For MIR26 "Rub U" MIR Contest brought 2 individuals onboard to act as the co-curators focused solely on our art exhibition. Their first exhibition, "Joy In Kink", considers the power of finding, expressing, and creating joy through art and kink practices. This show in the third floor lobby gallery of Center on Halsted explored how artists represent joy in the process, experience, and documentation of their practice as well as through the humor and subversion of sexual norms. The exhibition featured work from the following artists.
LARRY BULLER - Is a ceramicist living in Lincoln Nebraska. At first glance his work suggests the domestic, ornamental nature of ceramic objects, but upon closer look one discovers a showy, transgressive content that is conceptualized around issues of gay sexuality, the phallus and sexual fetish objects. These highly decorative pieces resonate with his varied experiences as a gay man. Learn more on his website larrybullerceramics.com or follow him on instagram.
ZACH GREAR - Zach Grear is a self-taught artist inspired by Queer erotica and tattoo iconography. He uses markers and collage to alter found imagery, specializing in vintage gay porn magazines he used to shoplift as a teen. Each piece transforms the original image into a new “othered” version of itself. Recurring words and symbols add to this distortion, challenging the original intent of the image. His artwork also includes portraits of his personal heroes along with peers in the contemporary Queer art scene. Zach currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. Learn more on his website zachgrear.com or follow him on instagram.
nosoxnosex - Is a graphic designer by day and these works are his secret creative outlet. No deadlines, no rules, no expectations from others. Just exploring the porn world, making collages about things that tickle his fancy. In a way, animated collages are the perfect art form to capture what he seeks want to express. The works are explicit. Learn more about them on their website nosoxnosex.com or follow them on twitter.
VEE ELECTROPAPI - Vee Electropapi is a New York based lifestyle teacher and performer of electro sensation arts, fireplay arts, shibari and rope suspension. In Vee’s Caribbean-based Black Indigenous ancestral healing practices, they realized that salvation can only happen when desire is liberated. Holiness is liberated queerness. In this art exhibition, Vee explores the crucifixion, ascension, and sainthood of the Black and Indigenous queer trans two spirit body as a sanctuary of desire in kink and bdsm. You can contact Vee on instagram.
RUSH - Rush is a California based rubberist and artist who finds joy in art and obedience. You can follow him on twitter or follow him on instagram.
DILLON ROSE GARDNER - Dillon says "I enjoy the details. I enjoy hyper focusing on the everyday things n moments that make me feel anything, good, bad, ugly beautiful... its all feelings and I love to feel. It's seeming like the exploration of self through make believe play. kink to me is the definition of incorporating fantasy into reality." You can follow them on instagram.
ABHIJEET - Abhijeet is a drag queen and nightlife producer in Chicago. Hailed as a 7ft tall Bollywood Barbie, she brings the glitz and glam both on and off the stage through larger-than-life looks and performances. In addition to being a featured artist at Chicago’s favorite LGBTQ+ venues, Abhijeet is a founding member of nightlife collective A Queer Pride and the producer of sold-out drag brunch Dim Sum & Drag, underground party series BOOTS, and the city’s first-ever outdoor drag festival Chicago Is A Drag Fest. You can follow her on instagram.