About | what i’ve done
AUTHOR. PHOTOGRAPHER. curator. PROVOCATEUR.
I am a writer, author, photographer and born and bred New Yorker. My writing career started with personal essays and social commentaries about sex, dating and relationships and freelance articles on health, fitness and nutrition articles which were published online and in print including in AM New York and AskMen.
I possess a B.S. in Sport Sciences and gained my certification as an NATA certified Athletic Trainer soon after graduation. I worked with NCAA Division I athletes in a college setting and with professional athletes and the general population in Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Although, I don’t practice anymore, I do keep my CPR & AED certification current and workout on a regular basis.
My interest in the “body-ologies” and subcultures fuels my art.
I’m the author of the erotic short story collection, The Darker Side of Lust, Exhaust Pipes and the standalone story, "Tinder Block". I’m also included in the anthology, Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 and the upcoming, Hot to the Touch: Views from the Polyamory Lifestyle, both published by Cleis Press.
The focus of my photography is portrait, editorial and nude photography. Early on in my career, I was known as the ‘dildo girl’ because of my first solo exhibit, Man. Toy., which was held at the Body Archive Gallery in New York. The following year, I was the Grand Prize winner of the BK Loves MJ Photo Contest which was sponsored and judged by director Spike Lee.
Through my Bare Men series, I’m confronting the lack of male nudity in photography, the misconception that male nude art is for and by the gay market and the double standard of female vs male nudity by presenting men the way women are presented – vulnerable, objectified and in full-frontal. My first Bare Men photography book was published in 2016 as a limited edition. Since then, I’ve published numerous ebooks featuring photography from the ongoing series. I do have plans to publish another hardcover Bare Men book.
Bare Men has become my claim to fame. It has been featured in PAPER, The Huffington Post, L'Oeil de la Photographie, WideWalls, Refinery29, The Naked and the Lens (2nd Edition), Erotic Review, The Creators Project along with various publications in the US, UK, France, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and India. I hosted my Bare Men Pop-Up Exhibit at the Living Gallery in Brooklyn in 2016. The following year, I was the Artist of the Month at the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas – that erotic photography installation was up for 2 months. Work from Bare Men has also been on a billboard in Times Square. Behind the Lens: Bare Men is a short documentary about the series and my process, which was produced by Zoomin TV. Because of my work in male nude photography, I’ve also been cited in graduate thesis and research projects.
I also work with private clients for portrait, lifestyle, creative headshot, nude and erotic commissions. I hold up the mirror to my clients, helping them see themselves beautiful, dynamic and simply loving the skin they’re in. My portrait and editorial photography has been featured in Time Out New York and Flavorwire. My photography was also included in the Rising Waters 2.0. exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, and in the Body Collection, a digital exhibit at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.
I’ve shared my insight on my photography and the creative process, sex, relationships and body image on VICE, W Radio Colombia, The Filmmakers Show, and as a guest on various other blogs and podcasts, at literary events and showcases.
Contact me for photography commissions, writing projects, copy writing, editing and transcription assignments.
Photo: VySyn Photography
Info
Email: abigail@abigailekue.com
If you enjoy my photography, curatorial work, writing, self-published works, tours, excursions and t-shirt designs, then support The Native Creative!
Remember the COVID-19 pandemic has caused loss of work and income for many independent artists. Although many artists are still creating or revisiting old projects many of us have had our incomes significantly reduced or eliminated completely.
Author, Photographer, NY excursionist | Self-published, self-curated, DIY artist | All art, products & services are funded by me... and hopefully donations from you.