You know how Bible-thumpers are so keen to talk about Adam and Eve, “not Adam and Steve”? Well, a queer artist has explored what Adam and Steve might actually look like… and many online think the result is beautiful.
Astra Zero, otherwise known as Dustin, is a gay man based in British Columbia, Canada. He’s built up an online following with artwork that previously tended towards the macabre: Hunky zombies and twisted superheroes portrayed in an increasingly sophisticated comic book style.
“Sexually charged, sci-fi, queer, gothic pop,” is how he has described it in the past.
More recent work has seen him experiment with reworkings of old masters or Renaissance classics.
Hence, “The Temptation of Adam & Steve’, a revamp of The Fall of Man by Peter Paul Rubens (1628). The Rubens’ original shows Eve being tempted by a devil to eat an apple in the Garden of Eden.
A censored version (below) of the image appeared on the @Astrazero Instagram this week.
An NSFW, uncensored version, without fig leaves, is on Twitter.
Both have proved popular and resulted in a flood of orders for prints.
Modern old masters
Astra Zero’s Instagram shows several other reworkings of old masters.
Queerty caught up with Dustin to ask what inspired his new work.
He says he’s always been into historical artwork, “and fascinated by the drama behind most of it and the original artists.”
“I also found it interesting how many historical works showcased women with such rebellious and sexual undertones. I thought it would be fun to put an erotic queer spin on some of my faves, depicting ‘men’ in the same light, but with a stereotypical modern twist. Back then it was absurd for men to be painted with big packages or be overly sexual … that was reserved for images of women.”
Was he surprised that Adam and Steve struck a chord with people?
“A lot of the revamps I’ve been doing have been premeditated for a reaction. Mixing anything queer and sexual with religion, and then mixing that with stereotypical standards of male beauty, usually gets some attention. But yeah, some of my newer work has gotten more attention than like expected and I’m so grateful!
“Being a full-time artist and living off your work is a daily struggle, so any amount of exposure is amazing.”
Sunday school hell
Is Dustin religious himself?
“I’m not, no. I actually wanted to be when I was a kid though. My mom is also not religious and I used to beg her to let me go to Sunday school when I was little because the other kids in my class who attended always talked about it. So she finally let me.
“The first day I came home from Sunday school with a detailed drawing of us burning in hell. I’ve always been an artist, so it was pretty detailed! And my mom was like, ‘yeah no, you’re not going back there’,” he laughs.
Check out Astrazero.com for more information and merchandise.
Related:
The homoerotic brilliance of artist Michael Leonard
The British artist loved to paint construction workers… but may be best remembered for an iconic image he created of Queen Elizabeth.
Nine of the hottest, queer, erotic artists to follow
Which is your favorite?
abfab
I enjoy Origin Stories. Well, some of them.
Mr. Stadnick
Great little article
Flamingo Falls
If they were created by God, why do they have navels?
SDR94103
for the same reason he gave them nipples, God has a sense of humor.
jackmister
God must have an odd sense of humor to put the prostate in the male anus and then decry gay sex as evil. Also, why did He make Tops with big dicks and bottoms with cute bubble butts?
Fname Optional Lname
where else would they put their navel rings?
Kangol2
Great, informative piece on a very interesting artist, Queerty. He has a sharp eye and sense of humor. I recommend going to X to see the NSFW versions.
KyleMichelSullivan
His work is lovely. Ordered a print of Fallen Angel Darker.
Pietro D
HOT WORK………. FAB!!!!!!!!
A great re-imaging of…..you know what!
Aaron
Low-key reeks of white supremacy. Something a gay white Republican Boomer would hang above his dead husband’s urn. Pass.
danteVigor
Girl, Considering the artist is a millennial & Native American/ First Nations & you’ve done zero research , I think your tired & entitled comment is the Pass.
monty clift
Here comes the victim mentality.
Aaron
How does being a Millennial and a white-passing Native prevent you from creating Eurocentric art? What exactly are you accusing me of being entitled to?
Greg J
Sounds like Aaron is serving us jealousy today
Jon in Canada
Aaron, might suggest you get that pretentious chip on your shoulder looked at, because I suspect it’s actually a metastasized stupidity tumor.
Kangol2
Actually, he does paint BIPOC figures, which Queerty didn’t feature (imagine that!), and, when someone on TwX inquired about a BIPOC version of one of his paintings, he promptly produced one, which looks great. I do see what you’re saying, though; his art is very Eurocentric, but I see some play with those European models.
Funny scenario you describe, though (He’s Gen X, but Peter Thiel came immediately to mind.)
woodroad34
Great replication of style….I could see these hanging in grand old manor houses.
Greg J
Love Love Love
Mary Jane
Entertaining what gets some guys outraged or how we already have so many works of art that are homoerotic and beautiful to view. Go make a friend.