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{{short description|American photographer (born 1958)}} {{short description|American photographer (born 1958)}}
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'''Rick Castro''' (July 20, 1958) is an American ], motion picture director, stylist, curator and writer whose work focuses on BDSM, fetish and desire<ref>{{cite book |last=Castro |first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Castro |title=13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro. |series=Bondage Series |year=2004 |publisher=Los Angeles: Fluxion Editions |isbn=0-9672129-4-4}}</ref> '''Rick Castro''' (July 20, 1958) is an American ], motion picture director, stylist, curator and writer whose work focuses on BDSM, fetish, and desire.<ref>{{cite book |last=Castro |first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Castro |title=13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro. |series=Bondage Series |year=2004 |publisher=Los Angeles: Fluxion Editions |isbn=0-9672129-4-4}}</ref>


==Early life== ==Early life==
Castro began work as a fashion stylist and clothing designer. Over the years, he worked for as a stylist on fashion shoots or designed clothing for ], ], David Bowie, ],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anothermanmag.com/style-grooming/10650/meet-the-model-who-dated-madonna-and-played-films-most-famous-gigolo | title=Meet the Model Who Dated Madonna and Played Film's Most Famous Gigolo | date=14 December 2018 }}</ref> the style agency Cloutier, ], '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, ] and ]. Castro was the designer for Michele Lamy's first menswear collection- ''Lamy Men'', (1986-1989).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/on-the-feminization-of-menswear/|title=On the Feminization of Menswear|first=Vaginal|last=Davis|date=March 15, 2000|website=LA Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegayissue.be/en/2015/07/the-odd-couple/|title=The Odd Couple|date=July 16, 2015}}</ref> Castro began work as a fashion stylist and clothing designer. Over the years, he worked for as a stylist on fashion shoots and designed clothing for ], ], David Bowie, ],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anothermanmag.com/style-grooming/10650/meet-the-model-who-dated-madonna-and-played-films-most-famous-gigolo | title=Meet the Model Who Dated Madonna and Played Film's Most Famous Gigolo | date=14 December 2018 }}</ref> the style agency Cloutier, ], '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, '']'' magazine, ] and ]. Castro was the designer for Michele Lamy's first menswear collection- ''Lamy Men'', (1986-1989).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/on-the-feminization-of-menswear/|title=On the Feminization of Menswear|first=Vaginal|last=Davis|date=March 15, 2000|website=LA Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegayissue.be/en/2015/07/the-odd-couple/|title=The Odd Couple|date=July 16, 2015}}</ref>


==Photographic career== ==Photographic career==
In 1986, photographer ] took him to purchase his first camera in Albuquerque, NM. In 1988, at the age of 30, Castro became a freelance photographer, and his work appeared in the Los Angeles gay news magazines '']'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-28 |title=GAY L.A. – Who Is Rick Castro? |url=https://thepridela.smmirror.com/2019/04/gay-l-a-who-is-rick-castro/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=The Pride LA |language=en-US}}</ref>'']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flaunt.com/content/rick-castro|title=Rick Castro &#124; Fetish King|website=Flaunt Magazine}}</ref> and the national gay news magazine, '']''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/media/2016/8/13/advocate-editor-and-author-mark-thompson-remembered-grasp-gay-spirit|title=Advocate Editor and Author Mark Thompson Remembered for Grasp of Gay Spirit|date=2016-08-13|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/artist-spotlight/2011/03/17/artist-spotlight-rick-castro|title=Artist Spotlight: Rick Castro|date=2011-03-17|website=Advocate|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/photography/2019/3/29/10-photos-prove-rick-castro-king-fetish|title=10 Photos Prove Fetish King Rick Castro Fights Censorship|date=2019-03-29|website=Advocate|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> In 1986, photographer ] took him to purchase his first camera in ]. In 1988, at the age of 30, Castro became a freelance photographer, and his work appeared in the Los Angeles gay news magazines '']'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-28 |title=GAY L.A. – Who Is Rick Castro? |url=https://thepridela.smmirror.com/2019/04/gay-l-a-who-is-rick-castro/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref>'']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flaunt.com/content/rick-castro|title=Rick Castro &#124; Fetish King|website=Flaunt Magazine}}</ref> and the national gay news magazine, '']''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/media/2016/8/13/advocate-editor-and-author-mark-thompson-remembered-grasp-gay-spirit|title=Advocate Editor and Author Mark Thompson Remembered for Grasp of Gay Spirit|date=2016-08-13|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/artist-spotlight/2011/03/17/artist-spotlight-rick-castro|title=Artist Spotlight: Rick Castro|date=2011-03-17|website=Advocate|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/photography/2019/3/29/10-photos-prove-rick-castro-king-fetish|title=10 Photos Prove Fetish King Rick Castro Fights Censorship|date=2019-03-29|website=Advocate|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>

His first solo exhibition, "Nothing But A Man, Everything But A Woman", debuted in 1989 at A Different Light Bookstore in ], a suburb of Los Angeles. It was followed a year later by "Mass Murder & A Cute Boy" at the same location.


Throughout the years, Castro has had a number of exhibitions, including "Furotica: It Ain't Exactly Bambi" at the Track 16 gallery in Los Angeles, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archive.track16.com/exhibitions/furotica/index.html|title=TRACK 16 GALLERY, Aaron Noble and Andrew Schoultz, Wall Paintings, and FUROTICA: It Ain't Exactly Bambi|website=www.archive.track16.com|access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref> Throughout the years, Castro has had a number of exhibitions, including "Furotica: It Ain't Exactly Bambi" at the Track 16 gallery in Los Angeles, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archive.track16.com/exhibitions/furotica/index.html|title=TRACK 16 GALLERY, Aaron Noble and Andrew Schoultz, Wall Paintings, and FUROTICA: It Ain't Exactly Bambi|website=www.archive.track16.com|access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref>


Castro's work is collected by the ], ONE Archives: National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, and the Tom of Finland Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ToFF Gallery |url=https://www.tomoffinland.org/toff-gallery/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Tom of Finland Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> Castro's work is collected by the ], ] at the USC Libraries, ], and the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ToFF Gallery |url=https://www.tomoffinland.org/toff-gallery/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Tom of Finland Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref>


His 1994 short film of hustler interviews inspired ] to film '']'' with ]. Castro collaborated on the film as writer and co-director with LaBruce, which became an international sensation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artforum.com/film/charlie-fox-on-bruce-labruce-s-the-misandrists-68521|title=Who Runs the World?|website=www.artforum.com|date=22 May 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-31}}</ref> In 1998, he appeared in ''Sex/Life in L.A.'' ]'s adult documentary about the sex lives of the guys who make L.A. adult movies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=H. |first1=W. |title=Film review: Sex Life in L.A. |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/sex-life-in-l-a |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=Time Out London |language=en}}</ref><ref>Terri Ginsberg and Andrea Mensch (Edditors) {{google books|GPUWPW3BRAUC|A Companion to German Cinema|page=330}}</ref> Castro has directed a number of other short films and a documentary, Plushies & Furries, (2001) for MTV.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wowpresentsplus.com/videos/plushies-and-furries | title=Plushies & Furries }}</ref> His 1994 short film of hustler interviews inspired ] to film '']'' with ]. Castro collaborated on the film as writer and co-director with LaBruce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artforum.com/film/charlie-fox-on-bruce-labruce-s-the-misandrists-68521|title=Who Runs the World?|website=www.artforum.com|date=22 May 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-31}}</ref> In 1998, he appeared in ''Sex/Life in L.A.'' ]'s adult documentary about the sex lives of the men who make L.A. adult movies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=H. |first1=W. |title=Film review: Sex Life in L.A. |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/sex-life-in-l-a |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=Time Out London |language=en}}</ref><ref>Terri Ginsberg and Andrea Mensch (Editors) {{google books|GPUWPW3BRAUC|A Companion to German Cinema|page=330}}</ref> Castro has directed a number of other short films and a documentary, Plushies & Furries, (2001) for MTV.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wowpresentsplus.com/videos/plushies-and-furries | title=Plushies & Furries }}</ref>


Castro's first gallery opened at Les Duex Cafes, Hollywood, in 2002, and premiered the first Furry themed art show. In 2005 Castro founded Antebellum Gallery,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/2014/07/09/galleries-black-white-pride|title=In the Galleries: Black & White Pride|date=2014-07-09|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en}}</ref> the only fetish art gallery in America, which he ran from 2005 to 2017.
Rick Castro has lived in Los Angeles his entire life. He was the West coast correspondent for the ]-based Studio Magazines, publisher of the nude male art photography magazine ''Blue'' 2001 thru 2007.


Rick's first gallery opened at Les Duex Cafes, Hollywood, in 2002, and premiered the first Furry themed art show. Castro then founded and ran Antebellum Gallery,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/2014/07/09/galleries-black-white-pride|title=In the Galleries: Black & White Pride|date=2014-07-09|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en}}</ref> the only fetish art gallery in America, and perhaps the world- November 11, 2005 thru January 1, 2017. Castro shot the F/W look book 2014 for designer Rick Owens using his 93-year-old father Al Castro as the featured model.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/22199/1/rick-castro-beyond-the-fetish-frontier|title=Rick Castro: beyond the fetish frontier|last=Dazed|date=2014-10-17|website=Dazed|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}}</ref>


⚫ During October, 2015, Rick Castro received an artist lifetime Achievement award from the Tom of Finland foundation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tomoffinland.org/toff-gallery/wppaspec/oc1/lnen/cv0/ab111 | title=ToFF Gallery : Tom of Finland Foundation }}</ref> Castro's photography was featured in Rick Owens: Subhuman, Inhuman, Superhuman at Triennale di Milano, December 2017- March 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barneys.com/product/rick-owens-rick-owens-3a-subhuman-2c-inhuman-2c-superhuman-505847601.html|title=Rick Owens|last=|first=|date=|website=Barneys New York|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930141945/https://www.barneys.com/product/rick-owens-rick-owens-3a-subhuman-2c-inhuman-2c-superhuman-505847601.html|archive-date=2019-09-30|access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref> Castro was interviewed by his former boyfriend, designer Rick Owens for the May 2019 issue of Autre Magazine,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://autre.love/interviewsmain/tag/RICK+CASTRO|title=RICK CASTRO — Interviewsmain Autre Magazine|website=Autre Magazine|date=6 April 2019 }}</ref> and featured in the historic first queer issue of Los Angeles Magazine, June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/art-stars-pride/|title=These L.A. Artists Are Bringing Queer Perspectives Into Focus|last=Blum|first=Steven|date=2019-05-20|website=Los Angeles Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}}</ref> Castro is contributing photographer and writer for Another<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anothermag.com/user/RickCastro | title=Rick Castro |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018171733/https://www.anothermag.com/user/RickCastro |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Another Man Magazine|access-date=2023-07-17 }}</ref> and Anotherman Magazines UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anothermanmag.com/userlist/RickCastro |title=Rick Castro |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014111920/https://www.anothermanmag.com/userlist/RickCastro |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |website=Another Man Magazine|access-date=2023-07-17}}</ref>
Castro shot the F/W lookbook 2014 for designer Rick Owens using his 93-year-old father Al Castro as the featured model.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/22199/1/rick-castro-beyond-the-fetish-frontier|title=Rick Castro: beyond the fetish frontier|last=Dazed|date=2014-10-17|website=Dazed|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}}</ref>


⚫ Castro created a virtual memorial entitled ''The Goddess Bunny Story'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rickcastroclassic.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-legend-of-goddess-bunny.html | title=The Goddess Bunny Story }}</ref> for one of his early models, Sandie Crisp, AKA The Goddess Bunny,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/13106/remembering-hollywood-s-disabled-trans-star-goddess-bunny-sandie-crisp | title=A Tribute to Goddess Bunny, Hollywood's Disabled Trans Art Star | date=11 February 2021 }}</ref> who died of COVID-19 on 27, January, 2021.
⚫ During October, 2015, Rick Castro received an artist lifetime Achievement award from the Tom of Finland foundation. Castro's photography was featured in Rick Owens: Subhuman, Inhuman, Superhuman at Triennale di Milano, December 2017- March 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barneys.com/product/rick-owens-rick-owens-3a-subhuman-2c-inhuman-2c-superhuman-505847601.html|title=Rick Owens|last=|first=|date=|website=Barneys New York|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930141945/https://www.barneys.com/product/rick-owens-rick-owens-3a-subhuman-2c-inhuman-2c-superhuman-505847601.html|archive-date=2019-09-30|access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref> Castro was interviewed by his former boyfriend, designer Rick Owens for the May 2019 issue of Autre Magazine,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://autre.love/interviewsmain/tag/RICK+CASTRO|title=RICK CASTRO — Interviewsmain Autre Magazine|website=Autre Magazine|date=6 April 2019 }}</ref> and featured in the historic first queer issue of Los Angeles Magazine, June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/art-stars-pride/|title=These L.A. Artists Are Bringing Queer Perspectives Into Focus|last=Blum|first=Steven|date=2019-05-20|website=Los Angeles Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}}</ref> Castro has received a grant from Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles for a virtual project entitled Reimagine Home~ 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://culturela.org/reimagine/reimagine-archive-spring-2021/house-and-home/ | title=Rick Castro: Apopcalyptic Culture, 2020 Photography | publisher=Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs |date=Spring 2021}}</ref> Castro is contributing photographer and writer for Another<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anothermag.com/user/RickCastro | title=Rick Castro |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018171733/https://www.anothermag.com/user/RickCastro |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Another Man Magazine|access-date=2023-07-17 }}</ref> and Anotherman Magazines UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anothermanmag.com/userlist/RickCastro |title=Rick Castro |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014111920/https://www.anothermanmag.com/userlist/RickCastro |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |website=Another Man Magazine|access-date=2023-07-17}}</ref>


⚫ Three of Castro's large scale images were featured in Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation, Grand Park, Los Angeles, February/March 2023.<ref>Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation
⚫ Rick also received a grant from Los Angles Department of Cultural Affairs to create a virtual memorial entitled ''The Goddess Bunny Story'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rickcastroclassic.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-legend-of-goddess-bunny.html | title=The Goddess Bunny Story }}</ref> for one of his early models, Sandie Crisp, AKA The Goddess Bunny,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/13106/remembering-hollywood-s-disabled-trans-star-goddess-bunny-sandie-crisp | title=A Tribute to Goddess Bunny, Hollywood's Disabled Trans Art Star | date=11 February 2021 }}</ref> who died of COVID-19 on 27, January, 2021.

⚫ Three of Castro's large scale images were featured in Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation, Grand Park, Los Angeles, February/March 2023, with a grant provided by LA County Department of Cultural Affairs.<ref>Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation
</ref> </ref>


Castro was one of the featured artists presenting a slide show of his photography and lecture for ''Queering The Lens'' at The Getty Center, kicking off Pride, June 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/ev_3865.html | title=Getty and LA Pride Present: Queering the Lens }}</ref> Castro was one of the featured artists presenting a slide show of his photography and lecture for ''Queering The Lens'' at The Getty Center, kicking off Pride, June 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/ev_3865.html | title=Getty and LA Pride Present: Queering the Lens }}</ref>

Castro presented his new book Rick Castro S/M Blvd: Photographs of Street Hustlers and Remembrances-1986-1999,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romanoff |first=Zan |date=2023-09-07 |title=Cruising Santa Monica Boulevard with the fetish photographer who shot L.A.'s male hustlers |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-09-07/cruising-santa-monica-boulevard-photographer-bygone-male-hustlers |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> (All Night Menu)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allnight-menu.com/shop/rick-castro-sm-blvd | title=Shop }}</ref> at the Queer Book Fair West Hollywood<ref>fairhttps://www.weho.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/26964/1106?sortn=EName</ref> during June, 2023.


"Rick Castro Forever"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/dia-de-los-muertos/rick-castro | title=Hollywood Forever is alive with photographer Rick Castro's work | date=November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hyperallergic.com/853328/10-shows-to-see-in-los-angeles-november-2023/ | title=10 Shows to See in Los Angeles in November | date=November 2023 }}</ref> was presented at ] at the historic ], October 5th through November 30th, 2024. Castro's photography brought queer sensibility to Hollywood Forever.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=Hollywood Forever is alive with photographer Rick Castro's work |url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/dia-de-los-muertos/rick-castro |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=KCRW |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|February 2024}}, "Columbarium Continuum: by Rick Castro", is an ongoing unique museum hosted at Hollywood Forever.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhitions |url=https://hollywoodforever.com/culture/exhibitions/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Hollywood Forever}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3EzxYKri00/ | title=Instagram }}</ref> "Rick Castro Forever"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/dia-de-los-muertos/rick-castro | title=Hollywood Forever is alive with photographer Rick Castro's work | date=November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hyperallergic.com/853328/10-shows-to-see-in-los-angeles-november-2023/ | title=10 Shows to See in Los Angeles in November | date=November 2023 }}</ref> was presented at ] at the historic ], October 5th through November 30th, 2024. Castro's photography brought queer sensibility to Hollywood Forever.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=Hollywood Forever is alive with photographer Rick Castro's work |url=https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/dia-de-los-muertos/rick-castro |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=KCRW |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|February 2024}}, "Columbarium Continuum: by Rick Castro", is an ongoing unique museum hosted at Hollywood Forever.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhitions |url=https://hollywoodforever.com/culture/exhibitions/ |access-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Hollywood Forever}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3EzxYKri00/ | title=Instagram }}</ref>


Castro was part of a history group exhibition, Queer-ish presented at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queer-ish: Photography and the LGBTQ+ Imaginary EXHIBITION OPENING {{!}} Scripps College in Claremont, California |url=https://www.scrippscollege.edu/events/calendar/queer-ish-photography-and-the-lgbtq-imaginary-exhibition-opening |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Events |language=en}}</ref> Scripps College, Claremont during November/December, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzales-Day |first=Ken |date=2023-10-28 |title=Scripps: Queer-ish |url=https://kengonzalesday.com/scripps-college-queer-ish/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Ken Gonzales-Day |language=en-US}}</ref> This was the first queer photography presentation in the ninety-eight year history of Scripps College. Castro was part of a history group exhibition, Queer-ish presented at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queer-ish: Photography and the LGBTQ+ Imaginary EXHIBITION OPENING {{!}} Scripps College in Claremont, California |url=https://www.scrippscollege.edu/events/calendar/queer-ish-photography-and-the-lgbtq-imaginary-exhibition-opening |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Events |language=en}}</ref> Scripps College, Claremont during November/December, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzales-Day |first=Ken |date=2023-10-28 |title=Scripps: Queer-ish |url=https://kengonzalesday.com/scripps-college-queer-ish/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Ken Gonzales-Day |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 21, February, 2024, Castro presented a lecture and slideshow hosted by Photo Friends at Los Angeles Central Library, <ref>http://photofriends.org</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/photographers-eye-presents-rick-castro-sm-blvd-street-hustler-photographs | title=Photographer's Eye Presents "Rick Castro S/M BLVD: Street Hustler Photographs" }}</ref> where he presented the second edition of his book, Rick Castro S/M Blvd: Photographs of Hustlers & Remembrances-1986-199.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allnight-menu.com/shop/rick-castro-sm-blvd | title=Shop }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-09-07/cruising-santa-monica-boulevard-photographer-bygone-male-hustlers | title=Cruising Santa Monica Boulevard with the fetish photographer who shot L.A.'s male hustlers | website=] | date=7 September 2023 }}</ref>

⚫ Castro is featured in Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines, Brooklyn Museum, New York, 15, November, 2023 through 31, March, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines |url=https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/copy_machine_manifestos_artists_who_make_zines |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=www.brooklynmuseum.org |language=en}}</ref> This historic exhibition features 1400 items from zine creators since 1970 through present day. The exhibition is scheduled to tour starting in Vancouver, BC, during April, 2024.

==Critical assessment==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}
Castro works predominately in black-and-white photography.

Castro himself says his work is highly time-bound, linked to the 1980s and early 1990s:

<blockquote>My documentation is a time capsule of that period. The early 80s started off with the leftover freedoms and hedonism of the 70s, then plunged into the darkness and fear that accompanied AIDS. Sex was once again demonized, as it had previously been in the Victorian era and the 50s. ... As fear of sex and the religious right gained even more power, the undercover police constantly patrolled the streets. At the same time drugs (crack, 'Tina') became harsher as the unstable economy created desperation on the street. Then the Internet came along with a network of online brothels and eventually wiped out the street scene entirely.{{quote without source|date=September 2019}}</blockquote>

In many ways, Castro can almost be said to be a historical photographer, recreating images and looks from that time period rather than capturing contemporary styles. "Nostalgia" is not a word one usually associates with BDSM photography, but in Castro's case it may be an apt adjective.

Castro's photography also stands in the quasi-religious tradition of most BDSM photography. The art historian and critic ] has pointed out that Castro's work is deeply rooted in religious art, especially ] art of the ] period. The believer, suffering for his beliefs, is mimicked by the gay man, suffering for his homosexuality. The ecstasy of martyrdom is mimicked by the ecstasy of sex. These themes were explored by the Christian Baroque painters, and Castro's bondage photography—like most bondage photography—draws heavily on these paintings for its poses.


⚫ During 2023 and 2024, Castro was featured in Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines |url=https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/copy_machine_manifestos_artists_who_make_zines |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=www.brooklynmuseum.org |language=en}}</ref> This exhibition featured 1400 items from zine creators from 1970 to the present day.
But Castro's photography is not run-of-the-mill BDSM imagery. Writer ] notes that Castro's photography "can be viewed as a long form of meditation—not only on the aesthetic virtues of bondage but also on the psyche of sex itself..." Harvey points to the "wry humor" that is often missing in more commercially inspired or less artistic BDSM photographs.


In 2024, Castro's photography were featured in Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival at Halle am Berghain, Berlin,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tomoffinland.org/artfair/ | title=Tom of Finland Art & Culture Fair 2024 : Tom of Finland Foundation }}</ref> and Vitam Picturarum (Life in Pictures) sponsored by WeHo Arts Festival, ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wehopride.com/event/vitam-picturarum-life-in-pictures-exhibition | title=Vitam Picturarum (Life in Pictures) Exhibition }}</ref>
In including humor in his work, Castro confounds the Baroque—which focuses on simple, strong, dramatic expression—in favor of ], and he avoids the self-conscious, overcharged, unnaturally detailed, jarring elements of Mannerism.


Castro's first solo exhibition entitled Las Trece Vidas de Rick Castro, (The Thirteen Lives of Rick Castro) premiered in August 2024 at Galeria HGZ, ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.artsy.net/show/galeria-hgz-las-trece-vidas-de-rick-castro?sort=partner_show_position&fbclid=IwY2xjawEtpCBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV89aodd9McNZ-1FxwkHGLQZqb-auCTXlLVKN2PFw0XDgEYdfqDi8fHmzQ_aem_RkjdtzF3ovRBl9bhgXOogQ | title=Las Trece Vidas de Rick Castro }}</ref>
Castro's work moves beyond artistic characteristics to capture the ] of BDSM as well. The transgressive nature of ]—hearkening back to 'bad-boy' film images made popular by ] and ]—intersects with the transgressive nature of homosexual sex and promiscuity in the era of AIDS. Castro's images have power because they are those of the true fetishist. These are not images produced by 'just any' photographer who can hire a handsome model and buy a leather harness off the rack at a local sex shop. Castro's images reflect the imagination and variety of BDSM and leather fetishists; they create and lead, rather than follow, popular culture and sexual fashion.


==Published books== ==Published books==


Rick Castro S/M Blvd: Photographs of Hustlers & Remembrances- 1986-1999, (All Night Menu<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allnight-menu.com/shop/rick-castro-sm-blvd | title=Shop }}</ref>). * {{cite book | last=Sweet | first=Sam | title=Rick Castro S/M Blvd: Photographs of Hustlers & Remembrances- 1986-1999| date=2024-06-24 | publisher=All Night Menu | isbn=978-0-9992682-1-6}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-09-07/cruising-santa-monica-boulevard-photographer-bygone-male-hustlers | title=Cruising Santa Monica Boulevard with the fetish photographer who shot L.A.'s male hustlers | website=] | date=7 September 2023 }}</ref>
ISBN:978-0-9992682-1-6<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-09-07/cruising-santa-monica-boulevard-photographer-bygone-male-hustlers | title=Cruising Santa Monica Boulevard with the fetish photographer who shot L.A.'s male hustlers | website=] | date=7 September 2023 }}</ref>
⚫ * {{Cite book |last=Castro |first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Castro |title=Castro |series=Bondage Series |year=1991 |publisher=Los Angeles: Tom of Finland Foundation |isbn=1-879055-27-9}}
⚫ * {{Cite book |last1=Castro |first1=Rick |first2=Michelle |last2=Olley |first3=Michael |last3=Childers |first4=Robert |last4=Flynt |title=Homme. Masterpieces of Erotic Photography. |publisher=Edition Olms |date=2000 |language=German |isbn=3-283-00368-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Castro |first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Castro |title=13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro. |series=Bondage Series |year=2004 |publisher=Los Angeles: Fluxion Editions |isbn=0-9672129-4-4}} * {{Cite book |last=Castro |first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Castro |title=13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro. |series=Bondage Series |year=2004 |publisher=Los Angeles: Fluxion Editions |isbn=0-9672129-4-4}}
⚫ * {{Cite book |last1=Castro |first1=Rick |first2=Michelle |last2=Olley |first3=Michael |last3=Childers |first4=Robert |last4=Flynt |title=Homme. Masterpieces of Erotic Photography. |publisher=Edition Olms |date=2000 |language=German |isbn=3-283-00368-8}}
⚫ * {{Cite book |last=Castro |first=Rick |authorlink=Rick Castro |title=Castro |series=Bondage Series |year=1991 |publisher=Los Angeles: Tom of Finland Foundation |isbn=1-879055-27-9}}


He has also self-published the following hand-made books: He has also self-published the following hand-made books:
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== External links == == External links ==

* *
* *


==References== ==References==
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Rick Castro
Born (1958-07-20) July 20, 1958 (age 66)
Los Angeles, California
Known forPhotography

Rick Castro (July 20, 1958) is an American photographer, motion picture director, stylist, curator and writer whose work focuses on BDSM, fetish, and desire.

Early life

Castro began work as a fashion stylist and clothing designer. Over the years, he worked for as a stylist on fashion shoots and designed clothing for Marlene Stewart, Bette Midler, David Bowie, Herb Ritts, the style agency Cloutier, George Hurrell, Interview magazine, GQ magazine, Vanity Fair magazine, Rolling Stone magazine, I-D magazine, Tina Turner and John Leguizamo. Castro was the designer for Michele Lamy's first menswear collection- Lamy Men, (1986-1989).

Photographic career

In 1986, photographer Joel-Peter Witkin took him to purchase his first camera in Albuquerque. In 1988, at the age of 30, Castro became a freelance photographer, and his work appeared in the Los Angeles gay news magazines Frontiers,Drummer and the national gay news magazine, The Advocate.

Throughout the years, Castro has had a number of exhibitions, including "Furotica: It Ain't Exactly Bambi" at the Track 16 gallery in Los Angeles, 2003.

Castro's work is collected by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, and the Tom of Finland Foundation.

His 1994 short film of hustler interviews inspired Bruce LaBruce to film Hustler White with Tony Ward. Castro collaborated on the film as writer and co-director with LaBruce. In 1998, he appeared in Sex/Life in L.A. Jochen Hick's adult documentary about the sex lives of the men who make L.A. adult movies. Castro has directed a number of other short films and a documentary, Plushies & Furries, (2001) for MTV.

Castro's first gallery opened at Les Duex Cafes, Hollywood, in 2002, and premiered the first Furry themed art show. In 2005 Castro founded Antebellum Gallery, the only fetish art gallery in America, which he ran from 2005 to 2017.

Castro shot the F/W look book 2014 for designer Rick Owens using his 93-year-old father Al Castro as the featured model.

During October, 2015, Rick Castro received an artist lifetime Achievement award from the Tom of Finland foundation. Castro's photography was featured in Rick Owens: Subhuman, Inhuman, Superhuman at Triennale di Milano, December 2017- March 2018. Castro was interviewed by his former boyfriend, designer Rick Owens for the May 2019 issue of Autre Magazine, and featured in the historic first queer issue of Los Angeles Magazine, June 2019. Castro is contributing photographer and writer for Another and Anotherman Magazines UK.

Castro created a virtual memorial entitled The Goddess Bunny Story, for one of his early models, Sandie Crisp, AKA The Goddess Bunny, who died of COVID-19 on 27, January, 2021.

Three of Castro's large scale images were featured in Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation, Grand Park, Los Angeles, February/March 2023.

Castro was one of the featured artists presenting a slide show of his photography and lecture for Queering The Lens at The Getty Center, kicking off Pride, June 2023.

"Rick Castro Forever" was presented at Hollywood Forever Cemetery at the historic columbarium, October 5th through November 30th, 2024. Castro's photography brought queer sensibility to Hollywood Forever. As of February 2024, "Columbarium Continuum: by Rick Castro", is an ongoing unique museum hosted at Hollywood Forever.

Castro was part of a history group exhibition, Queer-ish presented at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps College, Claremont during November/December, 2023.

During 2023 and 2024, Castro was featured in Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines. This exhibition featured 1400 items from zine creators from 1970 to the present day.

In 2024, Castro's photography were featured in Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival at Halle am Berghain, Berlin, and Vitam Picturarum (Life in Pictures) sponsored by WeHo Arts Festival, West Hollywood.

Castro's first solo exhibition entitled Las Trece Vidas de Rick Castro, (The Thirteen Lives of Rick Castro) premiered in August 2024 at Galeria HGZ, Querétaro.

Published books

  • Sweet, Sam (2024-06-24). Rick Castro S/M Blvd: Photographs of Hustlers & Remembrances- 1986-1999. All Night Menu. ISBN 978-0-9992682-1-6.
  • Castro, Rick (2004). 13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro. Bondage Series. Los Angeles: Fluxion Editions. ISBN 0-9672129-4-4.
  • Castro, Rick; Olley, Michelle; Childers, Michael; Flynt, Robert (2000). Homme. Masterpieces of Erotic Photography (in German). Edition Olms. ISBN 3-283-00368-8.
  • Castro, Rick (1991). Castro. Bondage Series. Los Angeles: Tom of Finland Foundation. ISBN 1-879055-27-9.

He has also self-published the following hand-made books:

  • Zack 1991
  • The Bondage Book #1. 1992.
  • The Bondage Book #2. 1993
  • The Bondage Book #3. 1994
  • The Bondage Book #4. 1996

Filmed works

  • 1992: Automolove
  • 1993: Fertile Latoyah Jackson Video Magazine #1
  • 1994: 45 Minutes of Bondage
  • 1994: Fertile Latoyah Jackson Video Magazine#2 The Kinky Issue
  • 1994: Three Faces of Women
  • 1996: Hustler White
  • 1997: Another 45 Minutes of Bondage
  • 2001: Plushies and Furries
  • 2013 ANTEBELLUM2013
  • 2014: ANTEBELLUM2014
  • 2015: ANTEBELLUM2015
  • 2016: ANTEBELLUM2016
  • 2017: The Dark Waters of Hotel Cecil

External links

References

  1. Castro, Rick (2004). 13 Years of Bondage: The Photography of Rick Castro. Bondage Series. Los Angeles: Fluxion Editions. ISBN 0-9672129-4-4.
  2. "Meet the Model Who Dated Madonna and Played Film's Most Famous Gigolo". 14 December 2018.
  3. Davis, Vaginal (March 15, 2000). "On the Feminization of Menswear". LA Weekly.
  4. "The Odd Couple". July 16, 2015.
  5. "GAY L.A. – Who Is Rick Castro?". The Pride LA. 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  6. "Rick Castro | Fetish King". Flaunt Magazine.
  7. "Advocate Editor and Author Mark Thompson Remembered for Grasp of Gay Spirit". 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  8. "Artist Spotlight: Rick Castro". Advocate. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  9. "10 Photos Prove Fetish King Rick Castro Fights Censorship". Advocate. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  10. "TRACK 16 GALLERY, Aaron Noble and Andrew Schoultz, Wall Paintings, and FUROTICA: It Ain't Exactly Bambi". www.archive.track16.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  11. "ToFF Gallery". Tom of Finland Foundation. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  12. "Who Runs the World?". www.artforum.com. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  13. H., W. "Film review: Sex Life in L.A." Time Out London. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  14. Terri Ginsberg and Andrea Mensch (Editors) A Companion to German Cinema, p. 330, at Google Books
  15. "Plushies & Furries".
  16. "In the Galleries: Black & White Pride". 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  17. Dazed (2014-10-17). "Rick Castro: beyond the fetish frontier". Dazed. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  18. "ToFF Gallery : Tom of Finland Foundation".
  19. "Rick Owens". Barneys New York. Archived from the original on 2019-09-30. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  20. "RICK CASTRO — Interviewsmain Autre Magazine". Autre Magazine. 6 April 2019.
  21. Blum, Steven (2019-05-20). "These L.A. Artists Are Bringing Queer Perspectives Into Focus". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  22. "Rick Castro". Another Man Magazine. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  23. "Rick Castro". Another Man Magazine. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  24. "The Goddess Bunny Story".
  25. "A Tribute to Goddess Bunny, Hollywood's Disabled Trans Art Star". 11 February 2021.
  26. Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation
  27. "Getty and LA Pride Present: Queering the Lens".
  28. "Hollywood Forever is alive with photographer Rick Castro's work". November 2023.
  29. "10 Shows to See in Los Angeles in November". November 2023.
  30. "Hollywood Forever is alive with photographer Rick Castro's work". KCRW. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  31. "Exhitions". Hollywood Forever. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  32. "Instagram".
  33. "Queer-ish: Photography and the LGBTQ+ Imaginary EXHIBITION OPENING | Scripps College in Claremont, California". Events. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  34. Gonzales-Day, Ken (2023-10-28). "Scripps: Queer-ish". Ken Gonzales-Day. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  35. "Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines". www.brooklynmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  36. "Tom of Finland Art & Culture Fair 2024 : Tom of Finland Foundation".
  37. "Vitam Picturarum (Life in Pictures) Exhibition".
  38. "Las Trece Vidas de Rick Castro".
  39. "Cruising Santa Monica Boulevard with the fetish photographer who shot L.A.'s male hustlers". Los Angeles Times. 7 September 2023.
  40. Lecaro, Lina (2019-09-06). "Event Pick: Vaginal Davis on Video in Fertile La Toyah Jackson: Volume 1". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
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