About “Untitled”
The Tom Bianchi Untitled photograph (1992) delivers a bold and poetic visual statement. It forms part of a limited edition of just 35 prints. Bianchi used the silver gelatin process, a traditional method that enhances tonal contrast and depth.
In this artwork, a nude male figure leaps mid-air beside a tall palm tree. His body, captured with clarity and tension, evokes both strength and grace. Rather than including facial features or background context, Bianchi draws attention entirely to the form. Consequently, the body transforms into a sculptural object—timeless, erotic, and expressive.
Natural light defines the figure’s muscles and enhances the composition’s sense of movement. Meanwhile, the empty sky surrounding the subject creates a calm, dreamlike atmosphere. Altogether, the image invites reflection on themes such as freedom, desire, and the beauty of the male form.
Critics and collectors alike recognize the value of this Tom Bianchi Untitled photograph. St. Martin Press included it in the 1993 publication Extraordinary Friends, and Janssen Gallery exhibited it in Berlin in 1994. Tom Bianchi signed, dated, and numbered the print, which confirms its authenticity and rarity.
Tom Bianchi
Tom Bianchi (born 1945, Chicago) is an American photographer and writer. He gained early recognition for his intimate images of gay life in Fire Island Pines. Over time, his work evolved to include elegant studio portraits—such as the Untitled photograph featured here.
Bianchi consistently explores intimacy, desire, and identity through photography. His books, including Extraordinary Friends and Fire Island Pines, offer a powerful celebration of queer experience. Furthermore, his style blends honesty with beauty, making his images both personal and universal.
To date, Bianchi has published more than 20 books. His work has appeared in galleries around the world and remains a key reference in queer art history.
