in the soft light

In the soft light FEATURING Michael Biello Robert Carter T.W. Moore German Vazquez April 10 – May 31, 2025

1400 N. American St, Philadelphia 19122 | InLiquid.org

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1400 N. American Street, Gallery 108 Philadelphia, PA 19122 | InLiquid.org Open Wednesday – Saturday, 12 – 6 PM & by appointment.

For inquiries and appointments, contact 215-235-3405.

On the Cover: German Ayala Vasquez, Monumento Vivo, 2023, Photography, 20 x 30", $2,500 To the Left: , Michael Biello, Monkey Seesaw Chandelier, 2024, Clay, metal, wood, 24 x 15", $2,100

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Left to Right: German Ayala Vasquez, Fluid Shadows, 2024 Photography, 20 x 30" $2,500 German Ayala Vasquez, Divine Vulnerability, 2024 Photography, 20 x 30" $2,500

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In the soft light In the Soft Light brings together four artists who explore the masculine through the soft light of photography and sculpture. Each artist delves into the physical and emotional closeness between men, finding softness and lightness while challenging traditional conceptions of masculinity.

Photographers Thomas W. Moore, German Ayala Vazquez, and Robert Carter, along with sculptor Michael Biello, examine intimacy and the body through the lens of sexual dissidence.

Michael Biello brings light to the exhibition through his sculptural chandeliers, inspired by Italian decorative art and architecture, while creating erotic fairy tales. Biello’s longtime collaborator, Thomas W. Moore, influenced by the AIDS epidemic, draws attention to the fragility and resilience of the body, showcasing early photographic explorations from the 1980s alongside his recent works that juxtapose the body with nature.

Robert Carter and German Ayala Vazquez both challenge the impositions of Eurocentrism and patriarchal notions. Carter places their subjects in opulent settings—contexts they may not have historically occupied—creating a sense of universality within romance and intimacy. Similarly, Vazquez, through depictions of Afroqueer subjects, illuminates the complexity of marginalized communities, highlighting their tenderness, vulnerabilities, and resilience.

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Michael Biello

Michael Biello is a ceramic sculptor who draws inspiration from his Italian-American roots and his passion for theatre.

Biello is one of the artisan/makers who helped create the revivals of Old City Philadelphia in the 1970’s and Noho New York in the 1990’s. Biello's work has been exhibited internationally and is in numerous private collections including many in the entertainment industry. In addition to his work in visual art, Biello has a long history as a performance artist and lyricist in collaboration with his lifepartner, composer Dan Martin.

Left to Right: Michael Biello Detail of Seesaw Monkey Chandelier, 2024 Clay, metal, wood 24 x 15" $2,100 Michael Biello Halos, 2024 erotic collage on brushed steel 16 x 16" $900 ea 6

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Artist Statement "I believe that art is a healing force in the world. My work is spirit driven. I honor this spirit by giving it voice - by bringing together diverse elements to create a sense of peace love harmony and balance."

"Biello draws upon his experiences … transforming them into vignettes that seem like updates of Federico Fellini." Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Michael Biello Detail of Bead lights, 2022 Brushed steel armature stainless steel beads 108 x 9" $4,200 each Michael Biello Detail of Bead lights, 2022 Brushed steel armature stainless steel beads 108 x 6" $3,600 9

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Robert Carter

Robert Carter (he/they) is a visual artist, photographer, writer, and educator. A Philadelphia local and Maryland native, his vibrant, painterly artistry speaks to a worldview that insists on the tenets of romance, spirit and Black possibility. He views his craft, whether it be capturing idyllic slices of life, creating surreal and dramatic visual works, or drafting meditative poetry and prose, as a practice of history building. Robert’s artistic identity has developed in tandem with his experience as a working creative professional, blending purpose with polish to create images that are as visually captivating as they are rich with narrative and perspective. Beyond the aesthetics of his work, he invites us to reflect on our preconceived notions of beauty, masculinity and belonging.

Top to Bottom: Robert Carter untitled I (springtime I), 2019 Digital photography, pigment print on archival rag 8 x 10" $400 Robert Carter untitled II (springtime II), 2019 Digital photography, pigment print on archival rag 8 x 10" $400 11

Left to Right: Robert Carter Utajiri II, 2019 Digital photography, pigment print on metallic Robert Carter rag Utajiri I, 2019 15 x 15" Digital photography, pigment print on metallic 12 rag 20 x 20"

Artist Statement

I think of my work as atemporal - it is about time, without time. I am inspired by eras of humanity, from the ancient and classical worlds, to moments in the contemporary past and beyond. Through my life's lens as a Black, queer person, I enjoy creating vivid worlds and telling universal stories that sift through histories and build new futures. I enjoy using nuance and symbolism in my visual language to communicate larger, sometimes complex stories and feelings. At the core of my practice is a deep appreciation for beauty and balance. While my work is straightforward in its presentation, it is also quietly subversive, encouraging conversations around gender expression, representation, and cultural identity. In this and many other ways I view my creative practice as a resistance of a dominant culture that has historically marginalized the presence and the possibilities of Black and brown people.

My work insists on a reverence for romance, spirit, and belonging.

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Exhibition View 15

German Ayala Vasquez

German Ayala Vazquez (he/him) is a Puerto Rican photographer and visual artist based in Philadelphia, renowned for his striking use of light, color, and visual storytelling. His work fuses fashion, conceptual, and documentary photography, centering the resilience and vibrancy of Afro Queer and BIPOC LGBTQIA+ communities. Raised in New York, his photography serves as a bold exploration of identity, culture, and resistance.

A BFA graduate from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, German’s work has been widely exhibited, including the 2024 Brazil Black Art Biannual and solo exhibitions in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Philadelphia. His impact extends beyond galleries—his photography will be featured in an upcoming book in Puerto Rico, further amplifying underrepresented narratives. German’s artistry has earned him recognition from Profoto, Nikon, Wacom, the Shutterstock Creator Fund, Creative PHL Illuminate the Arts, and Mural Arts Philadelphia, where he was named a 2023 Black Mural Arts Fellow. His commercial and editorial work has been commissioned by Condé Nast, Apple, Barron’s Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, Shutterstock, and more, cementing his reputation as a visionary in contemporary photography. With an unwavering commitment to storytelling, German continues to push creative boundaries, using his lens to challenge perspectives and celebrate the depth of marginalized identities.

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Left to Right: German Ayala Vasquez Noir Bloom, 2023 Photography 24 x 36" $1,700 German Ayala Vasquez Midnight Bloom, 2023 Photography 24 x 36" $1,700 18

My work is a visual dialogue as a Puerto Rican, Afro or erased. Through bo documentary phot colonialism. My subjects— than muses; they are colla embraces authenticity. Each i traditional representations w Through my lens, I see portraits, stylized editorial that re

Artist Statement

between identity, resilience, and power. Rooted in my lived experiences o Queer artist, I use photography to reclaim narratives often overlooked old lighting, rich color palettes, and a fusion of fashion, conceptual, and tography, I explore themes of queerness, race, and the lasting effects of —predominantly Afro Queer and BIPOC LGBTQIA+ individuals—are more aborators in shaping a visual language that transcends stereotypes and image is a testament to visibility, defiance, and celebration, challenging while honoring the beauty and complexity of marginalized communities. ek to build worlds that affirm and empower. Whether capturing intimate ls, or documentary work, my photography is an act of storytelling—one eimagines what has been, asserts what is, and envisions what could be.

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Exhibition View 21

T.W. Moore

T.W. Moore is currently based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware after many years in Philadelphia. In addition to his art practice, he has taught photography at the University of the Arts, curated photography exhibits, and fundraised for several non-profit organizations. He has served on the boards of AIDS Delaware, Tilt Institute for the Contemporary Image, The Photo Review, and The Print Center. He has exhibited his work at numerous galleries and his photographs are in several public collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art. From Top to Bottom: T.W. Moore Walking the Piers, 2023 Archival Pigment Print 20.5 x 12" $550 T.W. Moore Shielded, 2023 Archival Pigment Print 20.5 x 11" $550 T.W. Moore Suspended, 2023 Archival Pigment Print 20.5 x 12.75" $575 22

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Artist Statement

"My current work is a continued exploration of men, delving into th tensions, and intimate connections. I often juxtapose contempora archives, creating compositions that signal new narratives. By mat I invite viewers to engage with these relationships that defy the bou outcome offers a potential visual portal through which to perceive

My journey began with capturing performance and dance artists in into studio work deeply influenced by the impact of the AIDS epide purely documentary approach, I leaned into my background in film environments. Created during a period when the shadow of AIDS lo community, this body of work addresses that challenging reality bu spirit of “play” within the community. It stands as a testament to re of despair."

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heir bodies, personas, desires, ary figures with those from my tching images often by chance, undaries of time and space. The e men in other dimensions.

n Philadelphia, but it soon evolved emic. Rather than adopting a m and theatre to craft staged oomed heavily over the gay ut also celebrates the enduring esilience and diffidence in the face

From left to Right: T.W. Moore Feeling it, 1988 Archival Pigment Print 11.5 x 11.5" $450 T.W. Moore Saving Face, 1986 Archival Pigment Print 11.5 x 11.5" $450 T.W. Moore Smoked, 1987 Archival Pigment Print 11.5 x 11.5" $450 T.W. Moore Fallen, 1986 Archival Pigment Print 11.5 x 11.5" $450 25

InLiquid InLiquid is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities and exposure for visual artists and works with more than 300 artists and designers. It serves as a free, online public hub for arts information in the Philadelphia area. Find out more at www.inliquid.org.

All rotational artworks are available for purchase.

Inquiries for purchases can be directed to Isabella at isabella@inliquid.org.

Shop the exhibition on Artsy.com To the Left: , Michael Biello, Striped Chandelier, Slip cast white earthenware, crystal, brass, silk cord, paper, 2024, 34 x 15", $3,200 Back Cover: Robert Carter, La Romance II, 2021, Digital photography, pigment print on archival rag,20 x 16", NFS

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