What is it about gays and flowers?

Published about 2 years ago • 1 min read

Pansies. Hyacinths. Green carnations. Lavender.

There’s quite a history of gays and flowers, a trail of various associations over time. Just associate flowers with men and it screams “gay” in western culture. So, having steeped in this my whole life, is it any surprise that I’m making a bunch of little paintings of…

Wait for it…

Gays and flowers!

painting of golden, muscular beauty smelling the roses painting of shirtless male staring off into the distance, surround by ivy
painting of purple male torso, visible erection, and bright red lilies golden beauty asleep amid gentle white flowers

Watches of the Night
a series of erotic miniatures

Who are these bois and why these flowers? The series emerged from my idiosyncratic responses to the bottomless well of thirsty imagery provided by selfie culture. Sprinkled in are images purely from imagination or derived from pictures I’ve taken myself. Regardless of source, they’re all expressions of my own personal attractions and fascinations—and the pure chance operation of what I happen to come by. The combinations are sparked by delight and design, a bit of whimsy, and some favorite colors (mine or theirs, when I know it).

The series as a whole, however, has evolved a message and purpose. I’ve explained that part in a blog post: Watches of the Night.

At the moment, I don’t have a particular endpoint or finish line for the series. There are still lots of bois and flowers out there! Have a favorite flower or boi? Favorite color? Questions? Smash that reply button and let’s talk.

Until next time, flame on! 🔥

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Edward Ficklin (he/him), the maverick artist not afraid to say gay, is dedicated to creating erotic art as a pathway to liberation for all. His surrealist work centers the nude figure exploring its own delights, ranging from the sensual to the ecstatic. In defiance of the societal forces attempting erasure by legislation, algorithm, or so-called “community” standards, he delights viewers with imagery of sex and body positivity. His paintings have appeared in NYC galleries like Foley Gallery and the SoHo Project Space, national exhibitions dedicated to erotic art such as CLAW Leather Getaway Kinky Art Show and Tucson Erotica, and numerous naughty, but high quality, publications like Erotic Edges, Doable Guys, and Dirty Little Drawings. He likes his martinis straight up, with a twist, and, of course, made with gin. He adores the grit, freedom, and wild unpredictability of urban existence and continues, likely to the grave, attempts to get that orchid plant to bloom again.