Jess T. Dugan Chronicles Queer Beauty at St. Louis Art Museum
| 08/23/21
Shira and Sarah
Left: Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 40 x 30 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.146; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Founded in 1978, the "Currents" series serves as a laboratory for emerging and mid-career artists to create and exhibit new work. Featured artists have included Matthew Buckingham, Dale Chihuly, Leonardo Drew, Brian Eno, Ellen Gallagher, Frank Gehry, Donald Judd, Julie Mehretu, Richard Serra, and Cindy Sherman.
Dugan, who uses they and them pronouns, is known for their color photographs that explore the power of identity, desire, and connection. Working within a framework of queer experience and from an actively constructed sense of masculinity, Dugan's portraits examine intersections between individual identity and the search for intimate connection with others.
"Currents 120" presents a selection of recent works -- portraits, self-portraits and still lifes -- many of which were created specifically for this exhibition. These photographs are a part of Dugan's ongoing project "Every Breath We Drew," begun in 2011. While their work over the past decade has been made primarily in private, interior spaces, recently their photographs have also included St. Louis individuals and couples outdoors in natural environments. In a break from their earlier work, Dugan's new work reveals a more expansive sense of space and a changed color palette while it offers exploration of landscape.
Dugan uses medium- and large-format cameras, natural light and an unhurried approach to reconcile traditional photographic practices with contemporary subject matter. Working collaboratively with their subjects, Dugan may spend hours making a portrait. They draw influence from elements of portraiture in painting, using light, color, gesture and pose to imbue photographs with emotional and psychological intensity.
Dugan is the recipient of the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Fellowship, which included this exhibition following a residency at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. The exhibition is curated by Hannah Klemm, associate curator of modern and contemporary art; and Eric Lutz, associate curator of prints, drawings and photographs; with Molly Moog, research assistant for modern and contemporary art.
The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the nation's leading comprehensive art museums with collections that include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Areas of notable depth include Oceanic art, ancient American art, ancient Chinese bronzes and European and American art of the late 19th and 20th centuries, with particular strength in 20th-century German art. Admission to the Saint Louis Art Museum is free to all every day. For more information, call 314.721.0072 or visit slam.org.
Apolo Lying in the Grass
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 18 x 24 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.129; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Collin (red room)
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 40 x 30 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.134; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Collin at Sunset
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 30 x 40 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.135; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Jo at Sunset
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 40 x 30 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.138; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Oskar at Sunset
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 40 x 30 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.140; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Self-Portrait With Vanessa
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 30 x 40 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.144; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Shira (hot tub)
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 18 x 24 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.145; (c) Jess T. Dugan
Self-portrait (blue room)
Jess T. Dugan, American, born 1986; pigmented inkjet print; sheet: 40 x 30 inches; Courtesy of the artist and the Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago 2021.142; (c) Jess T. Dugan
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