31 Works of Art From 2017 That Challenge and Stimulate

From revolutionary artworks that depict rage at the system to delicate pieces that celebrate our unique sensibilities, the art that appeared on Advocate.com in 2017 showed that we are feisty, sensual, and that we are original thinkers. 

Advocate.com is lucky to have ongoing relationships with many of the artists we feature, so that as the years go by we can revisit them and see their evolution. A few of the people we are especially grateful to are Rubén Esparza for keeping us connected with the thriving LGBT/Latino art scene in Los Angeles, Miguel Angel Reyes for not only being an art star but for sending new talent our way, Sandro Kortekaas of Galerie Mooi-Man for providing a link to so many international artists, and then the artist whose work we will review year after year to check their progress and vision as their work matures.

20 Images Showing the Pain of Being 'Gay in Trumpland'
Artist Ron Amato: "This photo series is a visual expression of our community getting pushed back, denied basic protections under the law and being expected to forgo the basic human rights of loving and community building."

51 Reasons to Take a Sexy Side Trip to Art Gaysel
Yes, Art Basel Miami and all that. But at the Hôtel Gaythering there are some gloriously gay artworks you need to see.

41 Reasons to Join the Art Cult of Francisco Hurtz
The art, the wit, and then the photos of Francisco — yes, we are devotees.

The Bedazzling Art of Nick Cave
Staggering in its scope and detail, Nick Cave's installation at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, "Until," stuns and intrigues at the same time.

13 Works of Art Beyond the Binary
These artists are revolutionizing the way we visualize conventional gender as exclusively male or female.

The Pulse 49: An Homage in the Blood of the Artist
Rubén Esparza’s challenging artwork confronts the viewer with a visceral response to violence and heartbreak.

32 Photos of Cleonette’s Queer Vision
Photographer Cleonette Harris may see things a little differently than you do.

Of Art, and Men, and Jordan Mejias
The good news is that you can now possess the liquid beauty of Jordan Mejias’s paintings and drawings in a new book.

'Queer Califas' Expresses Origin, Identity, and Sexuality in Art
20-plus "Queer Latinx" artists express their artistry in real time — some with a fixed lens to the past and others with sights set to the future.

Over 60 Years of Art Form Queer Identity
A skilled curation of video, painting, photography, and sculpture puts together LGBT art and artists spanning over half a century.

Severus Heyn Makes Pop Art Drenched in Sex (Photos)
Bisexual artist Severus Heyn likes making slick art with subversive messages. 

36 Photos of a Bad Boy Artist and His Nasty Artwork
Spanish artist Pascual Rodríguez wants to hear your dirty little laugh when you see his work.

'Here. There. Everywhere': Latinx LGBTQ Art in Los Angeles
A strong, soulful link connects the artists and artworks in this exhibit at L.A.'s Advocate & Gochis Galleries.

31 Photos of Go-Go Bears Dancing With the Camera
"You can tell when the song gets in their heads and flows back out through their muscles and movements."

60 Images of Hunks, Twinks, Queens, and Other Assorted Divinities
The artwork of House of JBG is sexy, fun, and pop. We need that right now.

He Comes in Colors (Art & Photos)
Young artist Tony Devoney is in a polyamorous relationship with the paint, the color, and the canvas.

42 Modern Men Rendered in Classic Beauty
Some newer work from talented artist Ron Griswold, as well as a few of our favorites.

26 Artworks of Male Sexual Interaction From Instinct.Berlin #4
This experimental and collective project about masculinities looks at our interactions through art and brings together both younger and more mature artists.

Instinct #3: Transformation and the Masculine (Art)
From the droll to the terrifying, these artists challenge masculine concepts and perceptions in this Berlin exhibition.

The 3D Dazzle of Butchsl
Butchsl reinvents the naughty pin-up with his astonishing 3D skills.

27 Reasons Cakeboy Should Be in Your Magazine Pile
Part zine, part juvenile delinquent, part Diana Vreeland — Cakeboy is the refreshing publication that topples the "Masc4Masc" patriarchy.

The Goddess Within (Photos)
Explore the stunning spectrum of female sexuality. 

Artist Ego Rodriguez Goes Snap, Crackle, Pop.
Ego Rodriguez is a queer artist and illustrator based in London. He's built up a rabid fan base on Instagram, where he shares his work and currently has nearly 40,000 followers. Here Ego discusses his creation process, his inspirations for drawing, and why he does what he does.

Queer British Art: From Coded Desires to Public Indecency
The exhibition catalog from the recent show at London’s Tate museum is a rich chronicle of LGBT life as it began to evolve from completely hidden to insistently present.

Juliusz Lewandowski Evokes a Decadent Past
Lewandowski's art, reminiscent of Weimar-era Berlin and Russian propaganda posters, seems right on time.

Male Pipedream Is 100 Pages of Rich Gay Sexual Fantasy
This digital magazine curates gay art and erotica from around the world.

Pick a Card, Any Card (Art)
Nick Aitken's playing card project weaves the past and the present into a familiar format but makes big changes in the game.

7 Portraits of LGBT Women From 'The Atlas of Beauty'
A photography book of women from around the world shows that "beauty has no bounds, so acceptance, love, and compassion shouldn’t either."

Zanele Muholi Captures the Beauty of Black Goddesses
A New York gallery is featuring the stunning works of this South African photographer.

365 Days of Erotic Gay Art
This annual day calendar from MooiMan is a reason to look forward to 2018.

Artist Spotlight: Robbie Sweeny (Photos)
Robbie's main gig is stunning dance and performance photos, but check his Instagram for everything from sexy domestic bliss to artistic bondage.