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 T.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 long-time 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.
About the Artists
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 life-partner, composer Dan Martin.
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.
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.
Statement
"My current work is a continued exploration of men, delving into their bodies, personas, desires, tensions, and intimate connections. I often juxtapose contemporary figures with those from my archives, creating compositions that signal new narratives. By matching images often by chance, I invite viewers to engage with these relationships that defy the boundaries of time and space. The outcome offers a potential visual portal through which to perceive men in other dimensions.
My journey began with capturing performance and dance artists in Philadelphia, but it soon evolved into studio work deeply influenced by the impact of the AIDS epidemic. Rather than adopting a purely documentary approach, I leaned into my background in film and theatre to craft staged environments. Created during a period when the shadow of AIDS loomed heavily over the gay community, this body of work addresses that challenging reality but also celebrates the enduring spirit of “play” within the community. It stands as a testament to resilience and diffidence in the face of despair."
German Ayala Vazquez
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.
Statement
My work is a visual dialogue between identity, resilience, and power. Rooted in my lived experiences as a Puerto Rican, Afro Queer artist, I use photography to reclaim narratives often overlooked or erased. Through bold lighting, rich color palettes, and a fusion of fashion, conceptual, and documentary photography, I explore themes of queerness, race, and the lasting effects of colonialism. My subjects—predominantly Afro Queer and BIPOC LGBTQIA+ individuals—are more than muses; they are collaborators in shaping a visual language that transcends stereotypes and embraces authenticity. Each image is a testament to visibility, defiance, and celebration, challenging traditional representations while honoring the beauty and complexity of marginalized communities. Through my lens, I seek to build worlds that affirm and empower. Whether capturing intimate portraits, stylized editorials, or documentary work, my photography is an act of storytelling—one that reimagines what has been, asserts what is, and envisions what could be.
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.
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 straight-forward 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.
Texto Curatorial
In the Soft Light reúne a cuatro artistas que exploran 'lo masculino' a través de la delicada luz de la fotografía y la escultura. Cada artista ahonda en la cercanía física y emocional entre los hombres, encontrando suavidad y ligereza al tiempo que desafía las concepciones tradicionales de la masculinidad. Los fotógrafos T.W. Moore, Germán Ayala Vázquez y Robert Carter, junto con el escultor Michael Biello, examinan la intimidad y el cuerpo a través del prisma de la disidencia sexual y la homosexualidad.
Michael Biello aporta luz a la exposición a través de sus candelabros esculturales, inspirados en el arte decorativo y la arquitectura italianos, al tiempo que crea cuentos de hadas eróticos. El antiguo colaborador de Biello, T.W. Moore, influido por la epidemia de sida, llama la atención sobre la fragilidad y resistencia del cuerpo, mostrando sus primeras exploraciones fotográficas de los años ochenta junto a sus obras recientes que yuxtaponen el cuerpo a la naturaleza.
Robert Carter y Germán Ayala Vázquez desafían las imposiciones del eurocentrismo y las nociones patriarcales. Carter sitúa a sus sujetos en escenarios opulentos -contextos que históricamente no han ocupado- creando una sensación de universalidad dentro del romance y la intimidad. Del mismo modo, Vázquez, a través de las representaciones de sujetos "afroqueer", ilumina la complejidad de las comunidades marginadas, destacando su ternura, vulnerabilidad y resistencia.
