The Art of Will Chiong

Will Chiong is a self-taught artist based in Brooklyn, NY, whose work draws from pop art, comic book aesthetics, and fine art to examine themes of eroticism and the intersections of queer and Asian identity. Famous Asian Gay Porn Legends is a companion piece to his zine published by Doable Guys, a decade-by-decade retrospective of Asian men in gay pornography from the VHS era through the OnlyFans economy.

This show brings together 20 original paintings of gay Asian adult performers, including Brandon Lee, Van Darkholme, Peter Le, Damian Dragon, and others who broke through at a time when Asian men were largely absent from mainstream portrayals of queer desire. Chiong grew up closeted and Asian in the 90s, and found in gay porn the representation of Asian men that Hollywood and mainstream gay culture overlooked. These paintings frame those performers as pop art icons and landmarks of queer Asian visibility. 

In the Vault Gallery at Soho Project Space

127B Prince Street, NYC

Opening Reception & Zine Release
September 10th, 6–8pm

On view Thu-Sun, Sep 10-27