Trailblazer &
Artist Biographies

Trailblazer
Act Up

Artists
Joe Haller and Ian Hannula

 

Artists Biography

Joe and Ian met on the dance floor in San Francisco. They are married and have been creating art and design as N.I.C.E. COLLECTIVE since 1994. Their work continues to shape the architecture in worlds of fashion, music, design, and technology.

Statement

UNLEASH POWER 

N.I.C.E. Collective’s anarchic visual language pays tribute to ACT UP and the effectiveness of their confrontational and powerful style of activism. Shades of S=D pink are interrupted by a deconstructed photo of Allan Robinson (taken by T.L. Litt in 1989). Handwritten and stencil-style messages express gratitude, support, and inspiration.

 

Trailblazer
Richard Burns

Artist
Emily Scott

 

Artists Biography

Emily Scott is a Florida Native who moved to New York in 2005, and to NYC in 2014. She has a Bachelor of Fine Art “Photography” from The University of South Florida and a Master in Fine Art “Imaging Arts & Sciences” from Rochester Institute of Technology. Emily’s work has evolved greatly over the years, moving from photography to video, then crafting, sculpture, and painting. She has historically worked in self-portraiture and integrated subject matters from her personal life including abuse/trauma, body image/weight issues, gender roles, and sexuality. Although her background is as an image maker, she also enjoys working with textiles and mixed media to fit the needs of the art she is making at the time. Although she continues to work on small art projects in her spare time, Emily has moved into serving the LGBTQ+ community as a licensed psychotherapist and appreciates helping other artists and queer folks to express themselves and work through their own life experiences the way that she often did through her previous artworks, as her art has always been a form of therapy for her. 

Statement

In looking to honor Richard Burns and his incredible lifetime of work for the LGBTQ+ community, I had an extensive list of activism, social justice causes, and accomplishments to use as references for creating this piece. I was struck by his early work for the Gay Community News, and how it was the only national LGBTQ+ newsweekly at the time, a major voice for the intersectionality of queer issues and connecting the community when so many felt isolated and alone. I decided to use this image of the GCN Newspaper as a framework to showcase so many of the causes he spearheaded like Marriage Equality through GLAD, his 20+ years of service at the LGBT Center in NYC, and how he played a pivotal role in organizing the historic October 1979 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. I made a point to include the black, brown, and trans pride colors to show how inclusivity and community are crucial to his cause within LGBTQ+ activism, and how he continues to fight for our freedoms and rights. The hope is that these trailblazers will continue to influence others to carry on the work and pick up the thread where others left off.

 

Trailblazer
Kevin Cathcart

Artist
William Thomas Whiting

 

Artists Biography

William Thomas Whiting (born in 1950) is a vision-impaired artist, designer and craftsman who produces intricately detailed artwork in spite of the challenges he faces with his eyesight. Bill has designed and executed large-scale murals for several hospitals, including Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, which landed him an appearance on the TODAY Show. 

Mr. Whiting has been the subject of two separate profiles on HGTV highlighting his skills both as a painter and as an architectural model builder. One of his elaborate dollhouses is in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in St Louis, Missouri. He recently completed a commissioned mural for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which has also accessioned several of his large canvases into their permanent collection. Whiting has illustrated a children’s book, titled Wings of Love, (Green Tiger Press / Simon & Schuster, 1988). His artwork has appeared in a variety of publications, including the New York Times and Architectural Digest. 

In 2013, Mr. Whiting published his first book, An Early Work Late in Life, which is a memoir about his "hippie" years living with his first partner, artist Danny Allen. Mr. Whiting is best known for his presentation portraits of notable Philadelphians, many of which hang in historic buildings throughout the city, including America’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital.

Statement

First, I would like to thank the Trailblazers Taskforce for selecting me as one of the artists for the 2024 - 2025 seasons. And to thank them for assigning me to do an art piece of Kevin Cathcart, who is clearly an individual of tremendous historic importance, with impressive accomplishments, all to the benefit of our larger community. 

In my effort to depict Kevin Cathcart for his Trailblazer’s banner, I opted to employ a sort of pop-art approach to portraiture, as I am by training, a portrait artist. It was important to me that viewers who know Kevin Cathcart would be able to recognize him in my creative representation. I owe my approach for this project, in large part to the pop-art portraiture from the last century, championed by Andy Warhol. I decided to incorporate a variety of colors and tones, reflective of the rainbow flag without strictly adhering to the standard color spectrum — but using a variety of mid-tones to illustrate the subtle distinctions in our collective diversity as members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

As a starting point, I created a series of color experiments incorporating high-contrast and solarization techniques, that I then evaluated and reassembled into a pattern of diagonal stripes, defining Mr. Cathcart’s likeness. My final step was to show the design to Mr Cathcart himself, to make sure that he approved of the way I have depicted his image — and, fortunately, he liked what he saw.

 

Trailblazer
Dan Choi

Artist
Paco May

 

Artists Biography

Paco is a Brooklyn-based artist and illustrator who began playing around with digital drawing while living for a decade in Santiago de Chile. What started out as experimentation soon became his medium of choice. His work is characterized by his eye for exaggeration and distortion and gestural strokes. He riffs on recognizable forms, hoping to communicate how situations feel as well as how they look. 

Paco has spent the last 7 years immersed in the New York drag and nightlife scene, drawing the girls and the gogos twirling under the mirror ball. He has been commissioned by The Cut for New York Magazine, The TODAY Show, Estee Lauder, and BET, among others. He has shown in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and most recently in New York with a solo show, NIGHT LIGHTS, inspired by his nocturnal adventures in the city.

Statement

Dan Choi was always an inspiration to me as a kid growing up in Clinton’s America. There was so much shame and secrecy attached to homosexuality in the most liberal circles. The “keep it to yourself” mentality had defined life for queer people in America and Dan Choi’s rejection of it was truly revolutionary. My piece is about the way he bent the image of the country to suit more of us, to get us all out from the shadows and out from inside our own heads. It’s our America, too.

 

Trailblazer
Stormé DeLarverie

Artist
Pamela Sneed

 

Artists Biography

Pamela Sneed is a New York based poet, performer and visual artist. She is the author of Imagine Being More Afraid of Freedom Than Slavery, KONG and Other Works, Sweet Dreams and Funeral Diva published by City Lights in Oct 2020. Funeral Diva was featured in the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Lit Hub, Art Net  and more. Funeral Diva won the 2021 Lambda Lesbian Poetry Award and was recommended by The New York Times alongside Barack Obama’s memoir. Additionally in 2021, she was a panelist for The David Zwirner Gallery’s More Life exhibit, and has spoken at Bard Center for Humanities, The Ford Foundation, The Gordon Parks Foundation, Columbia University, The New School, New York Public Library, The Brooklyn Museum, MOMA, DIA, NYU’s Center for Humanities. 

She has published in The Paris Review, Frieze Magazine, Art Forum, The Academy of American Poets, The Brooklyn Rail, THEM, BOMB and most recently Poetry Magazine. She has appeared in Nikki Giovanni’s “The 100 Best African American Poems. Her visual work was featured at  Leslie Lohman Museum, The Ford Foundation, Kates-Ferris and currently at The Lumber Room in Portland. In 2022, she had a solo show at Laurel Gitlen Gallery. She won the 2021 Black Queer Art Mentorship Award . She  participated as a reader in the 2022 Whitney Biennial and was a narrator for Coco Fusco’s film, also in the 2022 Whitney Biennial.

She has had keynotes at Yale University, Georgetown University and SAIC. She was awarded a BOFFO residency on Fire Island in August 2022. In March 2023, she premiered a solo performance -  A Tribute to Big Mama Thornton - which broke a record at the Armory for the earliest performance ever sold out. She presented a production of A Tribute to Big Mama Thornton at Joe’s Pub in March 2024. In 2023, she won a Creative Capital Award in Literature. Her first book, Imagine Being More Afraid of Freedom than Slavery was reissued by Fordham University Press in Oct 2023. Recently, she premiered a talk with Claudia Rankine at UC Berkeley and performed in Chicago in celebration of Sacred Spells by Assotto Saint. She has won a 2024 NYSCA grant for poetry. She will participate in two upcoming group visual shows at Westbeth in NYC and Company Gallery in NYC.

Statement

The watercolor and ink portrait I created of Stormé DeLarverie is based on a photograph I saw of her/them dressed in tuxedo where she resembles an elegantly dressed dapper Dan. It’s a gorgeous photo that encapsulates their androgyny. 

Stormé was a pioneer in many ways with regard to breaking gender rules of the time, but also was a central figure kicking off the Stonewall riots. It is said their scuffle with police ignited the uprising. Lastly, I remember seeing them when I was a young lesbian in the Village standing guard as a bouncer outside the Cubby Hole. I’m honored to render this abstract portrait of them and consider them a seminal foremother in the LGBTQ+ struggle for civil and human rights.

 

Trailblazer
Andrea Jenkins

Artist
Leslie Howitt

 

Artists Biography

Leslie Howitt graduated from Ontario Collage of Art with Honors Standing. Additional education from SVA, Center for Book Arts and International Center for Photography and New School. Exhibitions include FIP Bi-annual, FIP Art Walk, Postcard from the Edge, Om Yoga, Laughing Lotus Yoga, Citi Group for Pride, Chrysler Building NYC, Triangle Building Meat Packing, Bullet Space and various Private Exhibitions. 

Statement

There is inspiration, creativity and beauty everywhere. All you have to do is look around and observe our world.

I like to refer to myself as the ADHD artist. Each body of work or series of art I make is different. I navigate from different sizes to different mediums. My art ranges from large scale works to miniatures. During the pandemic, I started working in three dimensions with clay, which has been really exciting. 

My imagery comes from universal symbolism, art history, and a hint of nostalgia. Also, on a 20+ years spiritual path. I work with my mind & body through yoga, shamanism & a very active imagination.

Lastly, I am grateful and honored to be a part  of the Trailblazers Project and celebrating Andrea Jenkins. Her commitment, dedication and activism show what a loving force of nature she is to the LGBTQ + community. Thank you for your service, Andrea.

 

Trailblazer
Dr. Rachel Levine

Artist
Andy Stowers Forrest

 

Artists Biography

Andy Stowers Forest (he/any) is an artist and political scientist from Tallahassee Florida. His artistic work focuses on utilizing knitting, crochet, and other fiber arts as vehicles to represent and interrogate political realities.

Statement

+ the inspiration behind the piece

The quotation on this piece comes from Dr. Levine's statements at the 2022 Out for Health Conference, held in Texas: "We [as a society] have not made progress until we have all made progress." The structure of this piece's background was inspired by the structure of a cell (or any organic matter, really): fluid and full of movement from many different components. Taken together, these represent Dr. Levine's advocacy for multiple different groups of Americans marginalized by the healthcare system as it exists, and her trailblazing work in broadening medical access for transgender Americans.

 

Trailblazer
James Pepper

Artist
Genevieve Leahy

 

Artists Biography

Genevieve Leahy was born in 1938, the great granddaughter of J. Harry Higgins, a noted artist in Brooklyn, NY. In kindergarten at the Woodward School she was a star artist, filling the room to the ceilings with artwork. Later, she majored in art at Mt St Vincent College, attended Pratt Institute, Brooklyn College, and her favorite, The Brooklyn Museum Art School. She was assigned to paint in the Botanic Gardens where she painted the Old Glass Green House which was purchased by the director of the Botanic Gardens. This changed the course of Genevieve’s life as it brought her to K.C. Arts to have the piece framed. This is where she met the love of her life, Clementine Elia. They spent many happy years together and bought a home on Long Island and in the Pines on Fire Island. Their home on Long Island is where she painted the flag to honor Jim Pepper as a Trailblazer for the Pines and the greater LGBTQ+ Community.

Statement

My abstract oil painting serves as a tribute to the trailblazer Jim [James] G. Pepper. As a symbol of resilience and empowerment, this painting embodies the spirit of Jim Pepper's legacy, bringing light and hope to those who have been marginalized. Through the field of colors, it captures the depth of inner emotions, reflecting Jim’s journey of activism and resilience. Each layer of paint represents the layers of Jim's identity and experiences, intertwined with the collective struggle and triumph of the LGBTQ+ community. In this artwork, intuitive brush strokes and vibrant color combinations come together to narrate the inspiration, hope, and joy that Jim Pepper brings to so many. Jim's colorful mark on the world, evident through his generous philanthropy and prolific history of activism and leadership, is depicted through the full spectrum of colors from light to dark. It is a visual representation of the journey towards acceptance and equality, celebrating the diversity and strength of the human spirit. Through art, we honor Jim's enduring impact and continue to strive for a more inclusive and just world. Following in his words, let us all “be present, be visible, and be inconvenient.”

 

Trailblazer
Paul Popham

Artist
Tom Bianchi

 

Artists Biography

Tom Bianchi (born in 1945), an American photographer, carved his niche in the 80’s and 90’s with intimate portrayals of male nudes, most famously while living in Fire Island Pines. His work transcended mere aesthetics, diving into themes of sexuality, body image, and LGBTQ+ identity. Often incorporating self-portraits, he infused personal narratives into broader societal dialogues.

Bianchi's stark black and white photographs challenged conventional beauty standards, showcasing diverse body types with vulnerability and honesty. He wasn't afraid to tackle difficult topics, facing censorship attempts for his frank depiction of nudity and sexuality.

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Bianchi actively participated in the fight against AIDS, volunteering and documenting patient experiences, weaving activism into his art. Today, Bianchi's work remains relevant for its unflinching exploration of the human experience and its push for LGBTQ+ representation. His photographs are featured in prestigious collections like the Museum of Modern Art, New York, cementing his legacy as a bold and thought-provoking artist.

Statement

Paul was known for his giant heart and his Hawaiian boxers which he wore as swim gear. He appreciated our need to take care of our own and, with a small circle of friends, founded GMHC to provide for our needs. Our dance parties were repurposed as fund raising events, expressing the best of us. 

 

Trailblazer
Megan Rapinoe

Artist
Tom Smith

 

Artists Biography

Tom Smith received a BFA from MICA, Baltimore, MD in 2006 and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York in 2008. His work has been exhibited in the United States, as well as abroad in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Ireland and Taiwan. Before pursuing a studio art practice, Smith worked as an illustrator for clients such as the New York Times and Speedo. He currently works as a painter in New York City. 

Statement

In my early work, I was inspired by superhero imagery from comics. Although my work has evolved since then, I still connect with the color pallet and heroic nature of comics. Megan Rapinoe gained international attention as a soccer star but has since proven her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community as a trailblazer. Because of her bravery and willingness to stand strong against political opposition, I chose to portray Megan Rapinoe as a hero. 

 

Trailblazer
RuPaul

Artist
Kyle Meyer

 

Artists Biography

Kyle Meyer (born 1985 in Ohio) is a multidisciplinary visual artist working in New York. He graduated in 2009 with a BA in Photography from The City College of New York and an MFA from Parsons the New School for Design in 2016. He was awarded the Mortimer B. Hayes Brandeis traveling fellowship in 2009, which led him to eSwatini where he has been working on several long-term projects focusing on LGBTQ+ rights and HIV+ awareness. His work has been exhibited at Yossi Milo Gallery, Bronx Museum of Art, Menello Museum of American Art, Fuller Craft Museum, Sheldon Museum of Art, State Hermitage Museum and Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Meyer’s work is in the collections of Brown University, Fondation Blachère, Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain, Microsoft Art Collection, Orlando Museum of Art, Sheldon Museum of Art, and Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary. His Monograph Interwoven was published with Radius Books in 2021.

Statement

This portrait of RuPaul aims to highlight both personas of this trailblazer. Over the fifteen plus years of RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul has swayed from man to woman, always embodying both personas. Utilizing photos from RuPaul’s books “Letting It All Hang Out” and  “Workin It!” - one photo of RuPaul as a man and then another in drag were scanned and printed - these images were handwoven, then melded together, highlighting both of RuPaul’s identities.

 

Trailblazer
Bamby Salcedo

Artist
Eva Mueller

 

Artists Biography

Eva Mueller is a Brooklyn-based, German-born conceptual artist whose work examines our human core constructs, such as gender identity, race, and sexuality, and there interplays in our society. Mueller works with photography, video, and collage and has also created immersive multi-media installations and curated queer art shows.

The German Bauhaus school and the gender-bending 1920s era strongly influence their aesthetic. Being an active member of New York City's queer art and lifestyle community, many art projects revolve around the hidden and the unseen of those nonconforming environments.

Mueller’s most notable projects include:

  • MYSOLATION, a self-portrait series shot during lockdown in 2020, exhibited in Berlin, Germany, Miami, New York, and Mexico City.

  • Flowers & Chocolate, an installation about Black Masculinity presented since 2018 in two Solo, and several group, shows in New York and Canada.

  • SPERM, a multi-media, multi-sensory installation shown in 2021 at the Art Club in Brooklyn, NY, in collaboration with composer and music producer Man Parrish.

  • Twisted Twins – XXY, an immersive experience about the precariousness of gender, age, and sexuality, presented at Satellite NYC in New York in 2019 and Canada in 2023.

Mueller’s latest and ongoing portrait series, Kinksters, premiered in 2023 in Milan, Italy. Mueller challenges the viewer to reconsider their perspective and question their judgments. Mueller is a fervent advocate of decriminalizing sex work and fighting censorship in the arts. Their work has been widely exhibited nationally and internationally.

Statement

I’m very honored that FIPPOA chose me to create a piece of art about Bamby Salcedo, an LA-based transgender Latina Woman. Bamby is a force of nature; she is a fierce trans activist, advocate, public speaker, and the CEO of the Trans Latin@ Coalition. And she loves to dress up! The artwork will be part of the Trailblazer Park and one of 16 flags that are part of the installation.

As part of my homework before the shoot, I watched ‘LA Queenciañera,’ a fascinating documentary about Bamby, by Pedro Peira that explores her difficult journey. What struck me visually most was her 50th birthday celebration, aptly named LA Queenciañera (a mash-up of Quinceañera, a girl’s sweet 15 party and Queen) in which she wore a huge Aztec headdress with feathers being carried into the party on a palanquin by a flock of hot muscle men. I wanted to create a supernatural image of her in a gown and that same headdress with her signature big smile. My incentive is that transgender youth from all walks of life who visit the space look at her image and feel like she is their Wonder Woman, except she is real, and they can become a hero and trailblazer too.  

When I spoke to Bamby to propose my idea, she liked it a lot and brought 3 fabulous gowns to choose from, and she still had the headdress. Just outside her office building, there was a bright pink wall, the perfect backdrop for our shoot. I feel I was able to capture her radiant spirit and strength.

To give the image the comic strip look I had in mind, I altered the photograph digitally in Photoshop. The process involved countless steps and adjustments until it felt complete. I added the trans flag stripes and her signature quote, “Yo soy” - “I am.” The Queen is ready to mentor and inspire!

 

Trailblazer
Wanda Sykes

Artist
Billy Gerard Frank

 

Artists Biography

Billy Gerard Frank, born in Grenada, West Indies, is a multi-disciplinary artist, who works at the intersection of art, filmmaking, design, and activism. Frank's research-based practices interrogate issues dealing with migration, race, exile, global politics, and post-colonial and queer decoloniality, challenging normative discourses around them. His mix-media artworks and films have been exhibited and screened in group and solo shows in museums and institutions like Brooklyn Museum (2020); Yale, and international film festivals like the Berlinale, and Sundance, and are also in several private collections and institutions, like the National Academy Museum of Fine Arts and Design, Farnsworth Art Museum, and Butler Institute of American Art, among others. He represented Grenada in the 59th La Biennale di Venezia (2022). He was also one of the artists in the collective who represented the island at the 58th La Biennale di Venezia (2019) and is a recipient of many grants, including a Ford Foundation Grant for his La Biennale Di Venezia project (2022) and an awardee of the 2024 Creative Capital Grant. 

Frank is also a founder of the Nova Frontier Film Festival & Lab which showcases and incubates the works of filmmakers and artists from and about the Global African Diaspora, the Middle East, and Latin America, and is also a Lecturer in Directing and Design at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale and has lectured at universities such as NYU, the School of Visual Arts, and York University. 

He moved to London as a teenager, where he began painting and exploring experimental video art and installation before moving to New York to pursue further studies in studio art at ateliers like The Art Students League of New York, and The National Academy of Fine Arts. He studied under the American abstract expressionist and realist painter John Hultberg and was John's studio assistant for 5 years, where he was introduced to artists like Robert Rauschenberg. He continued his studies (MA) in filmmaking and media arts at The New School for Social Research. 

Statement

WHO IS QUEEN NOW? 

Wanda Sykes' portrait titled, “Who is Queen Now?” is a masterful play on irony that intertwines historical imagery with contemporary identity. By superimposing Wanda's head onto the body of Queen Elizabeth I, I was interested in creating a visually arresting piece that immediately draws attention to the stark contrasts and un-parallels between the two figures. 

At its core, the irony lies in the juxtaposition of a powerful historical monarch with Wanda Sykes, an African American queer comedian known for her wit and irreverence. This fusion challenges traditional notions of authority and beauty, subverting the conventional hierarchy of historical portraiture. 

Moreover, the choice of Queen Elizabeth I's portrait, symbolizing regal power and influence, adds another layer of irony. By replacing the queen's head with Wanda's, I wanted to disrupt the traditional narrative of monarchy and highlight the absurdity of historical hierarchies when viewed through a modern lens. 

The irony extends further when considering the broader social and political context. In a society where marginalized voices have historically been silenced or overlooked, my portrayal of Wanda as the embodiment of authority challenges stereotypes and celebrates diversity; while positioning her at this moment as a Queen of Comedy. 

Ultimately, the irony in the portrait catalyzes critical reflection, inviting viewers to question preconceived notions of identity, power, and representation. It prompts us to confront the complexities of history and culture, and the multiplicities of identities, while embracing and celebrating the shared human experiences that the genre of comedy offers through a queer lens.

 

Trailblazer
Congressman Ritchie Torres

Artist
Marc Christensen

 

Artists Biography

Born in the suburbs of Los Angeles and raised in the farmlands of Southeast Idaho, Marc has known significant change throughout his life. The absolute shift in language, culture, faith, and family made him question life's meaning and invigorated him to explore the human experience through image-making and art. Marc was educated at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where after 21 years, he started to explore his queer identity. He moved to New York City in January of 2017. His life in New York City led him to discover Fire Island Pines and become deeply ingrained in its very vibrant artist community. 

Statement

Congressman Ritchie Torres is helping to break boundaries and barriers in a world where it is very much needed. He was the first openly gay candidate to be elected to legislative office in the Bronx and the council's youngest member. He later became the first openly gay Black man and gay Afro-Latino elected to Congress. The Congressman is flanked by the American and Progress Pride flags, with a saint-like halo of the Seal of New York behind his head.

 

Trailblazer
Urvashi Vaid

Artist
Jonathan Kent Adams

 

Artists Biography

Jonathan Kent Adams explores themes of sexuality, spirituality, and place within his art. Adams encourages self-discovery beyond traditions that often deny the outsider’s existence. Adams received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting in 2014 from the University of Mississippi. He studied under Mary Beth McKenzie at the Art Students League of New York in 2012. Adams lives and creates in Water Valley, Mississippi.

Statement

Title: Carry You with Me 

Urvashi Vaid changed the future for LGBTQ+ people. She not only spoke truth to power, but she showed up through direct action to disrupt and challenge the violence, apathy, and negligence of a government that refused to act during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I often think about what we leave behind when we are gone. Vaid’s joy, vision, and love continue to live on through her writings, friends, and family. Vaid was the aunt of Alok Vaid-Menon. Alok is constantly challenging the norms of our society. I see Urvashi’s love and determination in them. I wanted to create a piece that celebrated Urvashi by showing Alok walking with her into the future. We have a lot to learn from Urvashi and Alok. America is better when love in action inspires change.

 

Trailblazer
Phill Wilson

Artist
Paul Mpagi Sepuya

 

Artists Biography

Paul Mpagi Sepuya (born 1982, in San Bernardino, CA) is a Los Angeles-based artist working in photography. His work is in the collections of the Getty, Guggenheim, Hammer, LACMA, MoMA, SFMoMA, Studio Museum in Harlem, Whitney, Stedelijk, Tate Modern, and Victoria & Albert Museum, among others. His work has been featured in the New Yorker, the New York Times, Art in America, The Nation, and The Guardian, and on the cover of ARTFORUM’s March 2019 issue. Recent museum exhibitions include those at the Barbican Centre, the Guggenheim Museum, the Getty Museum, the Whitney Museum, and SFMOMA. A survey of work from 2006-2018 was presented at CAM St. Louis and Blaffer Art Museum in 2019 - 2020. His most recent body of work “Daylight Studio / Dark Room Studio” has been exhibited in solo exhibitions at Vielmetter Los Angeles, the Deichtorhallen in Hamburg, Galerie Peter Kilchmann, and in a current presentation at Nottingham Contemporary. 

He is an Associate Professor in Media Arts and MFA Program Director at the University of California San Diego. 

Statement

Sepuya made this portrait of Phill Wilson in the summer of 2023 in Los Angeles. Known primarily for his studio-based practice, Sepuya returned to the style of an earlier project “Some Recent Pictures” to photographing Wilson at the home of a close friend. Sepuya says : 'I wanted to share the warmth in Phill’s eyes and the kindness of his smile. His leadership in the field of advocacy and health care through the Black AIDS Institute has had a transformative impact nationally and internationally and he is a legend and real trailblazer for all of us.’

 

Trailblazers
Marsha P. Johnson & Sylvia Rivera

Artist
TM Davy

 

Artist Biography

TM Davy lives and works in Brooklyn and Fire Island Pines, NY. He was educated at The School of Visu- al Arts (BFA). Davy has had solo exhibitions at Van Doren Waxter, New York (2019), Galerie Thomas Fuchs in Stuttgart, Germany (2021, 2018), Exile in Berlin, Germany (2012), and 11R in New York, NY (2014, 2017). He is newly represented by Company Gallery in New York with exhibitions forthcom- ing. Davy’s work has been included in numerous group exhibitions, including Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years AZer Stonewall at the Brooklyn Museum, NY (2019); Them at Perrotin, NY; Fire at Company Gallery, New York (2019); The Lure of the Dark: Contemporary Painters Conjure the Night at MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA (2018); Con Amore at Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Den- mark (2011); No Soul for Sale, curated by Maurizio CaOelan and Cecilia Alemani, at Tate Modern, UK (2010); X IniJaJve, New York (2009); and Nudes at Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo (2009). Re- views and articles on Davy’s work have been published in The New York Times, Areorum, Art in America, and The Village Voice, among others.