TotesFerosh: My Dazzling Queer Fantasy
@ Elephant Room Gallery
704 S Wabash Ave. Chicago, Il 60605
Opening Friday, June 4th, from 6PM - 9PM
On view through Saturday, June 26th
Elephant Room Gallery is excited to be exhibiting Chicago-based artist TotesFerosh’s first solo exhibition this summer during Chicago Pride Month. “My Dazzling Queer Fantasy” opens June 4th from 6pm to 9pm by viewing appointment only. The exhibition runs through June 26th.
10% of the sales from this exhibition will be donated to Howard Brown Health in Chicago. Howard Brown Health exists to eliminate the disparities in healthcare experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through research, education and the provision of services that promote health and wellness.
“My Dazzling Queer Fantasy” is a body of work that presents a diverse selection of LGBTQ people that the artist has chosen to represent as part of his dream world. TotesFerosh uses male-presenting folx as his subjects while capturing the beauty of the feminine and masculine energies found in Queer culture. Inspired by comics and superheroes, the artist pairs his stark characters with expressive color palettes and illustrative iconography.
TotesFerosh creates his portraits using a printmaking technique called linocut. Each character is carved by hand from a block of linoleum, taking up to 20 hours per block. The linocut is then inked and pressed onto paper using a hand-operated press. Once cut out and prepped with a sealant, the linocuts are assembled on cradled pine wood panels and adorned with a colorful assortment of acrylics, charcoals and various other media. Finally, epoxy resin is poured over each piece, encasing all the components under a hyper-glossy finish. The fantasy is complete.
About the Artist
TotesFerosh (Josh Epstein) is a Queer artist specializing in the printmaking medium linocut. His work and aesthetic are largely influenced by a childhood infatuation with superheroes and anime, intensified during his time living in Japan. These characters often present one significant trait which ostracizes them from society, not unlike many Queer people. Taking from personal experiences, he aims to amplify voices of the LGBTQ community by telling stories that celebrate this diverse culture and the people who make it special. TotesFerosh lives in Chicago with his partner Eddie and 33 adoring houseplants.
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Tags: Chicago, Elephant Room Gallery, Loo, My Dazzling Queer Fantasy, TotesFerosh
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