In 2018 the Anton Kern Gallery in New York curated an exhibition of some of Mike Kuchar’s private collection, including drawings which had never been published or shown publicly. Chris Stewart from Gayletter interviewed Mike, and here are some of his responses:

Do you believe your drawings share similar qualities to your cinema?

Yes, because they come from my mind, which is always creating moods and images, action and form. They are products of the same mind, and like the films they’re libido-driven.

What stylistic choices are you most attuned to when drawing?

To design images and forms that excite the eye, done with competent skill and grace, so they can be appreciated on many levels, not just the sexual.

Gay artists tend to concentrate on cocks; what are your thoughts?

Naturally the focus is between the legs, so that area becomes prominent and you can exaggerate it. If you want natural proportions take a photo!

The men in your drawings are often reinterpreted mythological figures. What role does the fantasy reinterpretation of history play in your life?

The drawings are creations from my imagination, colourful characters symbolic of sin and virtue in our culture. I play with those images since they’re in our psyche and our society. Temptation is alluring, so my images of Satan are oversexed, which is what sex is all about.  Angels are good and beautiful, they’re also fun characters to play with.

What are your favourite image references?

I don’t look at photo magazines; I look at sexual illustrations, and prefer homoerotic drawings. They used to be on the newsstands, but not any more. I really liked Physique Pectoral, especially the illustrations by Harry Bush.

Your characters are primarily uncut – are there aesthetic benefits to illustrating uncut rather than cut?

It’s natural, the way nature made it and the way I like it.