Louis Fratino's "Prose" at David Zwirner London Champions a "New Gay Realism"
At the London gallery of David Zwirner, American artist Louis Fratino showcases "Prose," a solo exhibition featuring new figurative works slated for 2026. This collection serves as a declaration for "New Gay Realism," moving away from previous queer artistic conventions to highlight contemporary queer experiences. The term "Realism" here conveys a narrative perspective rather than a specific technique. Fratino's textured surfaces appear in pieces like Snowdrops and hellebores (2026) and Apples and pears (2026), representing both the body and the passage of time. Urban intimacy is captured in public scenes such as Coffee (2026), The sauna (2026), and The subway car (2026), while domestic settings like The green bath (2026) and Prose (2026) explore closeness tinged with awkwardness. Additionally, art-historical nods can be found in Ale in his mom's bedroom (after Corot) (2026) and Self-portrait in studio (after F.N. Souza) (2026). The exhibition prioritizes careful observation over radical conceptual shifts.
Key facts
- "Prose" is Louis Fratino's solo exhibition at David Zwirner in London, presented in 2026.
- The show is described as a manifesto for "New Gay Realism," a term for quotidian, tactile queer storytelling.
- Fratino's surfaces combine dry, chalky impasto with cross-hatched and scratched textures, including body hair etched into pigment.
- Still lifes Snowdrops and hellebores (2026) and Apples and pears (2026) use flowers and fruit to mark time's passage.
- Public scenes include Coffee (2026), The sauna (2026), and The subway car (2026).
- Ale in his mom's bedroom (after Corot) (2026) references Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot's A Girl Reading (ca. 1845–50).
- Self-portrait in studio (after F.N. Souza) (2026) addresses the artist's position within figurative painting's lineage.
- The critic cites Lauren Berlant's "Starved" (2011) on "the collaborative risk of a shared disorganization."
- Installation photography is by Anna Arca; additional photography by Stephen Arnold, Kerry McFate, and others, courtesy of David Zwirner.
Entities
Artists
- Louis Fratino
- Pablo Picasso
- Fernand Léger
- Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
- F. N. Souza
- Lauren Berlant
- Anna Arca
- Stephen Arnold
- Kerry McFate
Institutions
- David Zwirner
- Duke University Press
- Flash Art
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Durham
- North Carolina
- United States
- New York