Art in the Raw: A Podcast About Queer Artists

Summary What happens when your art disappears without warning? This episode explores the hidden crisis of artistic censorship on social media platforms, where algorithms and content moderation policies are silencing queer artists, nude photographers, and anyone whose work challenges corporate comfort zones. Elizabeth Larison (Director of NCAC's Arts and Culture Advocacy Program) and Emma Shapiro (...

Summary Oz shares his raw journey from a creative kid in East Texas, stifled by self-doubt and societal noise, to a daily painting practice that finally unleashes his abstract surrealist voice. Through stories of suppression, late-life urgency, and the joy of protest art, he reveals how painting centers his chaos and fuels his queer soul. David and Oz riff on intuition over anxiety, the thrill of...

Summary Join host David Smith in a warm, candid conversation with artist Steven Thomas, who blends vivid acrylic and ink on canvas with digital design to reimagine queer icons in vibrant rainbow colors. Steven shares how his journey from advertising to fine art intersects with his coming out, influences, and creative process, celebrating queer culture with every brushstroke. Keywords Steven Thomas...

Summary Joe Boatfield joins host David Smith for a candid, vulnerable conversation about art, identity, and the spaces—from high school classrooms to Dallas’s gay bars—where they intersect. Joe shares how a transformative relationship with an art teacher led him from academic disengagement to a passionate career in art education, while his paintings capture the vibrant, complex, and sometimes cont...

Summary: Ignacio Darnaude takes us on a vivid journey into the hidden queer histories embedded in some of the world’s most famous artworks. From classical mythologies and religious imagery to coded visual symbols, he reveals how queer artists navigated repression across centuries. This episode explores the ongoing challenges of queer erasure in art institutions, the power of visibility, and Ignaci...

Summary Artist Charlie Cole joins David Smith and Gabe Vasquez for a candid exploration of how sobriety, queer identity, and spirituality shape creative expression. From childhood art experiments to the erotic themes of his current work, Cole shares how his journey is marked by vulnerability, humor, and a refusal to hide any part of himself. Along the way, the conversation delves into the power of...

Summary Jerome Larez shares his artistic journey and the founding story of Artitude, an organization dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ and marginalized artists in Dallas and beyond. We explore themes of representation, community-building, and the power of reclaiming words through art. Jerome also discusses the challenges and opportunities facing queer artists today and the future of Artitude’s program...

Summary Joey Brock, a queer mixed-media artist with a background in corporate America and fashion merchandising, shares his poignant journey embracing self-love and identity through his evocative portrait work. From confronting religious shame to celebrating queer bodies as sacred, Joey blends photography, stitching, and mylar overlays to create layered, powerful narratives that uplift marginalize...

Episode Summary Join host David Smith in conversation with DR Mann-Hanson (he/him), founder of CinéWild, a vibrant Dallas-based queer film series dedicated to showcasing films made by LGBTQ creators. From its origins as a protest alternative in 2014 to a beloved community space celebrating queer artistry, CinéWild combines film, education, and engagement to transform how queer cinema is experience...

Episode Summary In this deeply revealing conversation, poet, filmmaker, and activist Louis Toliver Jr. (LTJ Reads) shares his journey from trauma to artistic empowerment within the queer and leather communities. Exploring themes of bisexual identity, survivorhood, mental health, and intergenerational connection, LTJ reveals how his projects like Louisiana Words and the Throwing Light podcast aim t...

Summary In this deeply reflective episode of Art in the Raw, Christopher W. Quigley shares his journey from hands-on custom fabrication to creating immersive public artworks that confront themes of impermanence, entropy, and gender-based violence. After surviving two near-fatal strokes, Quigley transformed his artistic vision to focus on projects like Transformation of Dangerous Spaces, an emotion...

Summary In this engaging episode of Art in the Raw, J. W. Steed shares his journey as a writer whose queer identity deeply informs his work, blending eroticism with science fiction and fantasy. From early literary influences to his groundbreaking queer erotica and thoughtful exploration of clone rights, Steed offers candid insights into creativity, vulnerability, and challenging norms in queer sto...

Episode Summary Join us for an intimate conversation with artist Joey Chabolla, whose work fuses Latino cultural heritage with queer, body-positive illustration. Joey shares the inspirations behind his signature shading technique, his focus on bearded, muscular physiques, and his commitment to authentic trans masculine representation. Discover how he navigates censorship, commissions, and communit...

Summary In this engaging conversation, David Smith speaks with Sabrina Pandora and Dee Fish about their journeys as comic creators, the evolution of their work, and the importance of representation in the industry. They discuss the challenges of self-publishing, the creative process behind their projects, and how personal experiences shape their storytelling. The dialogue also touches on the curre...

Summary In this engaging conversation, Bullethole discusses the complexities of creating queer art, the pressures of artistic identity, and the transition from traditional to digital mediums. The dialogue explores the challenges of audience engagement in a conservative environment, the importance of collaboration, and the journey of monetizing art through innovative avenues like t-shirts. Bulletho...

Summary In this engaging conversation, artist Rene Farias discusses the profound influence of mythology on his work, exploring themes of identity, culture, and queerness. He shares insights into his artistic process, the mediums he employs, and the social critiques embedded in his art. Farias reflects on his evolution as an artist, the challenges he faces, and his aspirations for future exhibition...

Summary In this conversation, Benjamin Lester discusses his artistic journey, focusing on the themes of masculinity, queer identity, and storytelling through art. He shares how his personal experiences, including struggles with mental health and the support of his community, have shaped his work. Lester emphasizes the importance of reclaiming narratives within the queer community and the role of a...

Summary In this episode of Art in the Raw, host David Smith interviews photographer Alberto Leon, who shares his transformative journey into the world of photography, particularly focusing on queer nude male photography. Alberto discusses how he found his passion through self-exploration and vulnerability, leading to the creation of The Naked Project. He reflects on the cultural influences that sh...

Summary In this episode of Art in the Raw, host David Smith interviews photographer Alberto Leon, who shares his transformative journey into the world of photography, particularly focusing on queer nude male photography. Alberto discusses how he found his passion through self-exploration and vulnerability, leading to the creation of The Naked Project. He reflects on the cultural influences that sh...

Summary In this conversation, Boy Donald shares his artistic journey, exploring themes of identity, race, gender, and sexuality through various mediums including dance, drag, and film. He discusses the transformative power of drag, the challenges faced as a gender nonconforming artist, and the importance of representation in the BDSM community. Donald reflects on his experiences in Broadway, the c...

Summary In this conversation, Boy Donald shares his artistic journey, exploring themes of identity, race, gender, and sexuality through various mediums including dance, drag, and film. He discusses the transformative power of drag, the challenges faced as a gender nonconforming artist, and the importance of representation in the BDSM community. Donald reflects on his experiences in Broadway, the c...

Summary In this engaging conversation, Ben Seaman shares his artistic journey from aspiring therapist to painter, exploring the intersection of art and queer identity. He discusses the impact of COVID on his creative process, his techniques in figure painting, and the influence of psychology on his work. Ben reflects on the importance of visibility for queer artists and the challenges they face, w...

Summary In this conversation, Tom Calloway shares his journey as a photographer, exploring themes of identity, representation, and the artistic process. He discusses his unique approach to capturing the male figure, influenced by his queer identity and experiences in the yoga community. Tom emphasizes the importance of diversity in his work and the challenges he faces as a non-professional photogr...

Summary In this conversation, @Rob Clarke discusses his artistic journey, exploring the evolution of his style from traditional to digital mediums. He reflects on the influence of everyday life and pop culture on his work, the role of humor in balancing darker themes, and the impact of the internet on art communities. Clarke also navigates the complexities of personal identity in relation to audie...