Yale

Yale Polaroids 2018–2020 were made during my MFA years at the Yale School of Art, a period defined by intense learning, experimentation, friendship, and nightlife. It was here that I fully fell in love with Polaroid as a medium, understanding its deep history within queer culture as a discreet record of intimacy, survival, and desire.

I was drawn to the physical immediacy of instant film — each photograph a small, tactile relic that could be held, shared, or kept close. These images document late nights, collaborations, and encounters that shaped both my artistic practice and my sense of community.

Together, the Yale Polaroids capture a formative moment in my development as an artist: chaotic, brilliant, and deeply generative, marked by connection, curiosity, and the bodies I wanted to remember.

A person wearing a Yale baseball cap and a dark coat with a plaid scarf inside a dimly lit bar or pub decorated with tinsel, hanging ornaments, and clothing on display.
Two men sitting at a bar with one behind the wheelchair, both posing for a photo. The man in front is holding a camera and is wearing a Yale cap. The background features bar shelves with bottles and national flags on a string.
A person wearing a Yale cap, a blue scarf, and a black jacket, looking at the camera, with a dark background.
Group of five people sitting and lying on a bed, smiling and hugging, with a black dog in the center. The room has a pink wall, a framed picture above, and a nightstand with books on the right.
Four young men with dark hair and glasses are gathered around an older man with a beard and glasses, lying in a hospital bed with a white blanket, in a room with pink walls, a photo collage on the wall, and shelves with personal items.
A blurry Polaroid photo of two young men, one wearing a black shirt, sitting on a bed in a home interior.
A blurry Polaroid photo of two people sitting on a couch, one with arms outstretched, in a room with a refrigerator in the background.
People at a party, with one person riding a stationary bike and two others sitting nearby, one wearing a face mask, in a room decorated with hanging balloons and colorful lights.
People gathered in a room with a large projection screen, some sitting, some standing, and colorful balloons on the wall, indicating a party or celebration.
Group of people celebrating with Halloween decorations, including bunting, balloons, and hanging ornaments, in a room with stage lighting.
A room decorated with balloons and streamers, with a group of people standing in front of a projection screen and some chairs along the sides.
Group of friends celebrating at a party with balloons, some raising their hands, and two people with mugs smiling in the foreground.
Group of four friends at a party, smiling and celebrating. One shirtless man in the center with a large drink, two men behind him, and one man to the right holding a beer.
A man sitting in a wheelchair wearing a Yale T-shirt in a room with various objects and furniture, including a hanging pendant light.
Two men smiling and taking a selfie together. One man has glasses, a beard, and is wearing a Yale sweatshirt. The other man has a beard, mustache, and is wearing a yellow shirt.
A shirtless man with tattoos sitting in a wheelchair holding a smaller man with tattoos on his arm, both smiling in an art gallery. Artworks are visible on the wall behind them.
Two young men with tattoos lying down with heads close together, one with arm around the other, in a close-up Polaroid photo.
A blurry photo of two shirtless men with one sitting on the other's lap inside a bookstore, surrounded by bookshelves and window frames.
Two people sitting on a bookshelf in a room with large windows, with one person sitting on the other's lap. Both are partially nude and wearing socks, with one wearing boots. The room appears to be a library or bookstore.
Blurred photo of two naked children in a library, with shelves of books visible in the background.
Two shirtless men are close to each other, with one leaning in and the other raising a fist, behind a chain-link fence. One man appears to be in a wheelchair wearing a cap, and the other is standing with a beard, glasses, and dark hair. They seem to
Two men posing behind a chain-link fence, one sitting in a wheelchair and the other naked from the waist down, with a background of orange equipment and a structure.
Group of six men posing together, some are shirtless, in front of a stone wall backdrop.
Six men posing together shirtless in front of a stone wall, some wearing glasses, some with facial hair, all with different skin tones and hairstyles.
Two people are on the floor in a dimly lit room, engaged in an intense physical activity, with one person on top of the other. In the background, a person stands near a bicycle, and there are various objects and furniture around.
A group of people in swimsuits at the beach, some sitting in the water and others standing behind them, with buildings and beach umbrellas in the background.
A group of nine people, both men and women, sitting and standing on a sandy beach near the water, with buildings and beach umbrellas in the background, enjoying a sunny day.
Three men are posing together in a room, with one lying across the laps of the other two. The man lying down is shirtless, wearing yellow underwear, and has a beard. The man in the middle has long dark hair, a beard, and is wearing a gray t-shirt. Th
Two men taking a selfie together, one with glasses and a beard, the other with a full beard and mustache, both smiling, against a dark background with a pink border.
A person sitting on a bike with a large black dog standing next to them, looking up and smiling in an outdoor setting with greenery in the background.
Person standing outdoors wearing a dark t-shirt and colorful shorts, with their back turned and hands pulling down the shorts. The background is filled with trees and natural light.
Group of people outdoors in front of trees, some wearing swimsuits, with dogs, posing for a photo on a sunny day.
A group of people, some in swimsuits, gathered outdoors on a sunny day, posing for a photo with trees in the background.
A group of people posing outdoors on a sunny day, standing and sitting in front of trees, with some individuals dressed in summer attire.
Group of nine people swimming and enjoying themselves in a body of water, some with arms raised, with a yellow border around the photo.
Group of people swimming and enjoying at the beach or lake.
Three young people and a dog outdoors, with trees in the background. One person is in a wheelchair, and the dog is sitting on the ground in front. The group is smiling and holding drinks.
Group of ten people on a rooftop with city skyline in the background, some sitting and some standing, during daytime.
Group of ten friends on a rooftop with city skyline in the background, some sitting and some standing, with snacks and drinks on the table.
A man wearing glasses, a cap, and a striped shirt grilling burgers on an outdoor stove, holding a spatula.
Two men with glasses engaging in a humorous moment, one holding a plate with food, the other pretending to eat watermelon from the plate.
Two men with glasses sharing a watermelon slice with one man biting into it.
Young woman with short dark hair wearing a denim jacket, sitting on a man's lap, with her arms around his neck, in front of a backdrop with pink flowers. The man has glasses, a cap, and a sweater, and is seated on a bench or similar surface.
A young girl lying on the floor hugging a black dog, with a pink border around the photograph.
Two people peeking over pink and white flowers in a garden with a blue background.
Two young adults, one woman and one man in a wheelchair, posing closely together at night. The woman has short dark hair and is holding a drink, while the man is shirtless, wearing a striped tank top and a Yale cap. There is a wooden fence in the bac
A group of four men smiling, with one in a wheelchair with a beer on his lap, at a casual gathering or party.
Three people in a room with one in a wheelchair, holding drinks, at a social gathering or party.
Three friends sitting together, smiling, with two of them holding beverages, sitting in a room with chairs and a ladder in the background.
Three young people, one seated in a wheelchair, are engaged in conversation in a room with plain walls and minimal decor.
Group of people socializing indoors, with one person whispering to another, and a ladder against the wall in the background.
Group of people socializing in an indoor space with ladders and industrial ceiling lights.
Three people posing and making playful faces, with one person seated in a wheelchair, in a dark indoor setting with screens in the background.
A man in a wheelchair holding a bottle, surrounded by two men standing nearby, in a room with purple walls and a pink border.
Group of five young adults posing together indoors, with some seated and others standing, in front of a screen display.
Two young men sitting together, one in a wheelchair, in a room with stacked chairs in the background.
Two people smiling, one sitting in a wheelchair and the other standing behind, in an indoor setting with a projector screen in the background.
A person lying on a bed in a room, viewed from below, with part of the person’s body visible and a corner of the room and ceiling in the background.
A person with dreadlocks smiling and taking a selfie, with a blurred background including a backpack and gym equipment.
Two naked men with short hair in a room with beige walls; one man is sitting with his eyes closed, and the other is standing behind him with his hand on the wall.
A shirtless man with short hair and tattoos is sitting with his head tilted back, looking to the side, while another person, also shirtless, stands over him with their torso and arm partially visible. Light and shadow create stripes across the scene.
A young man with short hair and tattoos on his chest and arm, looking at the camera, with a framed picture on the wall behind him and a lamp in a bedroom setting.
A shirtless man with tattoos and short hair stands next to another shirtless man, whose torso and face are visible, with one hand on his hip. The second man's face is partially obscured by the first man's body.
Two women with dark skin and wearing earrings sharing an intimate moment, one lying down and the other leaning over her.
Two shirtless men with beards in an intimate pose on a bed, with one lying on his stomach and the other leaning over him.
Two shirtless men are engaged in an intimate embrace on a bed with a burgundy sheet. One man is lying face down with his head turned to the side, while the other man leans over him. The scene appears to be a close, tender moment.
Two shirtless men smiling; one has a beard and the other has short hair with tattoos, sitting in a room with shelves and framed pictures on the wall.
Young man sitting on a woman's lap, with her legs over his shoulders, inside a dark room with a wall featuring a yellow and white drawing or graffiti.
Close-up of a person in jeans and briefs, with their back turned and their hand touching their neck.
Public restroom with an open white toilet, a hand holding a spray bottle, and a person standing nearby wearing black shoes and clothing.
A person lying on the ground with one leg raised, looking at the camera with their tongue out, wearing a dark jacket and light-colored shorts, in a dark environment.
A man lying on the ground with one leg raised, looking at the camera, wearing shorts and a jacket with a hoodie.
A man with a beard making a facelike expression, his mouth puckered, as he kisses the inner thigh of another person whose pants are pulled down and torso is not visible. The background is dark with some colorful writing and markings.
Two young men smiling, one in a wheelchair, in a dimly lit bar or club with pink and purple lighting, and an exit sign visible in the background.
Two young men, one kneeling and the other leaning over, inside a dimly lit room with graffiti and neon lights. One is smiling with his eyes closed, the other looks at the camera.
A man lying on a hospital bed with two black dogs, one lying on his chest and the other resting beside him. The man appears to be resting or recovering.
Two men with glasses and facial hair sitting next to each other; one wears a black cap and a bright yellow Under Armour hoodie, the other wears a black jacket with white text, and an orange and black striped shirt; a coffee cup with a straw is in the
A shirtless man lying in bed, with a black dog on his chest, in a bedroom with a white headboard and closet. The man appears to be resting with eyes closed.
Two men smiling in an outdoor garden, one with his arm around the other, one sitting in a motorized wheelchair with a controller, both wearing glasses.
Two young men taking a selfie outdoors with trees and flowers in the background.
Two men kissing, one with a beard and earrings, wearing glasses, the other with a tattoo on his neck, also wearing glasses. They are holding each other's faces, sharing a kiss.
Two people, a woman and a man, both wearing glasses, outdoors in front of trees with autumn leaves. The woman is standing behind the man, resting her hand on his shoulder.
A man with short dark hair and a beard looking to the right, wearing a gray scarf, standing outdoors with a tree and sky in the background.
Two young men outdoors, one with a beard and scarf, sitting in front of a camera, and the other kissing him on the head, surrounded by trees with green leaves.
A blurry Polaroid photo of two men closely posing together, one wearing glasses and a sweater, the other partially visible, with a dark background.
Polaroid photo of a man with his eyes closed, wearing a gray zip-up jacket and a striped scarf around his neck, illuminated by bright sunlight, with blurred trees in the background.
Two people, a woman and a man, wearing glasses, outdoors with trees and sky in the background.
A shirtless man with dark, wavy hair, with a serious expression, sitting on a bed with a light-colored wall and a partially visible chart in the background.
Polaroid photo of a person sitting on a table with legs dangling, in a cluttered room with various objects, partially obscured by a horizontal light leak.
A man in a wheelchair holding a shirtless man with glasses and a beard on his lap, accompanied by a black guide dog wearing a harness, inside a room with a wooden-rack and wall sconce lighting.
A shirtless man with curly hair and beard standing on a kitchen countertop, wearing orange Calvin Klein underwear, looking over his shoulder at the camera.
A young man with short dark hair holding a cigarette outdoors, with a blurred urban background.
A woman dressed as a bunny and a man in a wheelchair with a tiara. The woman is holding a cup and wearing bunny ears, while the man is wearing a tiara and has a breathing apparatus. They are at a costume or themed event.
Two people, one dressed as a bunny and the other with a tiara, sharing a kiss.
A person in a white shirt with a mask around their neck is holding a stethoscope to a shirtless man wearing glasses and a tiara, with tattoos, who is looking at them and smiling.
Group of five friends in costumes at a party, with a hospital bed and Halloween decorations in the background.
A nude woman brushing the hair of a naked man with tattoos, who is sitting in a chair, in a room with closed blinds and a television.
Two men are posing together in a dimly lit room with striped shadows across their bodies. One man is smiling at the camera, and the other is looking down, both are topless.
A woman is brushing a man's hair while he sits in a chair with tattoos and glasses, in front of a window with blinds.
Blurry photo of a young man with glasses, wearing a tan shirt, standing indoors with a person in the background and a person holding a comb or brush in the upper left corner.
Two shirtless men embracing and smiling, with the man in the back wearing glasses. Sunlight creates shadow stripes across their bodies.
Two men, one shirtless and in a wheelchair, with shadows from window blinds on his body, posing closely together indoors.
A person sitting in a wheelchair with striped shadows cast across their body by window blinds, hand resting on their lap, wearing dark pants and a striped shirt.
A young man with dark hair, a beard, and an earring in his left ear, looking at the camera with a serious expression, against a dark background.
Two men in glasses, one in a wheelchair, smiling and posing for a photo at an indoor event with a group of people in the background.
A person with medium skin tone and dreadlocks stands indoors, wearing a white sweatshirt with a black letter 'Y' on it. They are looking at the camera, with their shadow cast on the wall behind them. The lighting is warm, creating a contrast between
Close-up of a person's hand touching their thigh, with a beige band or strap across the thigh, and skin with some hair and texture visible.
A shirtless man with a beard lying on a bed, smiling and playing with a dog.
A man with a beard and short hair lying on a dark blue pillow, shirtless, with a necklace around his neck, smiling at the camera.
Two shirtless men with their eyes closed lying on a bed, embracing each other in an intimate moment, with one man's hand resting on the other's thigh.
Close-up of a person with a catheter attached to their abdomen, holding a white square object near their pelvis, with part of their hand visible.
Two shirtless men lying on bed, one with closed eyes and the other looking at the camera, embracing each other.
Close-up of a shirtless man with dreadlocks, a mustache, and jewelry, visible from the nose down to the collarbone.
Close-up of a person's face and upper chest, showing their lips, nose, and chin, with dreadlocks and wearing gold necklaces, and a tattoo of a pistol on their chest.
Young woman with dreadlocks wearing a white sweatshirt with a large letter 'Y' on it, standing in front of a bright background with a shadow cast on the wall beside her.
A man with dreadlocks standing indoors against a plain background. He is wearing a white sweatshirt with a large black 'Y' on it, and appears to be topless underneath, with his briefs exposed.
A topless person with tattoos, dreadlocks, and a chain necklace standing against a plain wall with shadows, looking serious.
Group of people smiling and enjoying drinks at night, one person wearing a baseball cap and glasses, others visible in the background.
Three people in a dimly lit bar holding drinks, posing closely for a photo. Two men with dark hair and a woman with long dark hair, all appearing to enjoy a social moment.
Group of four men, two shirtless, smiling and posing in a casual setting at night, with one sitting in a wheelchair, holding drinks, and wearing a winter jacket with fur trim.
Two people close together, one holding a drink, in a dimly lit setting, possibly a bar or club.
Person with black shirt lifting their shirt to reveal their abdomen, surrounded by other people, in a setting with tiled flooring and a wheelchair in the background.
Overhead view of three women and a person seated at a bar, two women sitting on the floor with wine glasses, one with glasses, the other with long dark hair, and the person at the bar with their hand on a backpack, in a dimly lit setting with a black
A man with glasses, dark hair, and a fur-lined coat lying down with his eyes closed, surrounded by money and a hand holding several bills.
A woman and a man sharing a drink, close face-to-face, with the woman smiling and the man wearing a cap and glasses.
A young woman with a gray baseball cap, nose ring, and septum piercing, smiling with her hand on her cheek, next to a man with a beard, mustache, and dark hair, both sitting close together, wearing winter clothing.
A blurred Polaroid photo of two naked people lying face-to-face on a furry surface, with a man positioned behind a woman, facing downward.
A person with light-colored hair sitting on a fuzzy pink carpet, viewed from behind and above, with their knees bent and their head slightly down.
Polaroid photo of a nude person sitting on a chair with their legs apart, viewed from behind.
Polaroid photo of a white stuffed animal with animal ears, sitting on a purple, fuzzy surface.
A person lying on their back with legs spread, with another person’s hand visible near the genitals.
An intentionally blurred Polaroid photo of a person lying on a purple fluffy rug, with their body and face indistinct.
Three people standing around a man in a motorized wheelchair inside a home, with a man holding a smartphone and two women holding wine glasses.
Three people, two men and a woman, smiling indoors. One man is standing wearing a blue and white jacket, the woman has dark hair and is wearing a black top, and the other man is sitting in a wheelchair wearing glasses and a gray jacket. The backgroun
Three young adults posing together indoors, one shirtless man with tattoos and wheelchair, woman in black dress with long dark hair, smiling man with a beard and open jacket, casual setting.
Four people, some using a wheelchair, are close together, with one person resting their head on another's shoulder indoors.
Three friends in a room, one shirtless man with a beard and dark hair, another man with a beard and dark hair sitting in a wheelchair, and a woman with short brown hair. The man with the beard is smiling, the woman has a neutral expression, and the o
Three young adults indoors, two men without shirts, one woman in black, posing together, with one man in a wheelchair.
Two smiling men, one in a Yale sweatshirt and the other in a U.S. Coast Guard uniform, pose together indoors. The man in uniform has a name tag that reads 'Lunde.' The photo has a handwritten signature at the bottom.
Two smiling men taking a selfie indoors; the man on the left is dressed in a white shirt and black tie, and the man on the right wears glasses and a scarf. There is a signature at the bottom of the photo.
Group of people gathered in a kitchen celebrating around a table filled with snacks, drinks, and dishes.
A group of diverse young adults gathered closely indoors, smiling and posing for a photo during a casual get-together.
A man wearing glasses and a black jacket holds a can of soda in one hand and a piece of food with chopsticks in the other, standing indoors.
A woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a knitted hat lifts her shirt to reveal her bare chest, smiling, while a man in a pink hoodie and baseball cap stands beside her in a room. The scene appears playful or provocative.
A man with glasses and a moustache wearing a white hoodie and a backwards baseball cap, with a headset on, smiling and laughing.
A young man with a beard and short hair, wearing a dark shirt, sitting indoors with a painting or framed picture and window in the background. The photo has a vintage Polaroid style with soft lighting and a slightly blurred effect.
Two shirtless men with a woman in black clothing are posing for a photo in a bright room with natural light.
Blurred, close-up view of a person lying down, with focus on the legs and buttocks, in a softly lit indoor setting.
A rear view of a person lying on their stomach with their buttocks exposed.
A shirtless young man with short brown hair, a beard, and tattoos on his chest and shoulder, standing against a plain background.
A man with tattoos on his side performing a plank exercise on a carpeted floor indoors, with a window in the background.
A shirtless man with short dark hair and a beard doing push-ups on a carpeted floor in a room with large windows and various objects in the background.
A young man with short dark hair, some facial hair, and tattoos on his left arm and side is standing in a brightly lit room, nude, looking at the camera. There is a bed, a dresser, and a flat-screen TV in the background.
Top-down view of a person lying face down on the floor, with their back and buttocks exposed, hair short and brown, on a brown carpet with a beige mat nearby.
A person lying naked on a bed with a cityscape view through large windows in the background.
Naked man standing with arms at his sides, showing chest and pubic hair, with a tattoo on his left thigh.
Two shirtless men in a bedroom, one reclining on a bed and the other leaning over him, with a purple border around the photo.
Two nude men are engaging in a sexual act on a bed, with one man lying down and the other on top. They are in a room with a window and some electronics in the background.
A person with tattoos on their leg and torso is lying in a hospital bed, while another person stands beside the bed, holding a medical device, in a room with a closet and a door.