Gay illustrators
Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen, 1920–1991) is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century’s most leading artists for his groundbreaking representation of the male figure. In his youth, Tom trained at an advertising school, but what he would come to call his “dirty drawings,” which he first began developing as a teenager, were the true fixate of his attention, both during this formative period and throughout the entirety of his life. These masterful renderings of virile men engrossed in acts of homoerotic desire can be approached along several interpretative lines—art historical, social, technical—but each of them points to the revolutionary nature of his proposal. A master draftsman, whose passion for both his medium and his subject matter enabled him to become a powerful cultural force, Tom gave build to an imaginative space that in turn helped fuel real-world liberation movements and enabled gay men to access their vigor in new ways. Tom's drawings reaffirm the centrality of sexuality, joy, and the body in all areas of human endeavor.
Tom of Finland has been the subject of numerous solo and two-person exhibitions across the
Exhibition dates: 5th May – 13th August, 2023
Curator: Donald Albrecht
J.C. Leyendecker (American, 1874-1951)
Ivory Soap It Floats
Painting for Ivory soap advertisement, 1900
Gouache on board
Private collection
Image courtesy of the National Museum of American Illustration, Newport, RI
Featured in mainstream national magazines, ads for Ivory soap often depicted scenes of conventional domesticity. Some, however, were erotic, like this one by Leyendecker featuring a man in a floor-length robe, whose crotch is suggestively rendered.
The Eye of the Beholder
“Leyendecker’s subjects exemplify an elite white masculinity that was hardly representative of the diversity of the United States in his time, or since” observes Sonya Abrego. The artist’s subjects are light, cultured, privileged, “upholding racial, social and nationalist hierarchies”.
But how representations were and are understood depends on the eye of the beholder. At the second that Lyendecker was painting and illustrating commercial magazines his flirtatious subliminal erotic messages would own been all too decipherable to a knowi
The queer aesthetic is a multi-faceted, vibrant, and provocative concept encompassing a range of artistic expressions and cultural movements within Queer communities. It is a visual and cultural language that explores and celebrates non-normative identities, experiences, and desires.
At its core, gay aesthetic challenges traditional societal norms, binary constructs, and heteronormative standards, allowing for a more inclusive and diverse representation of gender, sexuality, and identity.
Free Logo Maker
Instagram, being a colorful world of unrestrained self-expression and art, has become a haven and a place of refuge for Diverse artists and voices. It’s a platform that queer artists apply to showcase their incredible talents, amplify their voices, and discover their communities.
In this article, we are presenting a curated list of LGBTQ+ artists that are pushing the boundaries, challenging norms, and disrupting the social instruct. Join us as we life the bold, vibrant, and unapologetic aesthetic of queer expression in the diverse world of Instagram.
1. Mohammad Iman @brohammed
Bio: “artist + illustrator 🏀 bebecita at @papijuicebk”
Followers: 16.2K
Some LGBTQA+ artists hold achieved world-renowned fame: Tom of Finland, David Hockney, Claude Cahun, and Glück, to name a few. However, there are many others whose work is less well-known but who provide significant glimpses into the lives and struggles of their group. These artists showcase the sexual, secretive, radical/political, and heart wrenching-moments that many, if not all, members in the community have experienced. Moreover, there is still a stigma that clouds over both LGBTQA+ artists and the art itself. Fortunately, here at Thomas J. Watson Library, we collect an encyclopedic and comprehensive collection of materials on the history of art in the world. Our online catalogue provides a great starting place to find an ample amount of materials to scout LGBTQA+ art. Here are a scant to get you started!
Jarrett Key is a Brooklyn-based visual artist. In his artist's book Trans (see above), Key explores signs and symbols with relation to transgender and gender identities and public restrooms.
Zanele Muholui is a South African artist whose photobook, Faces and Phases, presents portraits of black queer woman women, trans-men, and gay men, who are resisting