“AllTogether” spotlight: MICHAEL MITCHELL

MICHAEL MITCHELL How Quaint …. a Quite Queen (From “Erotic Alphabet Cards” series), 2004, Inkjet print on paper

MICHAEL MITCHELL ZZZZZZZZ (From “Erotic Alphabet Cards” series), 2004, Inkjet print on paper

Michael Mitchell and Durk Dehner in front of a photograph of them, Man Lust, New Your City, 2004 by Donna Ferrato. The Alltogether Clubhouse, New York, 2023

MICHAEL MITCHELL (American, b. 1952)
Mitchell has drawn all his life and has been doing figure drawing since high school. He has worked as a storyboard illustrator for ad agencies in New York City. He is currently doing drawings and paintings of the male figure, and his work has appeared in Hardjobs magazine.

“In the year 2000, I was urged by my peers to participate in the Tom of Finland Erotic Art Fair. I was told that, even though my work was well known in New York, a West Coast presence was sorely missing. I was excited by the prospect, but daunted by the expense of the trip. So I hatched a plan. First, I made certain that Durk would have accommodations for me at Tom’s House. Then, I got to work on my Erotic Alphabet. Twenty-six 5×7 inch note cards, each with an illustrated fetish and a clever alliteration written for each sex act, all in alphabetical order. I made a deal with The Leather Man on Christopher Street in the West Village to include gear from their collection in each drawing, and a credit on the back of each card, in exchange for a round trip ticket to LA.

MICHAEL MITCHELL Posing, Pumped and Pissed (From “Erotic Alphabet Cards” series), 2004, Inkjet print on paper

Once there, Durk made me feel right at home. I spent each day there preparing my drawings and paintings for display, and my nights pouring over the foundation’s voluminous art files, studying the work of all my favorite homoerotic artists, and a few talented individuals unknown to me. One night, after finishing the construction of a pedestal designed for the display of my Bag Paintings, I decided to turn in early. Later that night, I was awakened by a deep, rumbling racket. Being a New Yorker, I figured it was a big truck barreling through. I thought to myself that it was odd to allow an 18 wheeler to drive through a bedroom community at this late hour. Then, glancing at the gently swaying ceiling fan above my bed, I realized what was happening. An earthquake was rocking Tom’s House! Well, I’ve seen this movie, so I quickly got out from under the whirling blades and  retreated into the hall. One of the other guests had also escaped to the hall outside his room. And there between us, perched on the landing in his underwear, was Durk Dehner. Crouched down at the top of the stairs like a surfer hangin’ ten, he looked over to me with a smile as the manse swayed rhythmically and said, “This is a nice one”. Seeing how calm he was in the face of this seismic event, he made me feel much more at ease as I experienced my first earthquake.

The Tom of Finland Erotic Art Fair was marvelous. I sold fairly well. And I connected with fellow New York artist Michael Kirwin and made the acquaintance of talented illustrator Sean Platter. And I posed for dick pix with a young man selling penis jewelry, the two of us standing arm-in-arm with our pants down as gem encrusted weights swung heavily from our junk. 

My final evening featured a lavish cocktail party at the manor. I loved schmoozing with the California boys, but the high point was finally being able to relax and take in the collection on the walls surrounding us. Having drinks with Tom, Domino, Colt, Bastile, Cadmus, the Hun… it was the highlight of my time at Tom’s House!

Upon my return to New York, the Leather Man built a store display for the Alphabet. The cards sold well, though I couldn’t fathom why the letter “O” was always sold out. Then someone explained it. The note card with the letter “O”, featuring a gaping butt in a sling, said “an Open invitation to an Orifice Orgy”.

They were always out of stock because they were being bought in bulk for private sex parties!” -MM

PHOTO: Luke Abby | LOCATION: TOM House

In celebration of Pride Month, Glenn Martens’ Diesel has joined forces with Tom of Finland Foundation for an expansive capsule collection, for the second consecutive year. This time around, the crossover range celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community with a bevy of Tom of Finland’s signature hyper-masculinized illustrations, as well as fresh works from Tom of Finland’s erotic and queer art collective.

Artists, including Stanley Stellar, Michael Mitchell and Tom of Finland, spotlight Gay men in moments of “unabashed freedom and joy” across photography, drawings and various other mediums. Their work, curated by The Community, a multi-disciplinary, new-generation art institute in Paris, appears printed and patchworked across the collection’s 17 pieces, spanning T-shirts and tank tops to denim pants and jockstraps.

Mitchell’s erotic, pin-up-like illustrations appear printed on cotton patches for hoodies, and Tom of Finland’s Day & Night portraits are applied to T-shirts, tanks, shorts, a cap and a jockstrap. -Hypebeast

GET YOURS FROM DIESEL

Published: 16th July 2023

Categorised in: Art Offering