Physique, from the collection of Vince Aletti
June 13 - July 18
Dashwood Projects is proud to announce our next show Physique, from the collection of Vince Aletti, on view June 13th thru July 18th, 2025, an exhibition of over forty rare physique photography prints from the private collection of renowned critic and curator Vince Aletti. Spanning the 1930s to the early 1960s, these photographs chronicle a hidden, coded world of homoerotic imagery. Once sold discreetly through mail-order catalogues and physique magazines, the prints point to an emergent queer sensibility and visibility.
The exhibition and accompanying book, published by SPBH (Self Publish Be Happy), traces the historical and political significance of these images, firmly establishing their place in the canon of photography. Celebrates the artistry of the photographers, models, and studios like Bruce of Los Angeles and Western Photography Guild that brought the photographs to life. Physique reveals a forgotten chapter of American gay culture in which photographic prints served as a lifeline, connecting a community of men under threat while also providing solace, pleasure, and empowerment amid oppression.