While we're on the subject of AIDS - always a good lede, huh? - you may recall our recent piece on AIDS Walk's new ad campaign. In that piece, we touched upon an artistic movement called social realism, which attempted to capture the lived experience of the masses.

During the movement's hey-day (the 1930s-1940s), the American government launched the Works Progress Administration. Later renamed the Works Project Administration, this New Deal institution enlisted the nation's artists to help spread the good governmental word.

Though most of the artists were straight, there's always one fag in the bunch and the WPA's fag went by the name of Paul Cadmus.

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This isn't the first time Stuart Sandford's popped up here. You may recall him from The Narcissist Issue, in which he said:

I see sexuality as fluid. I don't define myself as gay, but I’m definitely far more attracted to men than I am to women. I don't think it's always important to define yourself as one of the other. It's a societal construct and the main reason we do this is to get sex. So let's keep experimenting, not just in our youth, but also throughout the rest of our lives.

Sound advice, we think, particularly for all you artists out there. Don't forget we're always open for your creative contributions. So, send some images to that schmuck editor of ours - it'll make his day.

As for Sandford, he took these shots during an artist residency in Rotterdam. Sounds like a lovely place. Take a look at some other snaps, after the jump…

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We're not sure if you've heard, but today's Valentine's Day. Yeah, we know, it can be a bit depressing for the lonely hearted, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate your platonic love for things.

So, throughout the day we'll be sharing some of our non-romantic loves. For example, American painter Thomas Eakins. Born in Philadelphia in 1844, Eakins went on to become one of our nation's most revered realists, concocting scenes so vivid one can almost imagine diving on in, as seen above in "The Swimming Hole".

While it's hard to pin down whether or not Eakins got down with the guys, his artistic eye certainly lent itself to the homo fantasy. Come on, how many straight guys do you know who paint a group of naked lads frolicking by a lake? For reals…

Showing at New York's Daniel Cooney Gallery, lesbian artist Suellen Parker's "Incurable" addresses the ubiquitous desire for perfection: the unending quest for the perfect tan, body and life. Though not necessarily the most original of concepts, the Georgia-based artist's work deserves a little recognition for its multilayered approach. Parker explains herself on her website:

The media I have chosen are significant to both the process and the meaning of the work. The characters are first formed in plasteline clay, which never dries. This allows me to continually manipulate features and forms, paralleling our bodies' constant state of change over time and our attempts to cover up, reshape, and alter our appearances. Next, a picture is a taken of the sculpture… My use of the photograph demonstrates leaves out informations about the realities of the situation and freezes that moment in time.

From there, Parker digitally implants pictures of human eyes, giving them an emotive eeriness that breathes fresh life into a tired subject.

Suellen Parker, "Having a Ball (Keep On Keeping On)" from Incurable, showing at Daniel Cooney Fine Art (511 West 25th Street, Suite 506) through March 3rd, 2007.

We were having a lovely electronic chat with our artist friend, Ryan Greene, the other day and we asked him to recommend an artist for you, our darling readers. As you saw in The Narcissist Issue, Greene's poised to become one of the great artists of his generation, thus when he suggested Mathew Cerletty, we hopped on over to Cerletty's site faster than you can say art-fag.

Rather than tell you what we think of the 26-year old Wisconsin born, New York based figurative painter, we're going to post a few of our favorites, as well as the link to Cerletty's site, and let you draw your own conclusions. (Get it, draw. Shit, we can't believe the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association didn't even give us an honorable mention!)

Oh, and for those of you over in England between October 6th and November 4th, swing by the Royal Academy of Arts to see Cerletty's work in the group show, USA Today.

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Loyal readers know we've got as much of a hard on for art as we do for history, so why not celebrate the beginning of Gay History Month by celebrating a historic artist? Yeah, we thought it was pretty clever, too.

This is George Platt Lynes, a gay photographer who made a living with fashion photography, but satisfied his artistic soul with sexy shots of nude men. Born in New Jersey, Lynes traveled to Massachusetts for a bit of education and from there to Paris, where he hung in some of the most talented and glamorous circles. Upon his American return, Lynes opened a book store, from which he expected to start a literary career. Little did he know that his photographic hobby would lead to a successful career shooting for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and The American Ballet.

Of course, we suspect that you're a little more interested in his nudie work. Working from the 1920s into the 1950s, it's no surprise that Lynes kept much of his work concealed, lest his homosexual ways draw too much negative attention. Despite his trepidation, Lynes couldn't shake his deep interest in human sexuality and worked with Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the legendary doctor whose pioneering studies changed the way we look at sexuality forever.

Lynes destroyed many of his prints and negatives, fearing a gay legacy in the wake of his death. Like some fabulous cockroach, some of his work survived and continues to astonish viewers with their provocative poses and deliciously gay subtext. It's a shame poor Lynes never knew how much later generations would enjoy his work, no?

See a few select images after the jump. And check out the George Platt Lynes site to learn more about this extraordinary artist and his homo ways. Or, you can just remain philistines until the end of time. The choice is yours, really.

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German born artist Matthias Herrmann's most well-known for his penis. That's because his particularly photogenic member peppers (peckers?) his work liberally.

While one may assume Herrmann's work seeks only to further his own image, a little research suggests the opposite. In an interview with Butt Magazine from a few years back, Herrmann says:

A lot of people get this hyper-masculinity and vanity out of my work, more than I do. I’d like people to see that it’s not about me as some kind of porn stud. It’s vulnerability. It’s not about gaining power, but more about displaying masculine power in order to take it away…Obviously there are two opposite ways of approaching my work, but my intention is always to put things into question, by displaying them.

Dressing up as various characters and iconographic figures, Herrmann attempts to transcend physical and cultural boundaries through subversion and perversion. Whether or not he's successful is for the reader to decide.

While we love his penis play, we're especially intrigued by the 1994 series from which the image above originated. That there's semen. (Or, as a reader suggested for Gay Speak, "the snack that swims.") Ejaculate never looked so good. (Okay, okay, maybe it has…but still.)

For more on Matthias Herrmann and his work, check out his website.

Many of you out there may know of Pierre et Gilles, the French art duo who are also lovers. For those of you who don't, pay attention so that you can whip out your new knowledge and impress your next trick with more than just your grade-A fellatio.

Exploring issues of religion, sexuality, and beauty, Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard have been working together since first meeting in Paris in 1976. Pierre snaps the often provocative shots, while Gilles paints over them to create gloriously stylized multimedia images that have been captivating audiences for decades.

Drawing inspiration from a bevy of cultural movements and icons, the boys have gotten some flack for dealing in the low brow art, while others praise their manipulations as a new line of artistic (and social) thinking. Can popular culture become art? That's for you to decide.

Follow the links below to find out more.

Remember our friend Amnesia Sparkles? (There's a joke in there somewhere, but we're too knackered to find it. Plus, you need to stretch your imaginations.) She's the lovely drag empress who first introduced us to baby Suri.

Well, we were taking a little gander at her website and came across some surprisingly artful (the complimentary definition, not the pejorative, thank you) photography. Who knew one woman could have so much talent?

It's the afternoon and we suspect you need to look at something pretty, so mosey on over and take a look for yourself. If you like what you see, you're in luck, because she'll be selling prints in the nearish. We hear she needs money for new tits.

We know what today is, and we know that horrific images of mass murder are everywhere. If you're looking for a little escape, do yourself a favor and check out the work of photographer, Walter Pfeiffer. Swiss-born Pfeiffer turns his lense on "the beauties," as he calls young, attractive men. Pfeiffer's works highlight both an aesthetic wonder and emotional truth: his subjects often appear bewildered and keenly aware of their sexual prowess.

Growing up in a small village, Pfeiffer moved to Zurich during the 1960s. While there, he discovered the vibrant nightlife, a scene from which he drew many of his early subjects. Following art school, Pfeiffer worked as a window dresser. That career was short-lived, however, and soon after Pfeiffer concentrated on his photography. After receiving many kudos in the 1970s and 1980s, Pfeiffer's star faded for a little while, rejuvenated by the release of a new collection in 2001, Welcome Aboard. If you want to read a little more about Pfeiffer, we recommend his interview with our friends over at Butt. But, of course, if you don't really care what he has to say, do a little digging for more of his images. You'll like what you find.

"Switzerland's Most Fabulous Artist… [Butt Magazine]

In our effort to provide you with a little art, we bring you photographer Thomas Weisskopf and his recent series, "Ladyboys." After focussing his gaze on a group of Swiss soccer boys, Weisskopf headed to Bangkok to capture the transcendental beauty of Thai trannies. Of the photos, Weisskopf says:

I wanted to show the self-confidence and the fragility of these people. They walk the line; it is just a part of their self-presentation. They want to appear beautiful as long as possible, knowing that they will fade like a flower.

Unlike Nan Goldin, who also featured Thai transsexuals in her work, Weisskopf neglects snapshots, choosing instead a line of portraiture at once confrontational and inviting. Take a look for youself and let us know what you think.

"I Walk the Line" [Sleek Magazine]