Art and Sexuality: Body-Positive Projects

Art and sexuality have shared a long and uneasy history, with erotic themes celebrated in some eras and hidden in others. Painters, photographers and sculptors in Canadian cities continue to work in the space between the two, and many describe their outlook on energy, intimacy and creativity as central to the work.

This article describes the general field and does not profile any individual artist.

Intimacy and playful painting

Some artists view social life as a series of mutual exchanges of energy that suit everyone involved. In accounts of this kind, sexuality often pushes work toward lighter and more playful subject matter, meant to invite viewers to examine their own attitudes from another angle. Artists frequently describe intimacy, more than the physical act, as the most significant element.

Body-positive portrait projects

One recognizable genre is the portrait project that combines art with self-acceptance. Participants, often women, sit for a painted, photographed or sculpted portrait of their own bodies, including the genitals, as a way of recording individuality and beauty. Organizers say that the process can help participants address painful experiences or concerns about body image. Similar projects exist in many countries, including plaster-cast and photography series on genital diversity.

Supporters see such work as a counter to narrow media images. Critics sometimes question whether any art of this kind is fully free of commercial or voyeuristic framing. Both perspectives feature in wider discussion.

Teaching the history of erotic art

Some artists and educators hope to teach the long relationship between art and sex, noting that many sexual rituals, beliefs and histories have been kept out of view. Art historians confirm that erotic imagery appears in ancient, religious and courtly traditions across cultures, and that museums and school curricula have often treated it selectively.

Historical figures often cited

Discussions of art and desire frequently mention Sofonisba Anguissola, a sixteenth-century Italian painter who became a respected professional in an era that discouraged women from the craft. She lived into her nineties.

On the subject of sexuality, writers often point to the Marquis de Sade, the eighteenth-century French aristocrat and author. His writing is controversial, and many readers find it disturbing. Historians and critics continue to debate his legacy, with some seeing him as a libertine philosopher and others as a purveyor of cruelty.