Dean Sameshima Exhibition Documents Los Angeles Queer Sex Club Architecture

An exhibition at Soft Opening gallery in London presents photographs by artist Dean Sameshima documenting buildings that housed queer sex clubs in Los Angeles during the 1990s. The images capture seemingly ordinary commercial structures photographed from across the street, featuring utility infrastructure, fencing, and urban elements. These buildings typically lack visible windows or have them covered, with one image showing an open door revealing interior security features. The photographs serve as historical records of underground LGBTQ+ social spaces that operated discreetly within the city landscape. Sameshima's work documents architectural sites that hosted private gatherings, presenting them through a formal photographic approach that contrasts their mundane exteriors with their significant social functions. The exhibition provides visual documentation of venues that functioned as community spaces while maintaining low public profiles.