About

Steven Salabsky

Steven was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he was adopted as a baby and grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Growing up, he has always been in tune with his creative side. Expressing himself through art was something that always made sense to him. This expression led him to study dance and painting as an adult. He received a BFA in Fine Art and a minor in Dance from the University of Utah. His love for dancing inspired his appreciation and fascination with the human form and guided him to the artist he is today. Steven is currently building bodies of work with various themes pertaining to the human condition. His current body of work touches on the experience of the black male in American culture.

Resume

Boys In Baths

"Boys in Baths" is an ongoing series with the aim of shining a softer light on the black male by portraying him in a vulnerable state. The inspiration came in 2020 when racism bubbled to a boiling point. It got me thinking about how deeply rooted bigotry is in American life. Furthermore, as a black gay man, I was struck by how experiences of racism and homophobia shape the black queer community. This made me curious to hear other people's stories. I decided to start asking friends I knew if they would model for me and share their personal experiences of bigotry. I wanted to use my art as a voice for the models. Also, I find that the black male is rarely utilized as a form of expression in the figurative art world. So in addition to my efforts to bring awareness to racism and homophobia, I am also showcasing and celebrating the beauty of blackness, in the black queer male.