I’m a queer artist and graphic designer based in Upstate NY. I create illustrations, sculptures and risograph prints under the name Woolybearz. I sell risograph prints of my drawings, made on my own RZ990 Riso printer as well as other merch to help support my work. Thank you for the support!

My work focuses on portraying feminized, large and hairy “gay bear” men in a whimsical light: creating a novel delicacy in a traditionally hulking subject. Gay male on male artwork, especially within the bear community, often focuses on creating a sexually charged narrative: man on man intimacy is equated to sex. I’m interested in poking fun at this narrative and restructuring it to a more delicate, emotional and somber perspective of intimacy.

Rather than showing a scene of sexual fantasy, I’m interested in creating a narrative of sexual disillusion behind a whimsical facade. While these illustrations of bright pink and flamboyantly posed men invite a children’s book-like sense of humor, they seep an underlying poignancy exploring male intimacy, emotional detachment and alienation.

I precariously stack figures as apathetic objects of skin and fur that are neither aroused nor arousing, even with their orgy-esque positioning. Instead of sex appeal, they are shown delicately balancing, slumping over each other, holding flowers and rocks in a child-like quality as they press each other into awkward submissive positions, appearing detached from each other regardless of their physical contact.