PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes at Queer Biennial I

Earlier we shared some of the great artwork and photography included in Queer Biennial I curated by Ruben Esparza. But for you art groupies and collectors, Mr. Esparza sent us some great photos of the artists and crew involved in the exhibitions during the past year. Photos taken are of the planning, studio visits, gallery visits, and happennings of Queer Biennial I: L.A., N.Y., and parts in between. Queer Biennial I at Coagula Curatorial Chinatown L.A., Calif., June-July 2014 and Queer Biennial I at Art Basel/ Hotel Gaythering, South Beach, Miami, Fla., December 2104 - January 2015. Photos (c)Ruben Esparza.

For more information on Queer Biennial I, click here.
And click here for more information on Hotel Gaythering.

Artist Chasen Ingleheart at the Queer Biennial Install at LGBT Pride "Riot I" in West Hollywood, June 2014, taking a break in between live performances to promote #queerbiennial. QBI Premiere at Coagula Curatorial L.A. in June, 2014. The exhibit is on at Art Basel Miami December, 2104, Hotel Gaythering.

Studio visit with fiber artist, Ben Cuevas, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, in March of 2014. As he prepares for a live performance of Duality No. 2: Man's Body/Woman's Work where he knitted a full-body jumpsuit from flesh-colored yarn. This is the second in the artist's series of works dealing with duality and gender.

Performance artists Ian MacKinnon and Rich Yap during Queer Biennial exhibition at Coagula Curatorial, Chinatown, Los Angeles, Calif., in June, 2014. Ian hand-painted Rich's entire body in preparation of performance.

Neon artist Lili Lakich during Queer Biennial exhibition at Coagula Curatorial, Chinatown, Los Angeles, June 2014. She installed her neon Pray the Gay Away/Way, 2012: Aluminum, glass tubing with argon gas, rhinestones, painted wood, animator.

Artist Slava Mogutin reads from his book of poetry, Food Chain, at the Tom of Finland Foundation QBI Event/SUPERM (Brain Kenny and Slava Mogutin 10 years of collaboration). Silverlake, Los Angeles, June 2014. The reading was followed by a presentation of SUPERM films.

Gio Black Peter (second from left) and Tom of Finland's Durk Dehner (second from right). (See more of Gio Black Peter's work here). Tom of Finland Foundation hosts an art fair every year featuring artists from around the globe. Ruben Esparza served as one of the curators and promoted as a QBI extension event.

Artist Connie Fleming, studio visit, Lower East Side, Manhattan New York, May 2104. Connie created an original art installation especially for QBI, celebrating the life of artist Leigh Bowery.

Artists Andrej Dubravski studio visit, Brooklyn, Manhattan New York, May 2104. Miguel Angel Reyes and Ruben Esparza made a visit to young artist. Esparza hopes to add him to QBII roster in 2016. See more of Dubrasky's work here.

Performance artist Ian MacKinnon during a performance in West Hollywood, CA June 2014. Ian was the opening performer at the QBI reception at Coagula June, 2014.Performance artist AB Soto at Coagula Curatorial, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA, June 2014. AB presented a live performance and a retrospective of music videos at the QBI reception at Coagula June, 2014.

Performance artist Odious Ari (far left), gallerist Mat Gleason, and (far right) Mike Che during Queer Biennial exhibition at Coagula Curatorial, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA, June 2014. An after party took place at Kleverdog Studios in China Town, DJ Jorge Castillo spun retro '70s toons and house music, QBI dedicated the party to the memory of Frankie Knuckles.

Artist Stuart Sandford with Sebastian Relic art piece, West Hollywood, CA, July 2104. During a visit to artist curator Ruben Esparza, while discussing installation options for Art Basel at QBI Hotel Gaythering.

Brian Kenny (pictured) and Slava Mogutin created a garment collection in celebration of SUPERM's art partnership ten-year marker.

Miguel Angel Reyes draws Rich Yap

Scotter LaForge

Devan M. Here, L.A. performance artist.

Mark Cramer

Jon Vaz Gar hold Mel Odom's artwork

Henry Coin

Artist Chasen Ingleheart at the Queer Biennial Install at LGBT Pride "Riot I" in West Hollywood June 2014. Takinga break in between live performances. Chasen uses mammalian imagery and sounds as a stand-in for contemporary consciousness. Artists Andrej Dubravski studio visit, Brooklyn, Manhattan New York, May 2104. As he poses for a live drawing session for Artists Miguel Angel Reyes and Ruben Esparza.

Artist Gio Black Peter at Tom of Finland Foundation Art Fair, October 2014. Taking a break at the foundation's grounds during art exhibition.

Durk Dehner, Founder of the Tom of Finland Foundation Art Fair, October 2014. Durk takes an outdoor shower after a long hot day hosting artists at the Foundation.

Dungeon at Tom of Finland Foundation, October 2014. The world renowened subterranean sex den.

Ruben Esparza is a Los Angeles-based artist, designer, photographer and curator. Ruben explores the complexites and ultimately elusive decoction regulation of 1960's Warholianism with elements of Finish Fetish, Conceptualism, Ethnicity and Queer Culture. Ruben takes swipes at art history, mass communication. His artwork is included as part of the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and the Santa Barbara Museum, among others throughout the country. Mr. Esparza is the founder and curator of Queer Biennial exhibition series anchored in Los Angeles, New York, Mexico, Miami, and Paris. rubenesparza.com, queerbiennial.com, ruben@rubenesparza.com