Spit Shine, 2002.

Watercolor marker and ink on paper.

Signed and dated on the bottom right, "Michael Kirwan MMII (2002)".

12 1/2 x 17 in (31.8 x 43.2 cm).

Literature (Illustrated):

Saslow, James M., Allen Ellenzweig, and Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation. Treasures of Gay Art from the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation, edited by Peter Weiermair. New York: All Saints Press, 2008. p. 156, illustrated.

Notes: 

From the 1980s through the mid-2000s, Michael Kirwan became one of the most widely circulated erotic illustrators of his generation and his work appeared in more than 700 magazines. His illustrations first appeared in Playguy in 1980 and later featured prominently in other major gay publications including Stroke, Freshmen, Torso, Mandate, Inches, Cavalier, Honcho, Nugget, and Drummer.

In his rendering of the male body, Kirwan distinguished himself from many of his contemporaries through a reduced emphasis on idealized hypermasculine archetypes. Rather than focusing exclusively on heavily muscular and sexualized figures, he represented a broad range of body types, ages, ethnicities, physical abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Kirwan deliberately chose to present everyday men in erotic situations which permitted his viewership to better relate to the characters that he created and to “recognize familiar situations and see a spark of their own lives displayed” in his work. [1]

Kirwan often approached erotic illustration through storytelling and situational narratives rather than isolated idealized figures. Brought to life through fine watercolor pens and Prismacolor markers, his scenes unfolded in public parks, bathhouses, locker rooms, and the back seats of cars.

[1] Michael Kirwan, “The Artist Muses”, Tom of Finland Foundation Dispatch (Winter 2002)

https://www.worldoftomoffinland.com/foundation/Dispatch/Dispatch2002Nov/Kirwan.htm

Nothing adverse to note.

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