Installation of Twilight Inks at LMCC Art Center on Governor’s Island
Winter, 2023

Over the past three years, I've been obsessively creating this series of ink paintings that explore the Queer underground, drag culture, and evolving forms of gender expression in the era before the Stonewall riots. These works are rooted in surviving materials I uncovered through research at archives across the country. During this time, it was illegal to be openly Queer or trans. Many personal items, photographs, and publications were routinely destroyed or lost—sometimes by unaccepting family members, other times by Queer individuals themselves as a means of self-protection.

Installation for Lift and Drag at Stephen Street Gallery, NYC, 2024. Photo by Stephanie Powell.

I see this series as a way to forge a tangible connection to my Queer ancestors who dared to live authentically in a world that sought to erase them. Each piece is an indelible testament to their defiance and refusal to conform. With Donald Trump’s return to power riding on a wave of hatred and intolerance against the Queer community, this project isn’t just about preserving history or understanding where we come from—it’s a reminder that the fight to protect all we’ve gained is far from over.

Adrian as Salome

Delisa Newton

Artist Equity Ball, 1960s

Reggie Adams, died in the Upstairs Lounge arson fire, New Orleans, 1973

Leslie Perez circa 1950

Peter English, 1966

Jiro Onuma and Lover at Thule Lake Segregation Center, 1942-45

Lesbian house party, San Francisco

Uknown models, Hollywood Hustler Magazine, 1969

Unknown models Salute Magazine,
Oct 1968

Buddy Ramussen, died in the Upstairs Lounge arson fire, New Orleans, 1973

Jackie Curtis Smoking

Unknown model with rifle from His Handsome Is, 1970

Unidentified person

Ann Louise, TV Journal, 1960

The Guru, Big Stick Magazine, 1970

Martha Shelley, Come Out Magazine, 1969

Unknown couple, NYC, 1940s

The Wanderer, Big Stick Magazine

ames Bidgood in Drag, Club 82, 1950s

Lorraine Hurdle and partner on US Military Base, 1940-50s

Gay Male Swinger, 1960s

Sugar, Lesbian Herstory Archives

Ruth Truth photo by Ken Duncan

Unidentified models

Unidentified model

Japanese drag performer, Hiroshi Maruyama, 1950s

Abby Sinclair

Mr Elegance at Mary Ellen’s Top Hat, San Antonio, TX, 1963

Police arrest drag artists, NYC, 1960s

Unknown model, Salute Magazine, 1968

Vaslav Nijinksi

Monticello Playhouse, Jewel Box Revue

Unknown model, photo by Avery Willard

Gina, 1960s

Unidentified sailor

Mario Montez arrested at Exotic Ball and Carnival of the National Variety Artists, Oct 1962

Avery Willard, self portrait, 1940s

Jinx Austin, 1965

Suzanna Valenti, Casa Susanna, 1950s

Drag Queen cocktail party, Lavender and Lace, 1960s

Ira and Joan, 1956, Lesbian Herstory Archives

Unidentified drag queen, 1960s

Stormé Delaverie, photo by Avery Willard

Toby Marsh, 1973

Unidentified men, NYC, 1950s

Gene Billbrew inspired vixen

Unidentified Female Impersonator and person kissing

Kicks Wild, Crazy Horse Saloon, NYC, 1960s

Making the scene, Drag Mag, 1972

Deena Grevis, 1960s

Female Impersonators Magazine, 1960

Unidentified drag queen arrest, 1930s-1940s

Bambi, Paris, 1950s-1960s

Jim in Disneyland, Go Guys, 1964

Lesbians with dog, Florida, 1950s, Bobbi Smith Archives

Jackie Shane, photo by JD Doyle

Shalimar, wig care, 1963

Tamara Edel Rees with new husband JK Rowland

Toni Lee, 1969

Unknown model from STUD magazine, 1968

Drag queen cocktail Party from Lavender and Lace, 1960s

Tony Winters, drag advice, Female Impersonators, 1969

Terry Durham at Carrousel Paris, 1950s-1960s

Baby at Lisa Style Ball, 1969

Print Ad, Female Mimics, 1968

Vice Squad plainclothesman Henry Jacobs arrests Lavonn Newton

James Baldwin, 1950s

Dave Rivers, Young Champ, 1968

Sailor Boy, Mel Roberts, Drum Magazine, 1966

Joey, Female Mimics, 1967

Gene Billbrew

Print ad, Drum, 1960s

Social Drag in DC, Drag Mag, 1973

Carlson Wade

Bobbi Smith, 1950s

Gay Circle magazine, 1970s

Unknown models, 1950s

Kim August

Tony, 1975

Chez Moune Paris Lesbian Bar, 1950-1960s

Coccinelle, 1960s

Ralph Kliener, Male Figure, 1968

Unidentified person

Doma, first time in drag, 1972

Randy Taylor, 1960s

Ricky Renee, Female Mimics, 1960s

Print Ad, Drum

Holli White

Virginia Prince on WBAI with Dr. Wollman. 1968

Minette from the film Flaming 20’s by Avery Willard

Kim (of Kim & Chrysis) 1968

Leslie Carrol at the Crazy Horse, NYC, 1960s

Unknown model, Stag Magazine, 1969

Stanley Meyer

Silvia, Letters to Female Impersonators, 1960s

Unidentified person

Gene, Fire Island, 1960s

Leather Daddy, Leather Men Magazine, 1960s

Pudgy Roberts

Gay Male Swingers, 1960s

Marlboro man, unidentified model, 1950s-60s

Print ad for Vagabond lotion for gay men, 1960s

Carlson Wade

Jewel Box Review, Monticello playhouse, 1960s

Dick Leitsch, Mattachine Society

Unidentified person

Bunny Lake, 1960s

Ray Hartl, Golden Boys II, 1968

Chico and Tobé, Jewel Box Review, 1969

Two, Canadian homophile magazine, 1964

Sonné Teal, Le Poupee

Diana Davis, Turnabout, 1964

Grecian Guild Pictorial, Friend to Friend Club, Roselle, 1960s

Unidentified model, Stag Mag #1, 1967

Marlo, Female Impersonators, 1969

Unknown at Falstaff Brewery, Arizona

Print Ad, Drum Magazine, 1968

Tommy Osbourne

Grecian Guild Personals, Pearl Harbor Veteran, 1960s

Deborah of California, 1972

Time Magzine Protest, Ellen Bedoz, 1970

Lorrainne Hurdle, 1940s

Article, Grecian Guild Pictorial, 1970s

Lesbian couple at Christmas party, Houston Texas

Pudgy Roberts

Anita at Casa Suzanna, Transvestia

Horny Owl, San Francisco

Suzanna Valenti and Virginia Prince, 1950s Transvestia #100

Unknown gay couple, 1950s

Barbara Gittings

Police break up National Variety Artist Exotic Carnival and Ball, NYC, 1962

Unknown erotica models, 1960s

Come Out Magazine, 1969

Carlson Wade

Picketing Grace Cathedral San Francisco, 1965

Mischelle, 1965

Gay Male Swinger, Boston, 1960s

Gay Swinger, 1969

Gay Swingers personal ad

Betty, My Opinion, David Magazine, Texas, 1971

Betty, My Opinion, David Magazine, Texas, 1971

Tytanic, 1940s

Coccinelle on stage, 1960s

Kicks Wild, Crazy Horse Saloon, NYC, 1960s

Mary Nell, Letters to Female Impersonators, 1960s

Mars Magazine, Valentine Card, 1960s

Cathy, New Trenns Magazine, 1970s

Unknown sailor, 1960s

CM of Paris

Vaslav Nijinski as Clown by Bettaman

Protest of Police for Killing of Frank Bartley, Berkeley, CA, June 1969

Sally Douglas, New Trenns Magazine, 1970s

Central Park cruising, 1950s

Unknown models

Amigo cover model, unidentified, 1964

Winston Alias, 1950s

Sonne Teal in Le Poupee by Jacques Baratier, 1962

Unknown people at an NYC drag ball, photo by Ray Kemp

Gay Swinger, 1970

Jacqueline, Letters to Female Impersonators, 1961

Holli White, 1960s

Avis, 1970

Gay Activists Protest City Councilman Saul Sharison, 1971

Queer house party, 1950s

Monte, Go Guys beach boy, 1964

Rock and Phil

New York’s Ms. Bebe, Drag Magazine, 1970s

Edwin Buffington and man Washington Sqare Park, 1950s

Johnny DeLeon and Bill Beardemphl, San Francisco, 1970

Henri Leleu, San Francsico, 1960s

Tavern Guild Trip, unidentified people, 1970s

Unknown model

Pudgy Roberts

Mario Montez by Avery Willard

Gene Billbrew

Minette in kitchen, circa 1960

Chris Moore, Club 82, 1960s

Annette, transvestite

Julian Eltinge, The Fascinating Widow

Unidentified Lesbian from Bobbi Smith archive

Avery Willard Birthday 1960s

Billbrew inspired

Butch Femme Couple at Mona Sargent's Club, San Francisco, 1950s

Painter Marie Poulain in Paris art studio, 1946

Georgia from PA, Transvestia #1

Edwin Buffington and partner, 1940-50s

Unidentified Black lesbian couple in cafe, 1950s

Winston Alias 1950s

Canid snaps of drag queens at Mardi Gras, Drag Mag, 1973

Ted Gordon and Rita Butler 1958

Chris Ames_Letters to Female Impersonators, 1960s

Newspaper clipping

Tony Carroll, Mr. World, Queen’s Quarterly, 1970

Unidentified Drag Performer, NYC, 1960s

Unknown model, Magpie of California, May 1969