very unique space. I’ve been using it ever since and it’s the immediacy and intimacy inherent within Polaroid that keeps me coming back for more. Other projects, especially my sculptural and moving image works, can take many months or even years to complete, but a perfect Polaroid can be made in an instant.

The title is a nod to Robert Mapplethorpe’s dual exhibition of the same name that took place in 1977 in New York City. In one space Mapplethorpe presented portraits, flowers, and still life’s, in the second space, his fiercely sexual hardcore S/M works. It wasn’t until later in his career that he was able to show his full body of work presented together as he originally intended. Similarly, with this work, I’m not shying away from depictions of overt queer sexuality but putting it directly in the spotlight by presenting it to the world unabashed, uncensored, and in all its glory.

For those unable to attend, a selection of works from the exhibition are available to purchase for a limited time via my online store.

Thursday August 16th - 6-8pm

Queer/Bar, 1518, 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122