November 15 - December 20, 2014
Los Angeles, CA

Rubén Esparza Curatorial
presents:
Rick Castro:
 Masterworks


© Rick Castro

Reception: Saturday, November 15, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

A retrospective that curates the seminal photographs from the 25 years of Castro's work.

The photographer’s sex positive imagery is darkly erotic, elegant, and at times, sinister. A powerful and imaginative figure that emerged in the Los Angeles underground during the late '80s, Rick Castro was dubbed the Fetish King. His photographs are characterized by potent and visceral tableaux tinged with sadomasochism, leather and sexual pleasure: From the artist’s fetishizing of Tony Ward in 1986, to his current black and white fashion photographs (featuring his 93 year old father) commissioned by Rick Owens.

Curated by Rubén Esparza in conjunction with Queer Biennial I / LA + NY and Parts in Between.

Rick Castro: MasterworksAbout Rick Castro: An American photographer known for his work focusing on fetish and desire. He was born in Los Angeles in 1958 and began his work as a fashion stylist and clothing designer. His clients over the years included Bette Midler, Tina Turner, Herb Ritts, Joel-Peter Witkin and magazines like Interview, GQ, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. Castro first became a freelance photographer at age 30 in 1988, with his work appearing in Frontiers and The Advocate.

His first solo exhibition happened a year later at the original A Different Light Bookstore in Silverlake, California. Over the years he has had numerous international exhibitions and in 1994 his short film of hustler interviews inspired Bruce LaBruce to make the film Hustler White (1996). The two then collaborated on the project as co-directors/writers. The film was a great success internationally and is listed by the Los Angeles Times as one of the top 100 underground films of the 20th century. Rick also directed a documentary for MTV called Plushies & Furries (2001), scoring number two in the ratings.

Over the years, Rick Castro has photographed producer Alan Poul, porn star Peter Berlin, author Gore Vidal, director Kenneth Anger and the 14th Dalai Lama. Castro has created editorial photos for Christian Dior Homme, Cartier jewelry and Rick Owens. His films are archived by UCLA Legacy Projects and his books and photographs are archived by the Alfred Kinsey Institute and Tom of Finland Foundation.

Antebellum, the only fetish art gallery in America, and perhaps the world, continues it's tradition of bringing fetish to the mainstream.
About the gallery:
Antebellum Gallery is located in the heart of downtown Hollywood. The term antebellum is Latin for "before war". While it commonly refers to a more romantic Gone With the Wind era, we find ourselves again today with American culture at odds with political / religious / social agendas that threaten to blow the lid off its foundations at any given moment.

Steeped in Victorian nuances with a salon style, Antebellum is intended as a hybrid of artistic, cultural, and political iconoclasm.

Antebellum Gallery
 General Gallery Hours: Wednesday, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tea Time 5:00 PM - $5 Cover
Thursday - Saturday, 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM $5 Cover
-- and by appointment.
1643 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood CA, 90028 · Map · 323.856.0667
Antebellum Gallery Website
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