28 Images of Men, Both Vulnerable and Provocative by Santi Ruiz

While Santi Ruiz was preparing for his first solo show (more information on that later), he sent us this note about himself and his work.

I was born in Santander, in the North of Spain, in 1979. I moved to Madrid, where I still live, in 1998. Here, I completed my musical studies in classical guitar and Musicology, but I never felt music as my creative field. It wasn't until I was 30, during a trip to New York, that I discovered how much I love taking pictures. I studied photography for several years, being inspired by the work of masters like Francesca Woodman, Duane Michals, Arthur Tress, and Ryan McGinley, to name a few. I consider myself a visual artist, as I've also worked with video and performance art. My main artistic interest is to question the traditional representation of masculinity, no matter the discipline. The intimacy and sexuality of my images allow me to show vulnerable men, at the same time that I use provocation to fight the rules of heteronormativity.

See more about Santi Ruiz on his web site and Instagram. Good news: prints of his work are available. Contact Ruiz through his web site.