Krzysztof Strzelecki: Gymnasium

For Krzysztof Strzelecki’s gymnasium series, the ceramics take the form of boxing gloves, free weights, and kettlebells. Instead of numbers, the weights bear words such as the bodily (Cum and Jizz); roles and types (Daddy’s Boy, Twink, Slut); and commands (Fuck Me, Eat It). The artist says that in the gym “straight men, who would never consider themselves as part of queer identity, become assimilated into gay men’s imagination. Here, macho men are watching their reflections in the mirror, checking every part of their posture and development, while simultaneously inviting other gym members to admire their body.” Here the cruising fantasy of the gym comes to life, in particular on the kettlebells, where Strzelecki has realized scenes of men wrestling, embracing, fucking, and working on their physique.

Krzysztof Strzelecki (b. 1993, Świdnica, Poland) earned his BFA in photography from the University of the Arts London (UAL), Camberwell. Recent solo exhibitions include Forbidden Fruit, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA and Summer Scenes, Taymour Grahne Projects, London, UK. He has exhibited in group exhibitions at Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA; Gaa Gallery, Provincetown, MA; BEERS, London, UK; JPS Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; and Taymour Grahne Projects, London, UK. Strzelecki will present sculptures in forthcoming group presentations later this fall at Kasmin, New York, NY and at the British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke on Trent, UK. His sculpture Olympia (2020), was recently acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) permanent collection. Strzelecki lives and works between Poland and London, UK.