IMAGES: Why We Need Gay Art

Gay art -- in this case art that depicts the male form in erotic context for a gay audience -- may make some uncomfortable. Some may decry that we have evolved away from sexualizing our relationships with images of naked men. But historically gay art has been a connecting point for people who often had no other way of connecting to, or identifying with, a community and an identity.

As many men and women have moved away from gay bars as the only way to connect with like-minded people, it is undeniable that bars were the hubs of our community for decades.

And erotic art, besides serving its purpose of visually entertaining its audience, also persists in the cause of gay visibility. For centuries, art and literature depicting gay love has been censored, destroyed and suppressed. So whether you consider this in poor taste, or overly sexualized, or inappropriate, the art still insists on existing and depicting a slice of our story.

The art in this gallery is from Capolavoro Publishing's book Capolavoro di Uomo: Masterpiece of Man - Showcasing The Best Of The Diversity In Gay Erotic Art. The book features 46 artists from around the world representing Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, England, France, Holland, Israel, Italy, South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, and the United States. The book is available for purchase at Capolavoroart.com. A portion of the book is also viewable on the website. The book's official launch was held at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in New York on August 22nd.

Click through for more selections from the book >>>

Romeo and Julian, Joe Phillips

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Adam and Steve in Hawaii, Tony De Carlo

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Indelible, Brute by Simon

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Antionous, James Childs

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Little England, Player

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Boxes in the Box, Claudio Bindella

See more of Bindella's work in Artist Spotlight.

Paradise, Butch McLogic

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Lovers on the Balcony, Raphael Perez

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Sleeve, Jack Balas

See more of Jack Balas's work in Artist Spotlight

Johnny, Pussy Cat T, Todd Yeager

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Man in the Bathtub, Mark Debausch

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Notturno con Calzino, Gonzalo Orquin

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Pickup, Robert Sherer

See more of Robert Sherer's work in Artist Spotlight.

Rapture of the Dance Floor, Victor Gadino

See more of Victor Gadino's work in Artist Spotlight.

Rose Sky, Joseph Radoccia

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Smash of the Titans, Michael Kirwan

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

The Conference, Robert Roberts

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Thomas Evans, Moxy Hart

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.

Untitled, Benoit Prevot

Special offer to Advocate.com readers: For the readers of The Advocate Capolavoro Publishing is offering 10% off the retail price of $69.95 and a FREE 8 1/2 x 11 Limited Edition full color holiday print featuring 4 of the images in the book. Please go to their site https://capolavoroart.com/ and click on the The Advocate logo.