Talk Art

Peter Berlin


Listen Later

We meet legendary artist Peter Berlin from his home in San Francisco.


Peter Berlin (born Armin Hagen Freiherr von Hoyningen-Huene) is a photographer, artist, filmmaker, clothing designer, model, and gay icon. Berlin started taking self-portraits of himself in the 1970s. By modifying his clothes, choosing various props and settings, and sometimes using double-exposure to create a second image, Berlin would photograph himself in ways that create a hyper-sexualized, overtly masculine image.


We explore Mariposa Gallery's inaugural Los Angeles exhibition featuring the groundbreaking photography, art, and personal artifacts of Peter Berlin, an artist who transformed queer self-representation and male eroticism in the 1970s and beyond. The exhibition set to open at 526 N. Western Avenue—in the heart of the Melrose Hill gallery district— is curated by actor and host of Talk Art, Russell Tovey, and will showcase Berlin’s iconic self-portraits, unique painted photographs, and items from his personal archive including his own clothing designed by Berlin during his years as a self-styled gay icon. This is the first ever exhibition of Berlin’s work in Los Angeles.


The exhibition offers visitors a rare view into the life and work of an artist whose influence on LGBTQ+ aesthetics endures. Berlin, born Armin Hagen Freiherr von Hoyningen Huene in 1942, gained notoriety for his daring and meticulously crafted self-portraits, often taken in public spaces across Berlin, Paris, New York, and San Francisco. These images capture Berlin in his skin-tight costumes and signature pageboy haircut, boldly challenging the boundaries of masculinity and public identity.


Berlin’s focus on “cruising as career” drew him to create self-portraits that explored male sexuality and queer expression, which appeared on the covers of numerous gay publications, cementing his image as an international gay sex symbol. The exhibition will also feature selections from Berlin’s ’70s and ’80s media presence, capturing the evolution of gay aesthetics in this era.


"Peter Berlin, the fearless and enigmatic, otherworldly icon of 1970s cruise culture, created work that resonates around the world—sparkling, searing, and blazing with vitality. His images burn with eternal desire, offering us the ultimate permission to stare. It’s a privilege to share his groundbreaking art with new and familiar audiences alike. Peter Berlin remains a profoundly significant yet often overlooked figure in the history of art." - Russell Tovey


Berlin’s influence extended to film, including Nights in Black Leather (1973) and That Boy (1974), both now cult classics. A recent 2019 monograph on his work, Icon, Artist, Photosexual, highlights his impact, featuring insights from Michael Bullock, Evan Moffitt, and Ted Stansfield, each celebrating Berlin’s singular contribution to queer art and culture. Mariposa Gallery invites the public to step into Berlin’s world and experience the legacy of an artist who, through bold self-exploration and defiant artistry, redefined eroticism and individuality in the queer community.


Materials on loan from the Peter Berlin Collection courtesy of Armin Hagen von Hoyningen-Huene and with guidance from Gerard Koskovich, the historian and dealer offering the collection for institutional acquisition. For more information, visit www.abaa.org/booksellers/details/gerard-koskovich-queer-antiquarian-books.


Follow @PeterBerlinSF and @Mariposa.Drive

Visit: https://www.mariposa.gallery/berlin


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Talk ArtBy Russell Tovey and Robert Diament

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

460 ratings


More shows like Talk Art

View all
Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

129 Listeners

Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

Arts & Ideas

295 Listeners

The Modern Art Notes Podcast by Tyler Green

The Modern Art Notes Podcast

478 Listeners

London Review Bookshop Podcast by London Review Bookshop

London Review Bookshop Podcast

116 Listeners

Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood by Antrese Wood

Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

860 Listeners

The Week in Art by The Art Newspaper

The Week in Art

194 Listeners

Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast by David Zwirner

Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast

387 Listeners

Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers by Louise Fletcher/Alice Sheridan

Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers

759 Listeners

The Great Women Artists by Katy Hessel

The Great Women Artists

494 Listeners

The Art Angle by Artnet News

The Art Angle

310 Listeners

A brush with... by The Art Newspaper

A brush with...

137 Listeners

Art2Life by Nicholas Wilton

Art2Life

597 Listeners

Ruthie's Table 4 by iHeartPodcasts

Ruthie's Table 4

289 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

96 Listeners

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud by Bella Freud

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud

150 Listeners