Exhibition
October 20 - April 27, 2024
Opening Reception:
October 20, 2023
6 - 8 PM PST
Mainardi Memorial Gallery
Free to Members and the Public
This exhibition is designed to illuminate the history of Physique Pictorial, the hand-crafted manufacture of its physical issues, as well as the behind-the-scenes goings on of the magazine's operation.
In-depth study of the makings of a mid-century underground zine.
The Athletic Model Guild's flagship magazine, Physique Pictorial pioneered various aspects of homoerotic art in mid twentieth century America. This magazine (which was composed, designed and edited by Bob Mizer) displayed his own photography as well as debuting artists such as Tom of Finland, Georege Quaintance, Harry Bush and many others.
Through Physique Pictorial's photographic and illustrative imagery, as well as biographical and political articles written by Mizer, the magazine played an intricate role in building a homosexual visual culture within the United States.
This exhibition is designed to illuminate the history of Physique Pictorial, the hand-crafted manufacture of its physical issues, as well as the behind-the-scenes goings on of the magazine's operation. The Bob Mizer Foundation invites you to explore the history, art, and legacy of Physique Pictorial from its inception in the 1950s to its revival in 2017.
Curated by Maxwell Sutter Zinkievich