Last summer queer photographer Gabriel Goldberg lost his Provincetown ‘professional’ virginity. It was such a success that he is back again at the Eric Lesh Gallery with more of his ‘Hollywood Bruisers’ project. He told Queerguru that he describes this body of work as ‘retro-inspired beefcakery’
He explained further “This is the phrase I like to use to explain what Hollywood Bruisers is. It is my quest to try and recapture the golden glow of nostalgia I have for a certain point in time during my own coming of age. They are modern male pin ups with a sly and sometimes cheeky nod to the past. This show is an ode to a bygone era that I am still enthralled and captivated by, namely the 1970s and 80s; as well as a certain kind of man that still thrills me.
Many of the images were inspired by very real moments in my coming of age: My days at boarding school and the first man-crush I ever had on a real man (our hockey coach). The first gay porn I ever saw in college (it was called “Spokes” and it was about bikers and it was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen at that point). The discovery of Tom of Finland AND my first run in with a Classic Mustached Leather Daddy while on a trip to San Francisco my junior year of college. My first real summer fling with a handsome and rugged fellow camp counselor at camp. The Colt Studios model in the first gay porn magazine I ever bought—at 16 at a corner shop while waiting for the bus to school, all heart-pounding nervousness and shaky hands. This model would become the holy grail of fantasy men for me…an image of masculinity that blew my brain apart.
They all became the archetypes of my desire. And they all continue to inform the view from my viewmaster… A view I hope you enjoy as well.
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CENTERFOLD: The Second Show From the Photographer Behind Hollywood Bruisers Opening Reception with the artist AUGUST 11] 6 30 pm - 9 3o pm E.Lesh Gallery: @edldraws
Labels: 2023, Art exhibit, Eric Lesh, Gabriel Goldberg, Hollywood Bruisers, Provincetown
